Camping/Hiking: Knife or Axe?

[bensano]

I've always thought that the weight/size of a folding saw is worth it for the "just in case' factor.

If I had a GB mini I might consider that instead.

Ben

 

[Buzzbait]

Heck, I’ve got a big mouth, so I’ll hop in on the conversation.

Jeff and Hoohoo show some great insight on the subject, especially since they spend time in entirely different climates. I’m a northwoods man myself, much like Hoodoo, so I use hatchets and axes.

If I were to car camp, though I don’t, I’d have all manner of axes, hatchets and saws with me. If I were to go backpacking for any reasonably long distance, I’d probably just take a SAK and a good sturdy fixed blade. The trails I walk have plenty of wood on the ground for a good fire. If I run into a serious obstacle, I walk around it.

If a northeastern trail doesn’t have much wood on the ground, the reason probably has to do with overuse by campers and hikers. In such circumstances, fires should not be built. You end up with a forest floor filled with pine needle and such, which is a real fire hazard. Any more thinning of the understory would only make matters worse.

I do agree with Hoodoo, after a bit of thought, that an axe would be very appropriate for any cold weather travel.

 

[rep]

Nice thoughts by Hoodoo, Jeff and others. I spend a bit of time out in the cold (Montanan, eh?) and find that a lot of folks think a fire is a way better idea than it really is. Fires make too much smoke to be close, burn holes in your clothes, and are generally uncooperative. Stoves are very cooperative, and light a lot faster. Warm beverages and food are my ticket. I like to read Robert Service and Jack London for fun, and I also know that those old boys kind of tended to freeze out there. Remember "To Build a Fire"? Bring a friend (I bring my cute, tough little wife) and she can set up the tent and light the stove if you go into the water or such. Of course, when we tipped the canoe into the Jefferson River in the winter, we were kind of both in trouble. I lit the stove, and we had hot beverage and got our clothes changed. The explorers these days tend to go with the tent/stove/food apprcach as well. Fires take too long, and can't get you out of that freezing wind. Oh yeah, I've never run out of fuel. I usually carry too much of it, perhaps. I'm into alcohol stoves these days (nice and light and simple). See http://wings.interfree.it/html/main.html for homemade stove directions, or a can recommend the Swiss one in http://www.southsummit.com/swiss_army.html .
Anyway, if you really like fires, you can split wood pretty well with your Kabar or BMF or any nice Bowie, and the Grandord axe is beautiful. I like Bowies! But I don't base survival on them. OK, too much from me. YMMV!