What would you carry up a mountain?

I have yet to go camping (went when i was younger but didn't really do much) or climbing by myself but i know that i have this huge plan in my head to go out into the the middle of no where with my friends and bring some fixed blades, folders, shotgun and maybe a few pistols as well as basic fire starting supplies and water purifiers and try to survive the longest we can by building shelters and hunting game. But as a back up i was going to bring non perishable food in our car just in case we flat out fail out there as well as sleeping bags if it gets way too cold.
 
Dustburn, some may find your post offensive, maybe this is not your intent but its on the edge.
 
i have a feeling hes referencing the movie "Holes" but none the less it is rather offensive whether you see the reference or not.
 
I'd suggest you carry a fixed blade and a multi tool like the others suggested.

Maybe a Gerber Profile fixed blade. It is equipped to do most tasks, is easy to sharpen, the grip is fairly made for wet conditions and if you lose it you can always replace it when you get back (costs roughly $20). The sheath may suck but you don't use the sheath for slicing and chores right?

As for the multi tool, a Swiss Army Knife would be useful. I'd personally carry a Leatherman Wave.

I would also like to quote one of my posts here because I think it seems applicable.
"Back in the Philippines when I was in the province we used what we call "bolo", "tabak" or "sundang" (all are similar to each other) to do everday chores from cooking, chopping wood, bush whacking, harvesting, opening coconuts and even for defensive purposes. The blade did well and we would replace them only when there is little blade for sharpening. There are a couple of manufacturers that produce bolo-type blades like Kershaw, Cold Steel, Gerber and SOG Fusion series. Outdoor, I'd prefer a bolo-type blade over any survival knife because like the machete, it is a versatile tool. "

You can buy pretty good bolo-type blades for less than $15. They cost less but perform big. Way big than you could ever imagine. Blades can be used for so many things. Try searching for the brilliance of the "Aetas" when it comes to mountain survival and their use of knives and blades (Aetas are one of the minority natives of the Philippines). You'd be surprised. ;) It doesn't matter if you have a big or small knife with you. It's how you plan to use it. :) Here's a sample link : http://tomahawksurvival.com/2009/09...-guides-tata-kasoy-and-miguel/comment-page-1/

Cheers mate! I do hope you find a knife that suits your needs. Tell us about your trip. Would love to hear about it.
 
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A SAK and a Military, the best of both worlds and not too heavy. An ounce at the beginning will seem like a pound at the top.
 
I would recommend to take a SAK with you. A Farmer or Huntsman is what I carry on my camping and hiking trips. If you prefer a longer blade, then take a look at the Wenger Ranger series or Victorinox 110mm series. They are inexpensive tools and you could even consider to buy a backup.

You could also think of taking an Opinel with you. They are very light and I prefer them for food preparation when camping, because of their thin and very sharp blades. Opinels are also inexpensive tools.

A small fixed blade may also be handy, although I think it depends on the way of camping. If it is an organised trip, where everything is available, a multitool or SAK may be more useful than a fixed blade, in my opinion.
 
TwitchyBlade said:
I have yet to go camping (went when i was younger but didn't really do much) or climbing by myself but i know that i have this huge plan in my head to go out into the the middle of no where with my friends and bring some fixed blades, folders, shotgun and maybe a few pistols as well as basic fire starting supplies and water purifiers and try to survive the longest we can by building shelters and hunting game. But as a back up i was going to bring non perishable food in our car just in case we flat out fail out there as well as sleeping bags if it gets way too cold.
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Sounds like a interesting idea, esecially the saftythoughts you have around it. Doesnt seem to be to much "romantic wilderness surviving thoughts" about it. If you dont have so much camping experience its good to make a start in gaining wilderness experience. The equipment just is a fragment of surviving in harsh country the big thing is the experience. But ggod equipment can be a thing making it easyer and for sure make it more confortable for those who have experience.

BUT

My advice is if you want to be in the nature, just go there, with the things you need to make it a nice stay. Start geting that campingexperience and dont think longer about it. Dont forget the fishing equipment. Its much easyer to make the living on fish than game, bouth supply and cooking.; You can eat a fich direktly after catching it while most meat needs hanging to get tasty, the corps stiffness has to leave the meat. Hunting in a new environment can be diffikult and the chanses are that you cant get enough food is large.

Its the aktual nature that is its own reward, dont complicate camping, go to a nice place around your homearea and just enjoy.

Bosse
 
Leftoverdj said:
Tell us more about your trip. Makes a difference whether you are jumping off from a pro base camp or going DIY all the way. I'm a little vague on what climbing Kilmanjaro entails, too. My impression is more of a tough walk than a climb, maybe two days up and two back?
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Hi Leftoverdj, its pretty much a hike/walk not technical with no climbing from my understanding.
It will be my first serious hike.
 
Barsoomian. I know some people that made that physically challenging walk up Killimanjaro.
Most important. Take something for the stumach if you dont cope well with the hight.

As for knife I would take a locking folder that I already own and like. Something I have used enough so I new it was tested for errors from the manufacture. I mostly carry slipjoints but when tired and a long way from medical care in an infectious environment I would want the extra safety if a lock. I would have taken my delica. I would also bring a SAK climber for the tools and a blade to abuse( lending out sort of abuse as other people on the way soon will know that you are the man with the knife. I would also bring a wery light sharpening stone.

Bosse
 
barsoomian said:
Hi Leftoverdj, its pretty much a hike/walk not technical with no climbing from my understanding.
It will be my first serious hike.
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To my knowledge scaling Kilimanjaro is a trip you have to undertake with guides, solo hikers/climbers arent allowed to do it alone, and you are corrct, its not technical at all. Id advise you to take a small locking folder for camp chores and a SAK or other multitool of some sorts. On my mountain hikes ive handled everything with my Victorinox Camper, havent had the need for big plier-based tools.

On another note, Kilimanjaro is a pretty strenous hike combined with low temps and high altitude. Remember that acclimatisation is essential! Plus the goverment charges a fee for each day spent on the mountain which might pressure some people into moving fast, too fast for their own good which can result in altitude sickness. Now combine that with thousand of tourists who think that Kilimanjaro is a walk in the park and youve got a recipe for disaster. Ive read somewhere that approximately 10-20 people die on the mountain from alitude sickness every year, plus rockslides have also taken it toll.

So remember to stay safe and use your head. And show us the pics when you come back!
 
thanks for all the feedback everybody much appreciated i'll post pics after the trip. Its next year Aug so lots of time to plan.

thanks once again.
 
I have tried many many setups, my current mountain/cold setup is:
victorinox Swiss Tool, has plers and has a lot of tools
Zero Tolerance 0500 MUDD, only sealed pivot knife around, great for wet/cold environments and good when used wet or with gloves

a fixed blade could be a good addition even if not necessary as there conditions will be different than those of a normal hike
in the case you can/want co take a fixed blade a RC-4 o Bravo-1 wll be the best

my 2 cents
Maxx
Italy
 
OK, we are reaching agreement. No serious bushcraft involved, weight important, short camping trip. The much mentioned SAK is too delicate for my taste, although I have no quarrel with those who like them. A lightweight medium locking folder will do what you need. A Ka-Bar Dozier Hunter at 5.5 ounces is what I carry, although there are other comparable knives. I would not totally rule out a fixed blade such as the Mora 760 at 10.5 ozs., sheath and all, but I would go no heavier or larger than that.

With a year to think about it, I'd also allocate a few ounces for a Possibles pack. Duct tape, needle, strong thread, fine wire, etc.

Local customs permitting, I'd also want a few capsules of amphetimines. I ain't much on drugs, but they can be lifesavers when you absolutely must carry on past your limits.
 
Leftoverdj said:
Local customs permitting, I'd also want a few capsules of amphetimines. I ain't much on drugs, but they can be lifesavers when you absolutely must carry on past your limits.
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I recommend the OP stay away from such things. Just the thought of bringing drugs into a east-african country makes my spine shiver. I wouldnt want to spend time in jail much less an east-african jail.

And taking amphetanies when scaling Africa's highest mountain is asking for bad things to happen, especially if he takes them to "carry on past his limits" as you state it. If one feels that the summit is out of reach then you need to back off ASAP...countless people have died because they pushed on to the top even though their bodies had reached the limit.

If a climber or any outdoorsman (or woman) wants to push his boundaries he/she needs to have the right gear, have the knowledge and skills to use it, be able to read the terrain/weather, be physically prepared and fit, need to eat properly and most importantly he needs to use his head and have a good portion common sense.

Thatll take him alot further than popping a couple of pills.
 
Antibiotics could be a pill to carry in case. Reach the top or not. The ones I spoken to that went up killimanjaro talks mostly abouth the sight from the slopes over the eastafrican landscape. Take a knife you realy like, think of the memories that knife will carry for you later in life. And youre probably a knifenut since you ask this question here so puting some money in a good knife cant be elemental.

Bosse
 
Popping pills in a situation like that is as wise as trying to hike up an unknown mountain without proper gear and knowledge.
 
NirreBosse said:
Antibiotics could be a pill to carry in case. Reach the top or not.
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If you don't know why, when or how to use them, they'll just be dead weight. And potentially harmful.
Not as bad as taking amphetamines but another BIG no-no.
 
Well LUW, You can use antibiotics to begin treatment for example infected wounds or neumonia. Same things that you would use it for at home. For the right dosis you talk to a doctor that gives you a perscribtion. I would also carry a little cleaning alkohol for wounds and medicin for stopping a bad stumach. No medication to help you up of course just to help you down.
LUW, not knowing anything about for example antibiotics doesnt make them bad medication when needed, instead learn what you need to know.

Bosse
 
Well, Ive taken a swiss army knife, a bark river kephart, a bark river aurora, northstar, etc. and a spyderco military, and a chris reeve shadow. ...Just a few of the ones Ive carried. Allot of it depends how long Im going to be out.
 
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