zeke
Trail Wise!
Peekaboo slot 2023
Posts: 9,886
|
Knives
Aug 7, 2018 10:19:04 GMT -8
Post by zeke on Aug 7, 2018 10:19:04 GMT -8
A pistol might be quicker and easier. Waaaay too heavy for my tastes.
|
|
ErnieW
Trail Wise!
I want to backpack
Posts: 9,931
|
Knives
Aug 7, 2018 10:24:57 GMT -8
zeke likes this
Post by ErnieW on Aug 7, 2018 10:24:57 GMT -8
I do carry it where it is easily accessed, in case my arm is pinned by a rock in some forgotten canyon. A pistol might be quicker and easier. Are you saying that he could shoot his arm off easier than cut it? Or kill himself because he is stuck?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Knives
Aug 7, 2018 11:00:32 GMT -8
Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2018 11:00:32 GMT -8
Are you saying that he could shoot his arm off easier than cut it? Or kill himself because he is stuck? Take your choice.....I'm pretty sure we all read about the guy who hacked his arm off to get free and lived through it......but I think he's an anomaly.
|
|
reuben
Trail Wise!
Gonna need more Camels at the next refugio...
Posts: 11,163
|
Post by reuben on Aug 7, 2018 11:18:26 GMT -8
I'm pretty sure we all read about the guy who hacked his arm off to get free and lived through it......but I think he's an anomaly. Of course you think that. You implied that he should have killed himself with his own gun. News flash - guns aren't the solution to every problem.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Knives
Aug 7, 2018 11:24:59 GMT -8
Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2018 11:24:59 GMT -8
News flash - guns aren't the solution to every problem. They aren't?
|
|
zeke
Trail Wise!
Peekaboo slot 2023
Posts: 9,886
|
Knives
Aug 7, 2018 12:16:14 GMT -8
Post by zeke on Aug 7, 2018 12:16:14 GMT -8
You believe guns are the solution to Domestic Violence? Unwanted pregnancies? Missing homework?
|
|
RumiDude
Trail Wise!
Marmota olympus
Posts: 2,361
|
Knives
Aug 7, 2018 12:50:09 GMT -8
Post by RumiDude on Aug 7, 2018 12:50:09 GMT -8
OK, I'll throw in on this ... again. A knife is a useful tool for making things. Why would anyone need to make anything? Because there might be an emergency that requires one to make "things". I will add this, if your first aid kit amounts to band-aids and Bufferin, and all you have is a tiny knife or razor blade, you might have minimized too much. If a real emergency occurred you might be unable to properly deal with it. A quality sub 3 ounce knife with a 3" blade is worth the weight. True emergencies are rare, and that is a good thing. But if something happens that gear is damaged or lost and improvisation is called for, give yourself a chance. I hope it never happens to any of us, but if it does I hope we are prepared. Rumi Addendum: The Ten Essentials as listed by The Mountaineers. The classic list and the latest iteration both contain a knife.
|
|
zeke
Trail Wise!
Peekaboo slot 2023
Posts: 9,886
|
Knives
Aug 7, 2018 13:06:42 GMT -8
Post by zeke on Aug 7, 2018 13:06:42 GMT -8
Nope. Not changing my ways just because you like to use a knife while in the woods. I am quite adept at adapting, improvising, and overcoming. You know I respect the hell out of you, RumiDude, but this is one more place we must agree to differ. You might be interested in #18 on this list.
|
|
RumiDude
Trail Wise!
Marmota olympus
Posts: 2,361
|
Post by RumiDude on Aug 7, 2018 14:51:08 GMT -8
You know I respect the hell out of you, RumiDude, but this is one more place we must agree to differ. Well, I respect the hell out of you as well. I also respect the wisdom of those that deal with emergencies, like SAR. Most SAR groups recommend carrying the Ten Essential, including the knife. As for #18 on the link: "Very rarely do I ever miss my knife and I certainly have never needed my knife. A razor blade can be great an ultralight alternative." That just means he (the author) has never had an emergency need for it. My guess is he doesn't even need a razor blade because in an emergency it is worthless. A second guess is that if the SHTF he would not know what to do. About a third of his 42 suggestions are silly, IMO. I will tell you why I am vocal about this in threads such as this, because too many backpackers are unprepared to handle any real emergency. And when an emergency does happen they either get lucky because someone comes along to help or they press the 911 button on their PLB, SPOT, or inReach and hope that someone gets there in time. As I mentioned, a knife can really be vital piece of gear in an emergency situation. Even Andrew Skurka suggests carrying a Victorinox Classic at the very least. I am hoping I never have an emergency need for my knife. But I use it for non-emergency needs and if an emergency does arise, I have it. Currently there is a missing hiker here in the Washington Cascades. From what I can gather she took off with little more than food and water for a day-hike up a local peak. If she had the Ten Essentials, including a knife, she would have a much greater chance of survival. Rumi PS: Out in the west many trails are quite isolated and people need to be prepared to deal with the unexpected. Most often in Washington, the trail head itself is out of cell phone coverage. And some trail heads are way off the beaten path. The last two years have seen a dramatic uptick in hiker emergencies, several resulting in death. Have the skills and tools necessary to survive is my advise. If a person is struck by a meteor, there's not much avoiding that. But with most scenarios, people can usually help themselves.
|
|
|
Knives
Aug 7, 2018 15:57:53 GMT -8
Post by johntpenca on Aug 7, 2018 15:57:53 GMT -8
Out in the west many trails are quite isolated I'm with you on the need for a decent knife. zeke is well schooled in isolated trails/off trail. I carry a buck 3" blade knife. Mainly use it for gutting fish.
|
|
|
Knives
Aug 7, 2018 16:35:23 GMT -8
Post by trinity on Aug 7, 2018 16:35:23 GMT -8
I wholeheartedly agree with RumiDude . But zeke is way more knowledgeable and experienced than I, and he knows how to weigh risk, which we all do to one degree or another when we go backpacking. I certainly respect the decisions he makes on his own trips. But Rumi's point is well taken, less experienced backpackers probably should carry more than just a razor blade, IMHO. I will note that most of my trips are solo and in very remote areas, so I tend to go for overkill when it comes to safety. And I can't believe I'm doing this, but I'm going to stick up for 'slinger. I took his comment as a joke--in poor taste, perhaps, but he is hardly the only person on this site guilty of that. And yes, I think he was taking a jab at some folks, but I thought it was in good fun. Politically I could hardly disagree with him more, but he does contribute outside of TPA (unlike some others I could name), and I have found him over the years to be a decent fellow who adds to our backpacking discussions. Just my opinion.
|
|
zeke
Trail Wise!
Peekaboo slot 2023
Posts: 9,886
|
Knives
Aug 7, 2018 16:50:03 GMT -8
Post by zeke on Aug 7, 2018 16:50:03 GMT -8
trinity Since most of your trips are solo, do you carry a PLB or such? I debated and debated on this subject, finally giving in to buying one when I started kayaking solo in the open Gulf waters of the Everglades. It certainly made my wife feel more at ease with my retirement outings.
|
|
|
Knives
Aug 7, 2018 17:56:52 GMT -8
Post by trinity on Aug 7, 2018 17:56:52 GMT -8
trinity Since most of your trips are solo, do you carry a PLB or such? I do. I've carried a satellite messenger for quite a while now, a first generation SPOT for about 6 years, a Delorme InReach SE (which I greatly prefer) for the past 3. Like you, I carry mine largely for my wife's peace of mind, but it also just makes sense. Not a guarantee against accidents, but I feel it provides an added layer of safety in case anything goes wrong.
|
|
RumiDude
Trail Wise!
Marmota olympus
Posts: 2,361
|
Post by RumiDude on Aug 7, 2018 19:46:53 GMT -8
And I can't believe I'm doing this, but I'm going to stick up for 'slinger. I took his comment as a joke--in poor taste, perhaps, but he is hardly the only person on this site guilty of that. And yes, I think he was taking a jab at some folks, but I thought it was in good fun. Politically I could hardly disagree with him more, but he does contribute outside of TPA (unlike some others I could name), and I have found him over the years to be a decent fellow who adds to our backpacking discussions. Just my opinion. +1 Not offended. Sometimes I roll my eyes, but I just move on and all is well. Rumi
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Knives
Aug 8, 2018 10:20:31 GMT -8
Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2018 10:20:31 GMT -8
And yes, I think he was taking a jab at some folks, but I thought it was in good fun. Who? Me? Surely not! Lol....wink.
I like a good knife. So each to there own....or..."Hike your own hike".
|
|