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Post by Crockett on Jan 16, 2016 10:21:27 GMT -8
I think a hatchet or axe is too dangerous an option for the backcountry and not really needed. For the most part, I'll gather what wood I can easily carry and if a piece is too big to break manually I'll generally just lay it over top or feed an end into the fire. I do have a Sawvivor (great saw!) which I sometimes bring but its not what I would call a necessity.
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Post by tallgrass on Jan 17, 2016 16:54:29 GMT -8
I have a Gerber Hatchet/Knife combo. Knife slips into the hatchet handle. Never take it backpacking, but it sees lots of use car camping, around the home, and doing field work (lots of invasive tree girdling).
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Hatchets
Feb 20, 2016 13:49:22 GMT -8
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Post by rodwha on Feb 20, 2016 13:49:22 GMT -8
Many moons ago I read an article on great hatchets and one of them was the Estwing #1, which I have. For a hatchet it is nice, but I have been considering buying a large knife designed to chop.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Feb 24, 2016 8:24:28 GMT -8
I want to note that as I kid I used all these tools--around home. And we'd take a hatchet car-camping (I think Dad even had an axe); though the wood was often brought from home, we did gather as well. Things were different in the 60s and 70s. Now, I can't see chopping or cutting anything while backpacking, but some of that may be a reflection of my location: here in the arid West, we don't have so many trees that we want anyone cutting them up, dead or alive. I have been considering buying a large knife designed to chop. To chop what?
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Hatchets
Feb 24, 2016 10:53:58 GMT -8
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Post by rodwha on Feb 24, 2016 10:53:58 GMT -8
Maybe if ground fired were allowed I'd take one for making kindling or some such. I've not used any instrument for anything such as that and have only used my hatchet as a stake mallet once in rocky ground as I don't have an appropriate (and light weight) tent stake mallet yet (in my cart though for next pay day).
Much like a kukri without the bent blade and much smaller and lighter than a machete but quite effective at clearing brush or any other chopping need. Probably dices jalapeños well too, which would be a bonus!
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Feb 24, 2016 11:03:18 GMT -8
For fresh food prep a larger knife can be useful.
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BlueBear
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Post by BlueBear on Feb 25, 2016 14:15:36 GMT -8
...as I don't have an appropriate (and light weight) tent stake mallet yet (in my cart though for next pay day). Generally speaking, any rock or a nearby log will do just fine on tent stakes if the ball of your foot doesn't. I bring a rubber mallet when car camping, but for backpacking I would never even consider it. Anything light enough to not be absurdly heavy in the pack wouldn't be heavy enough to be effective as a mallet. Just my $.02 anyway, on the tent-stake mallet. I can't imagine wanting to bring one on a backpacking trip. - Mike
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reuben
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Post by reuben on Feb 25, 2016 15:34:09 GMT -8
People who bring hatchets are why other people bring guns. For protection. It can be an arms race.
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amaruq
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Post by amaruq on Feb 26, 2016 5:36:38 GMT -8
I get the starter pistol, but why the hatchet?
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reuben
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Post by reuben on Feb 26, 2016 5:53:19 GMT -8
Traditionally, it gets buried after the race. I don't know why. Probably some crazy Canadian tradition.
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Post by kumachan on Aug 23, 2016 16:00:59 GMT -8
I don't know, I love my Fiskars X-15, but that's an axe. That said, I only use it when car camping with the family at NYS operated campgrounds and have to split the wood that the wood guy sells. I never pack that axe when I'm backpacking. If I want a fire when backpacking I have an old knife for batoning kindling or whittling away wet bark if it's been raining a bit. What's batoning, you might ask? Watch Lily:
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Post by johntpenca on Aug 23, 2016 17:50:44 GMT -8
I guess this is a west vs. east thing. Here in the west, fires are generally frowned upon in the back country and banned in most areas. For camping in campgrounds with fire rings, if I want a fire I buy the wood.
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Post by UpperPeninsula on Aug 23, 2016 19:01:20 GMT -8
I like fires. A natural part of camping. I prefer to hike where fires are not banned. I don't like wet wood and smoke in my eyes. You have to know wood to enjoy a fire. Morning wood is the best after a chill night.
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Post by kumachan on Aug 26, 2016 12:44:06 GMT -8
Veering off topic but, yeah, I think that campfires are definitely more commonly allowed on the east coast & A.T. as opposed to the mountain and western states, though I've had many campfires backpacking in Northern CA. I actually prefer cooking meals over coals, though, rather than with my MSR stove. My kid bitterly complained the one time I made him smores over the MSR!
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Post by johntpenca on Aug 26, 2016 18:52:45 GMT -8
I like fires. A natural part of camping. I used to feel the same in the old days but grew out of it, especially in the west. Here it is important to let the wood turn into fertilizer as there is not much else to keep the forest healthy (hence the fire restrictions at altitude). Not to mention the risk of causing wild fires.
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