Tools: An old well worn stockman knife
Toys: A large variable pile of sharp pointy things of all shapes and sizes
I enjoy the outdoors as much as any of you; but, were it as much work as some of us would like to pretend, I would think that most of us would choose to stay home. We generally head out for a weekend walk through a park, not a 19th century expedition into a savage unexplored wilderness, where we would have had to spend weeks trail blazing, harvesting food, and constructing all forms of major infrastructure.
n2s
Well said. If I want some fresh air and a few miles to stretch my legs, I don't need saws, machetes, a large chopper, a medium slicer, a necker, a folding saw, a hatchet, fire starting gear (other than a BIC), and I remember that some here even take firearms on day hikes!
If I am going specifically to play with my toys, then my hikes are shorter because I sit and goof with cutting, splitting, sawing, chopping and other activities that mean little on a day hike unless you are just checking out your gear. Certainly nothing wrong with that.
For a 10 - 12 mile day walk, I take a small first aid kit, my signal whistle, water, my JYD II, and a peanut with the main blade sharpened to a needle point to pick splinters, thorns, etc. When the flowers are in season, I take my book on local edibles and flowers that tells me what the indigenous peoples used the plants for when they were here. Oh yeah, my camera goes about 1/2 the time.
I have camped and hiked enough to have a lot of confidence in my equipment, and on long hikes I pare it down pretty thin. I used to hike with enough equipment to outfit a regiment, and sat down after a couple of 3 day long hikes and looked at exactly what I used. Not that much... with the goals I set to cover the ground I needed to get to the pickup point I didn't have much play time. And I was sick of wagging around extra gear.
I don't take three pieces of equipment that do the same thing in case one breaks, gets lost, or becomes inoperable. One utility type sheath knife, a good medium pocket knife, and a peanut in the first aid kit is all I take as far as cutting instruments go.
It is difficult for me to get out these days. When I have a chance, I am not going to pack up a war chest. I want to fill my water bottles and get on the trail.
Robert
