amaruq
Trail Wise!
Call me Little Spoon
Posts: 1,264
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Post by amaruq on Jan 13, 2016 5:14:19 GMT -8
I've got a Sven Saw (as mentioned above) for carrying back-country. One of the other guys in my backpacking group carries a short axe; so long as he carries it, it's no weight on my back.
Granted personal, responsible fires are encouraged in the back-country here, while seemingly discouraged throughout the US.
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toejam
Trail Wise!
Hiking to raise awareness
Posts: 1,795
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Post by toejam on Jan 13, 2016 7:25:09 GMT -8
I've carried a Coghlan's folding Sierra saw, cheap & light from Wal Mart. Only useful when cutting firewood for a group and removing smaller blowdown from the trail. Not something I normally carry even when planning to have a fire.
Hatchets & axes are no more backpacking equipment than coolers and cast iron frying pans.
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Post by llamero on Jan 13, 2016 7:59:16 GMT -8
Another vote for a bow saw, much more useful and efficient than a hatchet or axe. I carry a 24" bow saw on top of a pannier and use it most often for trail clearing.
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rebeccad
Trail Wise!
Writing like a maniac
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Post by rebeccad on Jan 13, 2016 8:19:41 GMT -8
Yeah, but Tommy had fun, didn't hurt anyone, and almost chopped up some firewood for us at HOTB a couple of years ago. And that might be an appropriate spot for a hatchet. Look, I've nothing against splitting firewood. I did it as a kid, since that's how we heated our house. I just don't think it needs to be done on the trail!
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Westy
Trail Wise!
Diagnosed w/Post-Trail Transition Syndrome
Posts: 1,960
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Post by Westy on Jan 13, 2016 8:38:28 GMT -8
Hate'm! Have seen hatchet people marking trees with blazes unnecessarily. Might be helpful if you have a wood stove at home.
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tomas
Trail Wise!
Posts: 1,906
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Post by tomas on Jan 13, 2016 10:04:57 GMT -8
I've got a folding saw that comes out for canoe trips, car camping, and precious little else.
The hatchet is something that goes to scout camp just because I use it to help teach kids how to properly use a hatchet.
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Post by williamh4 on Jan 13, 2016 10:14:51 GMT -8
Hate'm! Have seen hatchet people marking trees with blazes unnecessarily. Might be helpful if you have a wood stove at home. I could see that. Obviously, unless they're in a life or death situation, they don't respect the trails, IMO. It would be very disappointing to get miles out into the wilderness, wondering if anyone has taken the same path you're on, only to see hatchet marks in a tree.
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idahobob
Trail Wise!
many are cold, but few are frozen
Posts: 198
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Post by idahobob on Jan 13, 2016 20:06:55 GMT -8
I carry a folding saw sometimes. There are places where campfires have no long term impact, and in places like that I don't mind having a fire. However, I always have scouts carry a hammer. (just kidding)
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idahobob
Trail Wise!
many are cold, but few are frozen
Posts: 198
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Post by idahobob on Jan 14, 2016 9:33:45 GMT -8
Mora and Fiskars make high quality hatchets. I'd carry one on a canoe trip, depending on the location. You can cut a lot more firewood with a folding saw, however.
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Post by ashepabst on Jan 14, 2016 9:53:09 GMT -8
here's how it's done:
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Post by Coolkat on Jan 14, 2016 10:11:18 GMT -8
I've utilized that method many of times.
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Post by williamh4 on Jan 14, 2016 10:16:14 GMT -8
I've utilized that method many of times. Me too. I can't think of a faster method. Even a chainsaw wouldn't be much more efficient for that particular wood.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jan 14, 2016 10:16:36 GMT -8
Cut shmutt: pick up twigs off the ground and have at it. Now for furniture and bridge building Stihl saws are the only way to go!
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Post by williamh4 on Jan 14, 2016 10:22:45 GMT -8
Cut shmutt: pick up twigs off the ground and have at it. Now for furniture and bridge building Stihl saws are the only way to go! Great product. I've had a few.
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Post by scapegoat on Jan 15, 2016 18:50:18 GMT -8
As a Boyscout in the 80's (when my pack weighed about half as much as I did), I carried one of those above mentioned folding saws too but honestly I don't think I ever even used it and we made plenty of medium sized camp fires per the Boot method mentioned About the only time I've seen a hatchet used in the woods was when our scout troop would pound tent stakes for the large dining fly at a camporee. I carry a wire saw for emergency wood cutting -it weighs a quarter of an ounce, costs less than 10 clams and is virtually nonexistent in your pack. It won't cut very fast but it can be made into a bow saw or tied in line with cord for a high branch.
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