First trip to Ashokan

Atlas Knife Company

Atlas Knife Company

Joined
Feb 16, 2010
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What should I take with me? Sleeping bag and tent obviously, but goggles, hearing protection, welding gloves, my EDC, favorite pliers, a bag of peanuts? Seriously though, what should I bring with me?
 
Eye protection, closed top footwear, blankets, natural fiber clothing, notebook, pens, sense of humor, and money to buy steel from Aldo and tools from half a dozen people who show up with lots of great stuff to sell, and a good apetite. No wait, leave your money home so I have a better chance of getting to the good tools before they are all bought up :D

-Page
 
A camera, work you want to talk with someone on improving... really, there's not too much you'll need. Maybe some money, as you might feel like splurging on fun stuff that's for sale there on Sunday. I missed owning a gorgeous stag-handled hunter by Kevin Cashen because I was asleep at the wheel on my first trip. There's always steel & tools, all sorts of supplies for cheap. My guess is that this year's visit from the New Jersey Steel Baron is going to be a big one, so bring scratch for Uncle Aldo!
 
Earplugs!!! Unless you like the sound of chainsaws and lumbermills all night!!!

Here's my list

-smokes
-money for Aldo
-camera with LED jeweler's loupe` for extra macro
-notepad and pens
-newest hammers I have made
-anything I want to sell
-bottled water, the water there is DELICIOUs, but it's handy to have some.
-a pack of tums
-change of clothes
-chastity belt
 
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bring booze, drugs and hookers :D

Just kidding. Wait, no I'm not. Definitely bring those.

OK also bring pen, paper, safety gear, a sleeping bag, a few bucks, some leather chaps and a ball gag. Definitely a ball gag.
 
I'm NOT wearing the hooker outfit again this year, regardless of how well it flatters my thighs.

I know he looks sweaty and desperate, but make Spangler wear it this year.
 
Make sure to bring a towel, I forgot one year and had to use a spare t-shirt, along with shampoo your toothbrush and paste. You can bring your tent, but the bunkhouse is cool too as long as you sleep soundly, there are a few guys that snore and a few with sleep apnea, whether they will admit to it or not. Some extra cah is a good idea, you never know what might be there that you have to have.

Sam, why would you ever want to wear a chastity belt, on the other hand Matt is going, so bring it along just in case.
Del
 
zaph1 said:
What should I take with me? Sleeping bag and tent obviously, but goggles, hearing protection, welding gloves, my EDC, favorite pliers, a bag of peanuts? Seriously though, what should I bring with me?
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The tent and sleeping bag are good if you like solitude, there are endless camping possibilities in the beautiful forests in the Ashokan valley, but they are not necessary if you don’t mind the camaraderie of dozens of other blade enthusiasts in the bunkhouse. Of course the tent is understandable when you have heard the stories of legendary decibel level snoring in the bunkhouse. Regardless of where you sleep, bring a towel if you wish to shower and your favorite pillow or blanket (the ones there will not be your favorites).

Safety glasses are very good, otherwise you may have to purchase some there. Natural fiber clothing is a good idea if you really like to be in the front row and as close to the action as possible. A notepad and pen is very good. Even if you don’t use a camera at the demonstrations, you will want pictures of the stunning Catskills countryside that will surround you.

Bring an open mind that is ready to learn, a sense of humor and a healthy appetite for the Ashokan food.

What to leave behind- any preconceived notions about knives and steel, and probably anything you ever picked up from a magazine. Perhaps we could have a contest where folks bring their nomination for the worst tidbit of misinformation published in 2010 and a copy of the winner could be used to ceremoniously light the fire;).

Now is a good time to also announce to all concerned that we are returning to a no alcohol policy at the event. We tried to just keep it out of the demo area of the pavilion but bottles still managed make their way to positions FAR too close to open fire and hot steel. As Tim Neu used to announce- if you have bottles of alcohol, please keep them in your vehicles. Which should be parked in the first parking lot on the upper level and not on the lawn near the pavilion or volley ball nets. And of course there is NO parking on the lower level near the lodges, bunkhouse or chow hall, to keep things clear for deliveries. (that last bit about the parking should be worth some brownie points with Tim N. :D)
 
jsut sent my$ in
i will try to not have the sleeping bag that sounds liek im rolling around in a bag of chips all night (sorry to all last year)
 
This will be my first trip too, and I'm pretty stoked about it.

One of the questions I had was about knives over the usual 4.5" limit, and/or double-edged. I understand the challenge theme this year is a ballocks dagger. How would I pack that to get it past airline security? Obviously, it'll be in checked baggage....
 
drdoc said:
This will be my first trip too, and I'm pretty stoked about it.

One of the questions I had was about knives over the usual 4.5" limit, and/or double-edged. I understand the challenge theme this year is a ballocks dagger. How would I pack that to get it past airline security? Obviously, it'll be in checked baggage....
Click to expand...

When I fly with knives I usually pack them in a locked container with any firearms I'm carrying if I'm going to a firearm-friendly state. Those bags tend to be better tracked and better taken care of. That's not the case here obviously...When I'm traveling without any firearms I generally put them in the middle of my clothes in my check through bag and hope...Alternatively you could ship them beforehand to somebody who's driving. A lot of guys do that for shows, etc.

-d
 
Since 2001 I have always used gun cases for my knives when flying, but I have not found the need for actually having any firearms in them, just the case is enough to warrant my own lock and special screening. Some airports will simply have you stand beside the X-ray with your key until they feel it is cleared, while some will ask for your keys to do a hands on screening and search within your sight and then return your key to you with a smile. The latter is no hassle and I invariably have a pleasant conversation about the cool knives I make and even hand out some cards.

At one time I used other hard cases, like for golf clubs or other sports equipment, but they didn’t attract the “special “ attention that you do in fact want. I once had over $10,000 in blades slung off the oversized conveyor and setting right next to the exit door for anybody to walk out with before I could get to baggage claim. A gun case (at least the rifle cases I use) end up under the scrutiny of security that require me to show my luggage ticket in order to claim it.

The gun case scenario is the only one that seems to offer no resistance to your own locks, the concept of TSA locks is absurd since it is the people who can freely open them that you are worried about! All that being said NY is not the place to mess around with trying to bring a gun along in your gun case, don’t ask me how I know this, but it does make for a very entertaining Ashokan story every year.

Whatever you do you want as much attention focused on your special cargo as possible. The base instinct to sneak the knives must be suppressed. You are not doing anything wrong by flying with knives in checked baggage but if you act sneaky or guilty, they will indeed find something wrong. Of course NEVER attempt to carry on any blades! Be up front about what you do with knives and most airport personnel will meet you with friendly interest, and the special attention will make it a bit harder for the less friendly personnel to make your property disappear. What do you think would be investigated more- a missing set of golf clubs or a stolen rifle case?

All that being said, once you are on the ground in NY keep that darned gun case out of sight. If you are asked about any weapons in a traffic stop immediately explain what you have and why, but if you are not asked about it don’t advertise a gun case… once again, don’t ask me why, unless you have half an hour around the fire at Ashokan;).
 
Thanks, guys, this is exactly the kind of info I was looking for. Having spent a lot of time flying under TSA, I'm a lot less concerned about overt theft than about "confiscation".
 
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