trail clearing tool suggestions ?

Yes, so when you pull away, you "set the hook". Nifty, eh? I've always considered blackberries passively carniverous.

Pat
 
Since we're talking berries I was wondering if anybody knew what these berries that grow here are really called.

They grow and look similar to a red raspberry, but the stems have fine hair like thorns, not really even thorns if you ask me. the berries are kind of in sort of a husk or surrounded by leaves at least, but when ripe the leaves or husk pulls back. Red berries. Taste like a red raspberry but maybe a little sweeter. My neighbor calls them Japanese Red raspberries but I don't know if that is what they really are. Seem to be growing wild but could have just escaped cultivation.

Any ideas??
 
Those are pods, stay away from them... How do we know you are who you say you are?














munk
 
Using an AK for clearing would be like using a sledgehammer to swat a fly! :D

Seriously tho, an AK is a heavy-duty, axe-like chopper, not meant for clearing or machete duties. Tom Holt once said that too much energy would be expended stopping the cut. Furthermore, springly vegetation has a tendancy to deflect cuts in a totally different direction with all the energy directed with it! Such a cut would be hard to stop embedding you prized khuk into you knee or foot! :eek::eek::eek:

Anyhoo, my personal recommendation would be to use any of the slim, light, sword-like khuks, such as a light 20" Siru, a GS, any length Kobra, a Chit or Chainpuri, etc.

I personally have used such khuks in clearing an ivy infestation and bamboo...

If cost is a limiting factor, Valiant Trading Company would be the other option. Their range of Survival Goloks are a nice blend of both worlds, being beefier than a cheapo "whippy" machete, but lighter and a bit thinner than a HI...
 
hollowdweller

They're called wineberries. One of the joys of early summer. They grow wild throughout the eastern US as far south as Georgia. As far as I know they're native to the this country. Their canes are covered with reddish hairs. And when the berries are picked they leave a bright yellow-orange core attached to the plant. Best eaten fresh as they don't have enough taste for jams and preserves. I'm told that a medicinal tea can be made from their leaves but I have never tried it.

Hope this helps. :)
 
Welcome Gyr.

This is way offtopic, but as long as we're talking about wineberries, what is the name of the red berries birds get drunk on once a year?




munk
 
Around here, the robins move through every fall & eat the dogwood berries & get drunk out of their minds for a few days. The berries are a bright red when they ripen. If you want to grow some dog woods for your yard, pick you some in the fall while the robins are after them & put them in the freezer until warm weather. These nurserymen around here then take them out & start them in green houses until they are about the diameter of a pencil & a foot or so long. These are then set out to grow. When they get 2 to 3 feet tall, they are either again transplanted or sold as what they call 'liners.'
 
In the northern part of California's central valley Robins were found eating ripe cherries that had fermented on the tree. They were actually observed falling out of the tree and droping to the ground. Unfortunately they were so drunk they just layed there overnight and died of exposure. I read where hundreds of the little drunkards were die'n this way.
 
They're called pyracantha. Small red berries about the size of a pencil eraser, right? Nasty thorns on those guys.
 
Thanks for the welcome, Munk.

I suspect that you are thinking of dogwood beries. As DKP posted, they cause robins and other songbirds to exhibit symptoms of intoxication.
When I lived in PA, it was not uncommon to see grouse and pheasants act erratically after consuming overripe wild grapes in the fall. Here in the South I have occasionally seen bobwhite do this also.

Just to get this thread back on topic:
For clearing a single-file trail thru unbroken woods, where one has the option of going around large tree, etc.; hoghead's advice about using a machete for the light, juicy brush and and a khukuri for the occasional heavier, woody stuff works for me.

For maintaining an existing trail or clearing a 17.5 in BGRS works better than anything else I've tried.

Where one does not have the option of skirting the larger obstacles,
my cutting instrument of choice would be one made by the good "kamis" at Sthil or Echo........;) ;) ;)
 
i dunno, gyr, I liked that OT. Who can beat drunk birds? Birds know things, GYR. They know.




munk
 
Originally posted by JUSTRIGHT
AK, AK, AK......;)
Click to expand...

Ain't that just *A LITTLE BIT* too heavy? That's just inviting the khuk as an uninvited guest into your kneecap! :eek::eek::eek::eek:
 
This forum doesn't have thread drift. Thread veer, yes, drift, no.

( Wouldn't be half as much fun otherwise. ):D
 
Hence, we should replace the customary "OT" with "TVW" (Thread Veer Warning), yes? (special "inside" language, and all that :D ).
 
Hibuke, Yes it may be alittle heavy for some but I got very used to it by now.;) Just have to be careful.....As with any tool used.:D
 
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