Four day hiking trip and no knives allowed?

runningboar said:
Her parents need to be beaten with a knotted rope if she didn't have a knife and a few other essentials. The day I depend on someone else to take care of my core gear ole scratch will be eating snowcones. Chris
Click to expand...

And that is you.
Her parents wouldn't know the wilderness from Central Park, but that is besides the point. BTW, nice folks.

FYI I gave her a detailed list of things to bring.
If she brought 1/3 of it I'd be impressed.

Yet somehow she survived.

Maybe the folks that ran the trip (& many others just like it) actually knew what they were doing?

There's a big difference between a grizzled ol'survival veteren and a college kid on a bio field trip.
One can stand alone and beat the wilderness into submission with one's SPB and the other will have to depend on the knowledge of those more experienced who are guiding them.
Who are paid to guide them and have credentials to do so.

And what's with the SAK recommendations any way?
Loose phillips head screws in the wilderness?
:D
 
Ebbtide said:
Yet somehow she survived.

Maybe the folks that ran the trip (& many others just like it) actually knew what they were doing?
Click to expand...

You see, that's the thing........when do you find out IF the folks running the show "know what they're doing?"

When it's too late to do anything about it, that's when !

I refuse to entrust my life or my safety to the whims of others.

It COULD be..........they just plain lucked out.

.
 
David E said:
..........they just plain lucked out.

.
Click to expand...

Exactly.

Reason for the SAK recomendation, at least from me, is that it is a friendly outdoors knife, people don't recoil in horror when you pull it, like they sometimes do when I flip open my AFCK. Not to mention it is a solid performer in the woods, if you do have something that has a phillips head screw it is nice to have a tool to fix it. Chris
 
David E said:
You see, that's the thing........when do you find out IF the folks running the show "know what they're doing?"

When it's too late to do anything about it, that's when !

I refuse to entrust my life or my safety to the whims of others.

It COULD be..........they just plain lucked out.

.
Click to expand...

Agreed!

I think that is the point of most of the objections here. They are asking a young adult to totally turn over his well being to some total strangers who may or may not know what they are doing. This is all part of whats wrong with this country; the sense of self responcibility is being washed out by the feely goody B.S. put out by the education systems. Marzola has to look out for himself, not trust some new age counselor to do it for him.

As to why a sak? Its low profile if discovered, has at least one or two cutting edges, may have a saw, small enough to hang inside a shirt in case of a bag search at the start.
 
I don't know about the OP, but the young lady I metioned found out if the qualifications of the instructors/staff before she plunked down her money, as well as getting the 'lowdown' from upper classmen as well.

What you're not understanding is that I agree with you all in principal, yet understand the position of the program.

The person that pays the tab should look into the details and decide whether or not the program is a good one. First.
Then either sign up and pay, or pass.
You can't expect to change the program because it doesn't suit you.
And if you paid your money....there's an old saying:
"Ya pay your money and take your chances"

Personally, I don't think the risk is that high for this little adventure.
I'd even go out on a limb and say that the car ride to the adventure would probably be the most dangerous part of the trip.

Have you ever seen how those Connecticut soccer moms drive?!
:D
 
I'm wondering about this trip.

1. Is this trip essential to your education?

2. Could this trip be some sort of a fraternity recruiting trip?

3. If you don't go, are you really losing that much money?

4. If they don't want you to bring certain items, will they provide them for you? and what is provided?

My point: If you are already wary about the rules and they make you uneasy, DON'T GO.
 
What's the big mystery here. Great Hollow whatever- is a YMCA club.

Here are some photos of your upcoming "wilderness" experience:

ps1.jpg


ps4.jpg


It looks like the kind of low impact field trip that you would go out on during grade school. It is a nature appreciation walk for those who have been living for too long in a concrete jungle.

n2s
 
There were actually several options to choose from. The one I chose was a four day backpacking trip. The other one was doing activities like the ones in those pictures and the third was three days backpacking and one day on their grounds doing those activities. As far as money, it was about $500. And it is the college which is organizing this through GHWS, not any other groups on campus. I'm not worried about this being some sort of cult thing. My only concern was just being under prepared.

I got my OHT today and am liking it a lot so far. I'll have this in my pocket and a spare SAK in my pack. And if things start going badly on this trip of if i become really uncomfortable with the way its run, one cell phone call and i'll be out of there. I believe all the college intends this trip to be is a way to meet some of my fellow classmates before we all get to campus.
 
longbow50 said:
I'm thinking that because it reads like a school function, that knives aren't allowed. If it isn't a school function, like Doc, I'd tell them to take a hike without you.
Click to expand...

Had this problem on a few of my high school camping trips I went on. Obviouosly because knifes on a high school trip are a bit more serious issue I didn't take any and hoped for the best. One guy got caught with a 3.75" folder and I think he got expelled for the year. Not sure what the rules are about college sponsored trips.
 
Ive read most of this thread...I keep coming back to one question...its haunting me..is there going to be hot chicks there? I know that sounds like I'm being a wise ass, but seriously...When I was your age...that was something to consider...I mean, you can go and "hike/ camp" on your own whenever you want...but trips like this usually mean that girls get a little crazy..getting away from the pressures of society...just a thought...way off base I'm sure, but I'm trying to figure out a way to see this trip as a positive...not just some lame PC thing. And I don't know if your married or have a girlfriend, so ... Just giving some sage advice..Gene

EDIT: I forgot to mention..or ask..is it mandatory? For credit or something? If this was asked before I'm sorry..but it does look really boring..planned fun always is...
 
Yes, there should be a good number of chicks there. And I do have a very comfortable sleeping pad. definitely a positive there.

And no, it is not mandatory. Only about 1/5 of my class is going on it.
 
I think they sent out the same sheet of "bring/don't bring" that they send to everybody.

Bring what you KNOW you should, keep a low profile and have fun !

One caveat: Don't bring a gun or serious knife if you cannot keep control of it 100% of the time. Leaving it in your pack when you're swimming isn't good enough.

.
 
nephildevil said:
hahah but it has the spikes, i just screwed them out of the guard!

they are removable spikes!
Click to expand...

Yes, they are. Their purpose was to screw them in, pointing away from the tip. Then, keeping the knife in the sheath, tie a strong cord/rope to the hole near the butt (butthole?) and throw the knife over a wall, tree, whatever (keeping hold of the other end of the cord) and use it to either pull yourself up, or pull something towards you.

Preferably, if you were wanting to pull yourself up, you didn't pull something down on top of you.....:D

I bought one of the early ones, but then I read an article in SOF showing the knife broken in 5 or 7 pieces. I sold it soon thereafter.

.
 
Thomas Linton said:
The maximum limitation of potential liability is to ban participants. Much quieter that way. No troubles.
Click to expand...

LOL!

Great Idea.

I'll be hosting just such a retreat next week. Participants are welcome but attendance is prohibited.

Anyone interested in participating please send your payment to me.

I'll let you know where and when not to show up.
 
$500?

I can think of loads of things to do with that 500, including buying some knives....

Honestly, are they going to be TEACHING you anything or are they just babysitting you and giving you some food and a place to sleep? Sounds like some super expensive daycare to me...

Im planning on going backpacking for a few days some time and I still dont see myself spending 500 dollars, and thats without some "wilderness school" telling me to not bring a knife.
 
David E said:
Their purpose was to screw them in, pointing away from the tip...
Click to expand...

An improvised grappling hook - I had no idea that's what they were for! I thought it was supposed to make the bad guys run away, crying in fear....

Instead I wound up getting a Gerber LMF that's now 20 years old and still going strong...the only 'tactical' knife I have. I recently saw what these things were going for on the bay: holy crap, it's more than it cost !

TDalghren said:
Participants are welcome but attendance is prohibited
Click to expand...
There isn't a smiley for how funny that is !!!

And folks, always remember that nife is a four letter word to some people
 
Just wondering if you asked them if it would be possible to ask them about bringing a knife, or would that just bring attention to yourself?
 
David E said:
I bought one of the early ones, but then I read an article in SOF showing the knife broken in 5 or 7 pieces. I sold it soon thereafter.
Click to expand...

heh, mine's not even a real buck, its a replica, it be broken in 15 or 17 pieces probably

i dunno about throwing the knive i tawt it was for hanging ur getaway clothes on or your boat or something, since its a navy knife
 
ziptrickhead said:
$500?

I can think of loads of things to do with that 500, including buying some knives....

Honestly, are they going to be TEACHING you anything or are they just babysitting you and giving you some food and a place to sleep? Sounds like some super expensive daycare to me...

Im planning on going backpacking for a few days some time and I still dont see myself spending 500 dollars, and thats without some "wilderness school" telling me to not bring a knife.
Click to expand...

yeah sounds llike a total ripoff to me aswell
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top