Show us the tools you actually carry backpacking or camping, to alleviate delusions.

[craytab]

If this does not stop, I'm going to lock this thread. I will proceed to write as many infractions as it takes to get the point across that you need to discuss the topic not one another.

Yes, let's have more photos of cool stuff! Pinnah's photos make me want for spring to come early!

 

[cricketdave]

What I actually carry backpacking depends on where and how long i'm going. Usually carry my stuff in a camelback tri zip pack, canteen, knife and first aid on my belt, sometimes a pistol depending on the area and a folder for small stuff in my pocket.

Lately its been a Martin Mce2 because hey its freaking fun and works great, and a ZT560 or 566 for a folder. I usually hammock camp and most places I go build a campfire.

 

[savage99]

A few weeks ago I went out to Seven Springs (East of Cave Creek, AZ) with a buddy who got a tag for Javelinas and this is what I brought out with me:

OKC Rat 1A
crappy Winchester fixed blade
.40 Ruger P94
Tesco Binoculars (really old, were my wife's granddad's)
Backpack with CamelPak full of water
Backup 32oz Nalgene
Some gum
Found stick for walking (dried up agave stalk)
(Not Pictured: Leatherman Wave)

When I was a kid that was one of my first fixed blades it got stolen, but when I had it I likes it a lot. It fit my hand great but the steel was less than ideal. Decent set up though looks like the outing was fun

 

[EChoil]

No, I am not on a circuit.


I've answered your question. Are you going to address why you think not carrying a knife is similar to not wearing shoes for a backpacker? Or do you just want to keep hurling the insults?

Sure, I'll answer your question. And as a quick aside, I haven't seen anything I consider an 'insult' other than some attitude and non-essential educational info thrown MY way...which I only considered as sarcasm. We OK now?

Back to the topic, yes, to me someone embarking on an extreme outing of duration in the wild and in extreme weather with NO blade and no shoes would be quite the curiosity and I would indeed question their thinking. If my answer doesn't satisfy you maybe someone else's will. Have you polled others here on the same question?

 

[timberweasel]

Here's what I prefer to carry: an ESEE Izula 2 and a SAK. I prefer a fillet knife for fishing but I could do without, I suppose...

But here's a gratuitous pic of the BK-9 that I'll leave at home...

-Brett

 

[RX-79G]

Sure, I'll answer your question. And as a quick aside, I haven't seen anything I consider an 'insult' other than some attitude and non-essential educational info thrown MY way...which I only considered as sarcasm. We OK now?

Back to the topic, yes, to me someone embarking on an extreme outing of duration in the wild and in extreme weather with NO blade and no shoes would be quite the curiosity and I would indeed question their thinking. If my answer doesn't satisfy you maybe someone else's will. Have you polled others here on the same question?

I haven't had to poll others. Several other people said the same thing - that you don't need a knife for many kinds of hiking, camping, backpacking. It is also a common story on backpacking forums.

Going without shoes is not.


The refund for my college education comment was insulting. You know that.

 

[EChoil]

Yes. A few of us have backpacked in the winter and at altitude. And obviously, others haven't.

In New England, once you're in the boreal zone (about 2500' and up) harvesting wood in winter just isn't practical or, in most places, even allowed. Technically, camping above treeline in the alpine zone (about 4300' and up, depending on wind exposure) is forbidden. It does happen, and everybody knows this, but it requires significant outlays in gear (tents and sleeping bags). 50mph winds and -20F temps are common place. Realistically, most folks camp just below treeline.

Winter camping in these zones requires that you have a clothing, shelter and sleep system that is utterly dialed in and most importantly, that you know and stay well within the limits of your gear. I've camped and slept at -15F but that's as far as I'm willing to go with my current gear. I simply won't go on trips with temps forecast at -10F or lower but feel very comfortable at 0F or even -5F. -10F is doable with a bit of margin for safety but that's it.

Central to any winter camping system here is the camp stove. Stove craft, which includes the ability to repair a stove if needed and to coax it to life no matter what your condition or the weather is a real and important skill among winter campers. People who lack adequate stove craft skill are a threat to themselves and others. People with good stove craft are an asset to any team.

Knives are a part of the tool system and should be regarded as such. Gear repair is the biggest issue for safe winter travel (including retreat). Using a knife for food preparation is not needed. Foods like meat and cheese can easily be pre-cut during pre-trip preparation. Pre-cut food are much easier to deal with when you are hunkered down behind a small rock outcropping and the wind is howling hard enough to knock you off your feet. Summiting a winter peak while crawling is common.

The small Leatherman is the most important of the two, primarily for the ability to repair equipment.

Thanks for addressing that to me.

Yup, you know the score. I see you take knives with you so I assume you are well shod too.

 

[EChoil]

I haven't had to poll others. Several other people said the same thing - that you don't need a knife for many kinds of hiking, camping, backpacking. It is also a common story on backpacking forums.

Going without shoes is not.


The refund for my college education comment was insulting. You know that.

OK, man. We're good. I just thought that my having to explain the quote marks and all........

 

[RX-79G]

OK, man. We're good. I just thought that my having to explain the quote marks and all........

I quoted the part with quote marks (the thing I wrote about scissors) and the part without quote marks. Not sure why you couldn't understand I was asking about the stuff you wrote, not quoted.


On topic, there are lots of different ways to camp and hike, and the relative risk of using a knife or not bringing one both exist. When you choose to use any dangerous tool several days hike from help, there ought to be more reason than just "I like knives". Maybe not bringing one is alarmist, or maybe it is the lowest contingency on the list and more useful things are going in the pack.


I personally like knives and am unlikely to pass up the opportunity to bring one along on a camping trip. But I would seriously consider leaving that super light Mora sheathed until there is good reason.

 

[EChoil]

I quoted the part with quote marks (the thing I wrote about scissors) and the part without quote marks. Not sure why you couldn't understand I was asking about the stuff you wrote, not quoted.


On topic, there are lots of different ways to camp and hike, and the relative risk of using a knife or not bringing one both exist. When you choose to use any dangerous tool several days hike from help, there ought to be more reason than just "I like knives". Maybe not bringing one is alarmist, or maybe it is the lowest contingency on the list and more useful things are going in the pack.


I personally like knives and am unlikely to pass up the opportunity to bring one along on a camping trip. But I would seriously consider leaving that super light Mora sheathed until there is good reason.

Now I AM confused. Let's just drop this. Glad to see you do carry a knife with your scissors into the wild. I carry a knife too.

 

[BenHarris]

90% of the time, this is all I carry. If I plan on a fire, or if it is winter, I carry a Mora. In the summer, I cut back to an ultralight kit. Maybe my Kabar Remora and a Victorinox Classic. I am still in the market for a Leatherman Squirt to carry with my Mora though!

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[stabman]

When you choose to use any dangerous tool several days hike from help, there ought to be more reason than just "I like knives".

And there's where we disagree the most.
For me, "I like knives" is all the justification I ever need for anything even remotely knifey.

Why do I have a knife at the library?
At the hospital?
On the bus?
While in a canoe?
While in a university class debating about the history of cholera?

I could give some long-winded answer about being prepared for "_______" (fill in the blank however you like), but "Because I like knives" is always going to be the best, most valid, most universally applicable answer for me.

 

[cricketdave]

Exactly because I like it and it makes me happy. I'm not going on a hike to survive like a cave man or see just how far I can go with the smallest amount of stuff. I go to have fun, everybody has something that they like in their own way. Not wrong or right, my way or the highway.

 

[RevDevil]

OK, man. We're good. I just thought that my having to explain the quote marks and all........

I quoted the part with quote marks (the thing I wrote about scissors) and the part without quote marks. Not sure why you couldn't understand I was asking about the stuff you wrote, not quoted.


On topic, there are lots of different ways to camp and hike, and the relative risk of using a knife or not bringing one both exist. When you choose to use any dangerous tool several days hike from help, there ought to be more reason than just "I like knives". Maybe not bringing one is alarmist, or maybe it is the lowest contingency on the list and more useful things are going in the pack.


I personally like knives and am unlikely to pass up the opportunity to bring one along on a camping trip. But I would seriously consider leaving that super light Mora sheathed until there is good reason.

You guys are on your way to earning some points if you quit. Did you think I was joking when I wrote my post earlier? If you want to learn the hard way, be my guest. Put one another on ignore and move it along. The next barbed post wins some points.

 

[flatblackcapo]

This is what I took with me on my last snow camping trip. Daniel Fairly Ti Backpacker and a SAK Farmer.

 

[shunsui]

I did all my camping before I was 40. Getting too old these days for backpacking. Back when I did go, I carried a boy scout hatchet, an air force pilot's survival knife, and a swiss army knife. Did everything I needed.

Today I've got a lot more toys because I just like knives. I have some nice Busse models that can do it all, and I have a very nice Spyderco South Fork that would work just fine with an Estwing hatchet.

I prefer hatchets because I grew up with them and I can process wood much easier than with a knife.

Oh.. and never go out in the middle of nowhere without something on your belt you can jam deep into anything that requires that sort of attention.

 

[nemesis]

What I actually carry backpacking depends on where and how long i'm going. Usually carry my stuff in a camelback tri zip pack, canteen, knife and first aid on my belt, sometimes a pistol depending on the area and a folder for small stuff in my pocket.

Lately its been a Martin Mce2 because hey its freaking fun and works great, and a ZT560 or 566 for a folder. I usually hammock camp and most places I go build a campfire.

Dave that Martin is a beautiful tool. Love it

 

[pinnah]

This is what I took with me on my last snow camping trip. Daniel Fairly Ti Backpacker and a SAK Farmer.

Nice shot and fairly consistent with my winter camping kit. Only differences are that I feel naked at this point without some pliers, if only to drive a needle through multiple layers of heavy fabric and the deal with bunged up zippers.

The other difference is stoves. I have to admit the new blended canister stoves are certainly compelling for their ease of use. Perhaps when my Svea 123 craps out and dies [1], I'll replace it with it with a canister stove.


[1] - Roughly equivalent to saying when hell freezes over!


More hiking and ski touring stoke, cause that always helps...

The wild side of the Swift River along the Upper Nanamacomuk ski trail. No easy exit here. Ski in. Ski out. Or chance a dangerous winter river crossing. Will be returning there in a few weeks. Weight definitely matters on that trip.
100_0071 by Pinnah, on Flickr

This one is for Stabman. Moisture. We do moisture in New England too. No absolute right or wrong way. Have fun, stay safe and don't wreck it for the next people - things I know we can and do agree on. Lightweight leave-no-trace techniques work in the wet spots.
Beaver Pond, NH by Pinnah, on Flickr

Here is an excerpt from trip report (I posted this to rec.backcountry back in the day) about a rain-fest in the Sandwich Range in NH. For those tracking the knife/tool issues, this was back when I only carried a Victorinox Classic.

Sat 7:00am: I wake up and find my boots in a 1/4 inch of water. They
are in a low spot near the center of the tent. I inspect my sleeping
pad; just starting to get damp. I quickly pack up my bag in its
heavy garbage bag. Everything of value -bag, clothing and food- gets
put into garbage bags. Amazingly, the rain has not let up. It is
clear that the ground has reached saturation point and I am faced
with an increasing amount of run off creeping in under my floorless
tarp/tent. By time I am eating breakfast, I only have enough room on
the one high spot in the tent for me and my pack. The rest of the
tent is either a lake (behind me), a swamp (on the far side) or a
growing brook (in the center). The stream claims a misplaced water
bottle, sweeping it downstream an out of the tent. I relish in
the novelty of having a tent with running water and spit my tooth-
paste in the middle of tent only to watch it swept away in under
a second. Laurie and Brenda are faring only marginally better.
Their stove was underwater in their vestibule and they learned
why tent floors are called "bathtub floors". Laurie's bag was
free floating in its stuff sack in the back of tent. By time
we break camp, the brook running thru the tent is a full 2 feet
wide. I have to fight the current to drag the tarp out.

Here's a shot that takes in the Northern Presidentials. Right to left, that's Madison, Adams and Jefferson. Picture is taken from near the top of Washington. The kids have asked to do the (half-)traverse this summer, which includes all 4 peaks. Weight will be drawn down to a minimum. "Speed is safety", wrote Chouinard.
Great Gulf by Pinnah, on Flickr

 

[Hacked]

This is what I took with me on my last snow camping trip. Daniel Fairly Ti Backpacker and a SAK Farmer.

Someone really hates the dark! I've actually stepped down to just a 1xaaa light for camping and backpacking with a homemade headband for use as a headlamp. Nice setup! Do you like the Spork? I just broke my LMF and it has me thinking about moving on to something TI.

 

[craytab]

Great Gulf by Pinnah, on Flickr

Gal darn. My feet get a little sweaty looking at this. Nice photo.