Gone camping

D

dogstar

Joined
Jan 23, 2011
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I just wanted to share my experience this weekend at Yosemite National Park. I was car camping with some friends, and took along with me my Vic classic, Buck 309, Vic Tinker, Svord Peasant. By dinner time on the first day, I was down to one knife. I cut a label off a tee shirt with the classic. Then I made some veggie skewers with my 309. The large blade on the Tinker cut franks to go with beans for dinner. By the time my friend asked for a bottle opener, I was looking to lighten my load and put all knives away except for the Tinker. Life was just simpler with one tool, and I didn't have to worry about losing the others. The rest of the trip, the Tinker opened cans, sharpened twigs for s'mores, cut yellow pepper slices to share, tightened screws on a folding saw.

For car camping, the Tinker was the most useful tool. If I was doing a bushcraft outing, the assortment of tools would be mostly dead weight, and a sharp, strong blade with good edge retention would have been key, and I would have chosen another blade. At work, where proper tools are available, all I need is a good blade, and the 309 fits the bill quite well.

Anyhow, it's good to enjoy nature with a good blade in hand. Take it easy.
 
i have a few SAKs that are simply all stars of my collection. they are often overlooked in the world of "grail" knives but it seems no matter what im doing my Sportsman, Backpacker or Bushcrafter can cover virtually all of my tasks. i do prefer my Queen small stockman at work but outside of work its hard not to pocket one of the SAKs.
 
IMO, there are a 1001 wrong ways to be in the wood which lead to being lost, injured or killed.

But, there is no single correct way either.

Yvon Chouniard, speaking about climbing and mountaineering, "Speed is safety". This became something of a credo among ultra-light "alpine" style climbers who took a John Muir "less is more" type of approach. Or, as St-Expurey put it, "Perfection is not attained when there is nothing left to add, but rather, when there is nothing left to take away."

IMO, things balance on fire. If I'm in the woods (leaving later this morning, actually) and I'm backpacking, I'm relying on a camp stove, not a fire. In New England by and large, the popular places to hike just can't sustain high volumes of wood harvesting. Stoves produce less impact on the land (locally), especially at higher elevations. Once you embrace stove based camping, or more precisely, (locally) low impact camping, much of the "bushcraft" stuff becomes good back up knowledge with little day to day utility. Of the many decades of backcountry travel, I've never had to save my life with a fire or building a brush shelter.

Something like the SAK Tinker makes a lot of sense for camping.

My preferred selection consists of 2 knives/tools. First is a single blade locking folder in my left front pocket; usually either a plastic handled Buck 482 or an Opinel. Second is a small tool with folding scissors in the 1st aid kit. I used a Vic Classic for this for many years (got fed up with them busting) and currently use a key chain sized Leatherman, which adds mini-pliers to mix. Very useful for making trail repairs and pushing a needle through heavy nylon.
 
I miss yosemite, sounds like it was a fun trip. Its amazing how easy a decision comes in the real world. By the selection you brought with you, it sounds like you where undecided on the chores you would come across? The tasks at hand gained you the experience to now know what you need. Does not get any better then that. Thanks for sharing.


Jeff
 
The countdown to Scout camp is on...I can't wait! And I'm sure I'll take way too many knives with me :D including 3 SAK's, a Champ that stays in my BOB, a one hand Trekker, and the one I carry most now is my Wood Badge black covers Huntsman.
 
It's awfully hard to beat the utility of a SAK. No matter what other knife we may prefer because of looks, personal connection, emotional appeal, a SAK can do pretty much any cutting job plus some things a dedicated knife can't do. They have undeniable advantages, and aside from being a versatile tool, it's construction is light weight enough that it is not noticed if slipped in a pocket with a dedicated knife.

If even I, the Grand High Muckba of the peanut cult, chose a SAK for a Key West vacation, it must say something for the tool's appeal. Yes, a peanut or any other knife would have cut the limes for the gin and tonics, could have cut off the plastic tags from the souvenir t-shirts, cut some mullet for bait. But would it have adjusted the carburetor of the 50cc Honda rental scooter that was running like crap? Or fixed the slow running fan in the room by taking apart the fan housing and cleaning the shaft and lubing it so the fan actually ran like it was supposed to? The SAK handled the carburetor screws and the phillips screws holding the fan together just fine. Sometimes it's nice to have a knife with a few basic tools on it.

Now, if only Victorinox would make some models in CV and jigged bone or stag.

Carl.
 
Carl, if only.

The one thing I have to give credit to Victorinox for is they didn't let "tradition" prevent them from a steady stream of innovations. It would be interesting to see either Case or GEC do a camper, but my fear is that the blade selection would be stuck in the past. Scissors are my must have.

The small leatherman tools supplant even the SAKs IMO.
 
Sounds Like a great trip! where's the pics!?

pinnah said:
Once you embrace ... (locally) low impact camping, much of the "bushcraft" stuff becomes good back up knowledge with little day to day utility. Of the many decades of backcountry travel, I've never had to save my life with a fire or building a brush shelter.
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This reeks of far to much reality. Luckily we are on the traditional side of the forums or you would probably be banned by the big honking chopper lovers :)

jackknife said:
Now, if only Victorinox would make some models in CV and jigged bone or stag.
Carl.
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Now I love my SAKs but yes to this. Some Steel choices and more scale variety as well as maby a create your own knife (layers) somewhat like a cross between the buck customizer and the SAK tool selector and I think we would have a definite winner.
 
pinnah said:
IMO, things balance on fire. If I'm in the woods (leaving later this morning, actually) and I'm backpacking, I'm relying on a camp stove, not a fire. In New England by and large, the popular places to hike just can't sustain high volumes of wood harvesting. Stoves produce less impact on the land (locally), especially at higher elevations. Once you embrace stove based camping, or more precisely, (locally) low impact camping, much of the "bushcraft" stuff becomes good back up knowledge with little day to day utility. Of the many decades of backcountry travel, I've never had to save my life with a fire or building a brush shelter.
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Yeah, I can agree with that.

Modern materials have made the bushcraft thing absolute except for the survivalist crowd. With a couple pounds of gear in a day pack, and a good pocket knife, you should be okay in a wide variety of situations, if you utilize that lump of gray stuff between your ears. I don't think it matters if you have a stockman, SAK, trapper, or a barlow, as long as it's a good cutting tool that you know how to use. With a pocket knife, some jute twine, and a 1.99 disposable plastic drop cloth from the paint section at Walmart, you can make a storm proof shelter in 15 minutes that can beat anything the big chopping knife boys can hack out of the local woods. I know that the old guys like Mr. Van with his scout knife, and the rough old cobs down on the eastern shore I knew in my childhood with a motley collection of pocket knives, got by very nice with a couple inches of sharp carbon steel. But they had the knowing. And a few things in an old canvass pack.

I think part of the popularity of the SAK is the overflow from the backpacking crowd. Modern fabrics, light weight composite materials, all have changed the outdoor world. Heck, even Case, the icon of old timey cutlery, now has some knives scaled in carbon fiber. Buck has long made stockman's in synthetic materials, and I tried for 25 years to wear one out. Nothing ever broke.

If I have one single criticism of SAK's it's the scales. With Buck and others showing the ruggedness of delrin, I wish Victorinox would finally abandon the so called cellidor scales and go with something more durable. Delrin, micarta, nylon like their econo line, anything else. Delrin has a long history of good scale use, not just with Buck, but generations of working men using the heck out f their Schrade Old Timer's saw cut delrin. Great knives, great durable handles. I think Case has also used delrin on some of their working man models and sodbusters.

Carl.
 
rockgolfer said:
By the selection you brought with you, it sounds like you where undecided on the chores you would come across? The tasks at hand gained you the experience to now know what you need.
Jeff
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Jeff, I usually bring the Tinker camping... since I have acquired a few more blades, I decided to see how they'd do camping. I usually carry the 309, and it's a capable cutter. The classic is always on my key ring. The peasant's thin, broad blade might have been nice for food prep. The tinker just has all of these attributes in one package, and more. At one point, I had multiple knives in one pocket rubbing against each other, and I thought, this is silly.

If I had to show off making feather sticks, I'd have used the peasant knife. My friend, who was an experienced camper, made a one match fire out of twigs and branches, so I saved my hard-earned skills for another day.

Yosemite is a great place to visit; I'm fortunate to live so close to it. We took a bus up to glacier point and hiked down the 4 mile trail, which gave us spectacular views of half dome, El Capitan, and the rest of the valley. There is so much beautiful scenery that it's impossible to take in all at once. For those who haven't been, it's worth the trip, despite the crowds.
 
Thanks for clairifying dogstar. I usually have a little selection with me as well.

I grew up in fairfield, spent some time in vallejo, sacramento and elk grove. Only been out of california for a few years. Yosemite was a regular stomping ground. Head up highway 80 toward tahoe, lots of great uncrowded wilderness to be had. Or go up toward shasta. I spent my childhood exploring the sierras and such. Most of the time my little whittler was with me, its seen alot in its life as well. Only thing I miss is those mountains, probably enough to draw me back or atleast more north at somepoint.

I agree 100% if you have never been to yosemite its a must. No matter if they pave it and put in escalators I would still go, just breathtaking scenery. Got any pics of your trip?
 
rockgolfer said:
I grew up in fairfield, .................................
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Fairfield huh. Travis Air Force Base. Was your family, Dad, Mom, yourself, affiliated with the Air Force. 99% of the time when taking off from Travis we flew out over Suisun Bay. Talk about Fog.
 
My dad got stationed at travis well before he had me. The fog did get bad over the bay in suisun. Helped bring the ducks in to grizzley island. Ah good memories, where abouts in Modoc county are you? My dad and brothers all reside in Redding these days.
 
Jeff, I'm not a big photo taker. I keep the images in my mind; I'd rather save the weight for knives! Here's a shot from glacier point off the web:

GlacierPoint_Pano_resize.jpg
 
I usually dont take photos either, I completely understand. Thanks for doing the leg work on finding a pic. I can just stare at that view for hours.
 
One thing I always do is sniff the Jeffrey pine bark when I get up to that elevation. That vanilla smell is forever linked to the sierra in my mind.
 
You guys are killing me today. In scouts we stayed at wildcat camp I believe one time. The scoutmaster took myself and two others on a 16 mile dayhike(roundtrip mileage) to the top of the main waterfall. The hike was from the backside so we didnt have to do the long climb up. That hike was the first time I saw a bear in the wild. That experience truelly changed me, you couldnt get me out of the woods after that. Such an amazing site to see animals in the wild.
 
rockgolfer said:
My dad got stationed at travis well before he had me. The fog did get bad over the bay in suisun. Helped bring the ducks in to grizzley island. Ah good memories, where abouts in Modoc county are you? My dad and brothers all reside in Redding these days.
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I'm in Alturas - 145 miles NE of Redding on State Hwy 299
 
Alturas, thats a little further then my travels have taken me. I have been to eagle lake and caught some wonderful trout. Did the same at hat creek, my dads favorite place to fish these days. I think he heads up their every weekend. You truelly are living in paradise, atleast in my eyes. You from Alturas or did you just end up their? Being a navy man you sure are a ways inland.
 
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