- Joined
- Nov 20, 2006
- Messages
- 600
I took a long (for me) hike today. The trail is a real beast for the first few miles and then it mellows out as it reaches the stream. I was glad when that happened. However, just a 1/4 mile in on the mellow part, high winds from the day before had blown a large tree over the trail. It was impassable. Not even a mouse could get through that morass of branches. Here's a pic:
Detouring around the tree would have been very difficult. Probably not something I would have wanted to attempt since I was hiking alone and was pretty sure no one would be on the trail today.
A brief flash of disappointment was quashed when I remembered my knife. I had my Fallkniven S1 with me. No tree is a match for a good knife. I attacked it with gusto.
Before I took a swing at the first branch, I remembered the Man vs. Wild episode where Bear Grylls showed the best way to cut a branch. Bend it and cut it where it's straining. I did just that and the first branch, at least two inches thick, was history with just two chops. Subsequent branches didn't stand a chance. In no time, I had carved a tunnel through the tree that allowed me (and all subsequent hikers) to continue on with the hike. Here's a pic of the defeated tree:
(Although it may not look it, it's just a shadow of its formal self.)
I was quite impressed with myself and my knife.
I'd like to extend my thanks, and the thanks of all the other hikers that will take that trail, to Fallkniven and Bear Grylls for allowing me to reach this reward at the end of the hike:
Oh yeah, here's the knife:
Detouring around the tree would have been very difficult. Probably not something I would have wanted to attempt since I was hiking alone and was pretty sure no one would be on the trail today.
A brief flash of disappointment was quashed when I remembered my knife. I had my Fallkniven S1 with me. No tree is a match for a good knife. I attacked it with gusto.
Before I took a swing at the first branch, I remembered the Man vs. Wild episode where Bear Grylls showed the best way to cut a branch. Bend it and cut it where it's straining. I did just that and the first branch, at least two inches thick, was history with just two chops. Subsequent branches didn't stand a chance. In no time, I had carved a tunnel through the tree that allowed me (and all subsequent hikers) to continue on with the hike. Here's a pic of the defeated tree:
(Although it may not look it, it's just a shadow of its formal self.)
I was quite impressed with myself and my knife.
I'd like to extend my thanks, and the thanks of all the other hikers that will take that trail, to Fallkniven and Bear Grylls for allowing me to reach this reward at the end of the hike:
Oh yeah, here's the knife:
