Just got back....

Daniel Koster

Daniel Koster

www.kosterknives.com
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Oct 18, 2001
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Just got back from a heavy-duty backpacking trip at Devil's Den State Park in Arkansas (about 48 miles south of my place). I took some scouts on the Butterfield Hiking Trail for some hike-in overnight camping (pack-in your stuff).


We hiked 10 miles in, set up camp, stayed the night and hiked 5.5 miles back out.

On Friday we started out at 760 feet (elevation) and went up to 1320 real quick....kept going until we got to 1700. Then started descending back to our overnight campsite at around 620 ft.

This morning we left camp and ascended up until around 1180, ending up back at the car at 760.

With a lot of ups-n-downs in between.

And all this with 40 lb backpacks on our back...:eek:



The weather here was perfect, so nice in fact I came back with a sunburn on my face and neck. :foot:


I am ready for a bath and a nap....:D

Hope everybody's having a good weekend. :thumbup:


I'll post pics and details later...:o

Dan
 
This reminds me of a trip I took with my troop in Vermont except with bad weather....

Mt. Stratton, 4.5 miles up and 3 miles down to the camp. Got there by 4 o' clock and set up camp. All was well, I and others were fed and asleep when it started raining. it rained alot. It rained SO much that the next day during the 8 mile hike out kids sunk up to their shins in mud. I didn't but my raingear was useless after that trip.

That was a year and a half ago. Since then I can get my pack down to 18 pounds without water! :D Bu that means little with all the troop gear to be moved around!

In short, I wish I was there with that great weather. Have some nice rest! You sound like you need it.
 
ok...I took the hot bath...and a nap....had a good dinner...got in a movie...and I'm STILL so stiff I can hardly walk...:foot:

there's always tomorrow, right?

:D
 
Back when my pack was 40 lbs I figured about 6 miles was good with a pack.

When you do those ups and downs, that's when you really appreciate a lighter pack.:thumbup:

I just got this Golite jam pack and have been trying it out. In it I have my hatchet, most of my personal effects, cup, cooking pots trail pad, my heavy sleeping bag, and my tent and water filter.

The pack itself is 1 lb 9oz and with all that stuff it's 14 lbs. I figure I can keep it under 20 w/ food and water.
jam.jpg
 
Dan,
I am also active in Scouting and love to bring the boys out and teach them outdoor skills. We always have a great time rain or shine.
Steve
 
mapper66 said:
Ain't it though! I want to know what tent you have crammed into that thing. Details, please. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

The tent in there is a North Face Tadpole 23, but the poles are in the pocket on the other side.

Normally we use a REI Gimme Shelter tent that sets up with trail poles and weighs only 3 lbs and is about 6x12 packed.

The 23 has a little vestibule we can actually get one pack under. The REI is just big enough to sleep in, the packs have to stay outside.
 
Vital info is missing from this story. What knives did you bring?
 
LOL!!!!


This was a "prep" hike for Philmont...where we will carry our homes on our backs for 12 days....:eek:

Believe me...I want it as light as possible...:foot:

But when you're in the woods for just shy of 2 weeks, with only the occasional restocking of food...some things you just can't leave home.


This was a great trip...I ain't complaining....my calves are complaining, yes...but me, I'm AOK.

:o


Dan
 
Training hikes are great. Make sure the guys get their gear now - nothing like showing up to Philmont with something shiny new that hasn't been tested out, especially boots or pack!

I'm particularly curious about the knives in your Scout gear - while technically not prohibited by national regs, I've found that many scouters think sheath knives are verboten, and some local regs do indeed prohibit them. Kind of ridiculous, if you're comparing a K5 to some three-foot long Cold Steel folder.

I have a Jam pack in gray. I haven't stuffed it with the ultralight kit yet, though. I usually take a stripped-down Gregory Reality with light gear - tarp, alcohol stove, minimal goodies, etc. Everything fits inside, so it makes a nice, tight package. I need to make a few more compromises to get everything to fit in the Jam. Probably cut some sections off of my 3/4 Z-rest, maybe get a compression sack for the sleeping bag, or a lighter bag. Clothing and other gear are decently pared down.
 
I'm not sure what I'm going to do....Philmont (and the BSA) aren't so crazy about fixed blades....I think it has to do with the sheath not being 100% secure. Which, of course, is kinda silly since the prefered scout knife is usually a slipjoint - much easier to cut yourself with...:foot:...and I can make sheaths for a fixed blade that you cannot shake the knife out of it...but if they make 1 exception...they'll have to make more. So, they've taken a hard line on it. And since they inspect all your gear upon arrival...I'm happy to oblige. :D

So, in the end, I'll probably just take my leatherman ti charge. Decent blade, plenty of useful tools. Heavier than a SAK..but probably more useful.
 
You could probably dodge the gear inspection if you wanted to, but I think as a leader you need to set a good example. It's a little irritating that you can't do that with optimal gear. Philmont is one thing, but what do you carry with your local troop?

I'm not sure the charge is the best option, unless it's the best combination from what you have. Essential tools are probably scissors - for opening food packages, cutting moleskin, trimming nails; knife for spreading peanut butter and emergency fire prep (making fuzz sticks and the like); and maybe a small saw - again for emergency fire prep. Pliers and screwdrivers are only useful as far as you can use them to repair gear, mostly packs and stoves. Sort of eyeball the gear your group is carrying. If there are no large screws or bolts to tighten, I'd ditch the Charge. Also, Philmont is somewhat unique, in that you're usually close to established camps where you can scrounge up serious tools.

My light combo would be a Vic Classic (mostly for the scissors, replace with a Leatherman Micra if you want screwdrivers), Gerber LST or similar small blade that doesn't have nooks and crannies to gunk up with peanut butter, and a survival wire saw. Another possibility would be Vic Farmer (adds the saw) and classic, or a Huntsman (saw, scissors, and blade in one package, along with a small screwdriver). None of this is sexy, high-speed cutlery, but it gets the job done. You could always replace the LST with a small, sexy Ti framelock in S30V. :D
 
Daniel Koster said:
I'm not sure what I'm going to do....Philmont (and the BSA) aren't so crazy about fixed blades....I think it has to do with the sheath not being 100% secure. Which, of course, is kinda silly since the prefered scout knife is usually a slipjoint - much easier to cut yourself with...:foot:...and I can make sheaths for a fixed blade that you cannot shake the knife out of it...but if they make 1 exception...they'll have to make more. So, they've taken a hard line on it. And since they inspect all your gear upon arrival...I'm happy to oblige. :D

So, in the end, I'll probably just take my leatherman ti charge. Decent blade, plenty of useful tools. Heavier than a SAK..but probably more useful.
Click to expand...

How depressing. :(
 
I did 64 miles at Philmont when I was 15 or so. Already an Eagle scout and it was tons of fun. I hope I have at least one boy I can bring up through scouting.

Just think Dan, I had to carry a 35 pound ruck, a rifle, web gear, and helmet 12 miles in 3 hours in the infantry. THAT will make you sore.
 
Yes...I'm not complaining at all about the weight....I have too many buddies in the armed forces....anything less than 60 lbs is "lightweight" in my book.

Don't ask my legs what they think....:foot:


The biggest downside to the charge is the weight - it's a beefy lil' sucker. The main tools I want are: good solid blade (so I don't have to carry several knives), pliers, saw, can opener and scissors.

Relative to my day-in, day-out work, and even "round-town" camping...it's almost a minimalist approach...but at Philmont...the lighter the pack, the better.



Typically on outings...I tend to "try out stuff"...so there's not any one knife that is my "go-to" blade. Between the folders I EDC, the fixed blades I've collected, and the new models I make...I have more knives than camping adventures...:D...but I do manage to get them all out there somehow.
 
A leatherman might be too much Dan, the chances of using of the tools is small (but then again it would be cool to be the only one on the trek with one since they reccomend no more then one per crew). I got by with my Delica only nad whittling is something to be avoided due to the strict leave no trace policies there. My sugesstion, carry a light folder and save weight on all your personal gear because food and water weighed nearly 20 pounds in the end. Most of Philmont I managed with just under 55 pounds of gear.

Best of luck and keep us updated on your training hikes. (I developed an ankle injury on an 18 mile weekender and was pulled off the trail seven days during the trek :()
 
If I decide to go minimalist....I do have a micro Dyad that is small but very useful. :D
 
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