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Four day hiking trip and no knives allowed?

Take at least a SAK, I would even take a sheath knife. If they give you any grief tell them they can kiss your ars, a knife and fire are man's most basic servival tools, for crying out loud, that's what seperates us from animals.

You aren't on school grounds so they can't enforce school policies, and they can't tell you to leave because you are in a public place. They can ask you to not continue with the group, but them you can just follow them a few paces behind and set up camp next to, not in, there's.

BRING A KNIFE
 
Two guesses why watches were not allowed:
One, they were being cutesy by making you discard all the pressures and trappings of modern day life, so you won't need a watch or be aware of appointments where you're at; or
Two, they don't want you to use your watch for determining compass directions. This is less likely, but then again it doesn't sound like they want you to learn any outdoor skills since they don't even allow knives.

It sounds like it's more of a get together or retreat.

Probably best to follow what they say and follow their list. If you do decide to bring something such as a sak, keep it hidden, maybe as part of your toiletries as it can be used for trimming, etc., do not bring a fixed blade, a utility multipuprose knife like a sak should be up to the task. Clarification is a good idea, too.
 
You know what, I just thought about it, Take a knife, and keep count of how many times someone asks you to use it, and let us know. If not, tell us if the teacher/guide brought one and how many times he used it.
 
This list came from the wilderness school, not the college. My college's policy is if it is legal in the state of Connecticut, it is fine with them.

I am not sure what they are planning on giving us for food. I know that they are supplying it, but i'm not sure what form it will be in. Also not sure how they are planning on keeping us supplied with water since we're only supposed to bring a 1 qt canteen (for me that'll be a 3L hydro bladder and a nalgene). But i've already paid for this trip so I'm pretty much committed (can't get my money back).

btw, do axes count as knives? :D
 
this is interesting:
http://www.greathollow.org/greathollow_programs4.html

They are affiliated with the WEA, so you should shoot off an e-mail asking why they purposefully ignore the Ten Essentials, which is a basic component of the WEA curriculum. And how in the hell did the wilderness school staff earn their WEA Outdoor Leadership Certification without being familiar with the Ten Essentials?

-Bob
 
This is just sad, seriously depressing that this poor kid even has to ask what he should do...that he's forced to balance common sense against some senseless rules. I won't tell you what to do...been covered already. If you are caught, historically you'd be in good company...men who've had to make a similar moral decision to defy a rule that made no sense:

1 The founding fathers
2 Thoreau
3 Ghandi
4 MLK
5 Muhammed Ali
6 Jesus Christ

The list goes on. These were just some of the big ones.
 
The only reason i can think for the no knife is cause he plans to kill you all. He want no chance that any of you can fight back.......... I would take a 2 knifes. One the cheap one make it easy to find in your pack just in case they are going to check for it. The good knife find a way to hide it from them. I wont go out there with out a knife.. and a way to make fire. What hike do you take that last 4 days???????? hike is a one day thing longer then that its camping at one place and short hikes or backpacking... I would ask them alot more Qs ... to many things are missing there. Remember the most important thing you can do is plan ahead.

Sasha
 
I actually should have said backpacking instead of hiking in the title of this thread, since thats what it actually is.
 
Marzola said:
Thanks for the quick replies. Here is the complete list of equipment besides clothes they say to bring.

sleeping bag (rated to at least 30 degrees F) and stuff sack for sleeping bag.
Backpack (internal or external frame)
ground mat, insolate pad or thermarest
water bottle (aprox 1 qt)
flashligt w/ extra batteries
cup and bow (not-breakable) and spoon

Note how there is no mention of a compass, matches, fire starter, first aid, etc. That's because they probably don't believe in fire, either.

I'm going to take a knife. If i happen to get in trouble for it, oh well. It an essential tool. Now its just a question of if I should pack my fixed blade or not.
Click to expand...

I mentioned earlier that maybe it's a test of your reading comprehension skills. Maybe, it's another kind of test - they want to see if there's actually anybody stupid enough, not to bring a knife.

Edit: I'm not trying to come off a some knife swinging, testosterone-charged Rambo wannabe. I've hiked, backpacked, canoed, camped, fished, little bit of hunting for about 50 years and to think of going to the bush without a knife or knives (different ones for different purposes) blows me away. This smacks of new age spiritualists that, at the first sign of trouble will be on their cell phones for the SAR guys to come and save their ass.

Longbow, I understand what you're saying about it being a school event, but to do anything without the proper tools is irresponsible (spelling?).

Doc

Doc
 
What company is this? What is their complete "do NOT bring" list ?

Common sense trumps ALL stupid rules, laws or ideas....

Take a knife, take a Leatherman and take a fixed blade. I'd probably keep a low profile and if someone needed a knife, I wouldn't offer up mine........I'd be curious to see how the "leaders" handle cutting chores.

I suspect that they think anyone but THEM is a buffoon, incapable of safely handling a knife.

Keep us posted !

.
 
David E said:
What is their complete "do NOT bring" list ?
Click to expand...

the list is: (with what they have in bold/underlined)
food, candy or gum
cosmetics
jewlry
dresses, dress clothes
knives of any sort
hair dryers
soap
shampoo
gameboy
walkman
beeper
watches
suitcases
money

besides the knives part, its not completely unreasonable.
 
I read their website........it sounds to me like it's a DAY CAMP kind of thing. It's YMCA sponsored and they cater to kids of all ages. I'm sure they send out the same "don't bring this" list to everyone.

It's located on an 890 acre wildlife refuge. Sounds to me like you'll be walking around in circles on site.

Evenso, I'd bring a knife or two. :D
 
Marzola said:
the list is: (with what they have in bold/underlined)
food, candy or gum
[...]

besides the knives part, its not completely unreasonable.
Click to expand...

Really? I'm diabetic. No way on Earth I'm going to trust them to have the calories I need available.

I'm sure the program is no big deal. It's basically a 4 day walk in the park. But it goes against the habits many of us have developed of being prepared, of knowing what we're getting into, not being treated like babies.
 
I work for a fortune 200 co and the attitude is familiar, they want to "idiot proof" the activity. No knives cause no one can cut themselves. Nanny type BS. The watch thing does not make any sense at all, unless to keep you uninformed. Take a good quality spoon and sharpen the handle then wrap it.
 
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