It was my second trip to the BWCA back in 2007, but my first trip with three of my close friends. My first trip was the year prior with my extended family and like many I fell in love with the BWCA. We were excited about venturing out into the wilderness where WE were the individuals that planned, charted, and executed our decisions.
On this trip, we were maybe four portages into our first day, and we came upon a group of individuals that were exiting. They were sullen and disheveled. We came upon the last group members on the portage, and one was assisting the other down the trail. We immediately noticed a massive bandage on the injured party's foot. We asked what happened, and were told that he had been chopping fire wood with an axe and landed the business end of the axe to his metatarsal (top of foot)...

That trip our group brought a hatchet and a retractable saw. We favored the saw over the hatchet as we didn't want to risk getting ourselves into a similar situation.
Since that incident, I have only brought a fold-able 14" saw. It's the size of a mini baseball bat and tucks away nicely in my pack. I have not once wished I had a hatchet or an axe, and I'm wondering what others bring to cut their fire wood, or if they have similar stories?

Please be safe during your trips this year think about what you are doing. Slow down and make smart decisions and understand how your actions will affect your group members.

I stick with a folding saw. Hatchets and axes do not appear to me to be necessary and the risk of a catastrophic injury in the bush scares me.

Folding saw, with a good knife for batoning. The weight, not to mention the aforementioned risks, of an axe/hatchet are not worth it, and have not been missed.

I bring both. I like the split wood to get a hotter fire going faster and to be able to regulate baking better. I will say when I use a hatchet, I wear leather gloves and I place the blade on the end of the wood I am splitting. I then gently tap it on a rock to get it started. Once started (axe head stuck in wood) I remove my hand from wood and proceed to hit the wood on the rock to split it. I do NOT take a free swing and attempt to split with one hit. I'm accident prone :(

I bring a Sven saw and a 14 inch Gerber hatchet. I'm a workaholic at the camp though. I'm good with the hatchet and have never came close. I like splitting the wood into good piles cause it burns much better. Plus I do all my cooking over the fire so it is also nice to be able to have good pieces.

I did have one issue when I was bushwacking looking for wood and I was going up a hill and slipped and as I was falling I dropped the hatchet and it landed blade up and of course I put my hands out to catch myself and of course it sliced my finger a tad. But hand sanitizer, tp, and electrical tape fixed that.

So lesson here is if you are walking through the woods with it...leave the case on it.

Overcomer: "I bring both. I like the split wood to get a hotter fire going faster and to be able to regulate baking better. I will say when I use a hatchet, I wear leather gloves and I place the blade on the end of the wood I am splitting. I then gently tap it on a rock to get it started. Once started (axe head stuck in wood) I remove my hand from wood and proceed to hit the wood on the rock to split it. I do NOT take a free swing and attempt to split with one hit. I'm accident prone :( "

I'd trust myself around a hatchet, it's the other people I trip with that I wouldn't trust. They might trust themselves, but I wouldn't. One nasty axe wound and everyone gets to go home, not just the one who got hurt.

I am big fan of bring a saw and a parang. I just happened upon a small bear grills parang in a clearance box. It is perfect fro removing those little branches before you saw it up and makes an excellent splitter when battoning.

I take a saw and an oversized hatchet. Rarely take a full swing. A good way to prevent injuries, especially with newbies, is to have them use it while kneeling.

I love my Sven saw but also take a small hatchet. When the weather has been wet and rainy, use the hatchet to break off the wet exterior section of a log. The interior sections are dry and will start a nice hot fire for you. The hatchet is also just generally nice to break a log up into smaller sections for kindling and smaller fires.

My father-in-law never brought a hatchet into BWCA or Quetico, he was a believer that it was an accident waiting to happen in a remote location without medical help. You need to be confident and know how to use any tool you bring into the woods, but always be 10x extra cautious than you would be at home.

I never use a saw or hatchet for wood gathering. Just break it on a sharp rock. Early season or after a big storm in the Quetico I'll carry a saw for portage troubles. A cut with a sharp serrated saw can be as brutal as an axe or hatchet injury.

Pilgrimpaddler: "

Overcomer: "I bring both. I like the split wood to get a hotter fire going faster and to be able to regulate baking better. I will say when I use a hatchet, I wear leather gloves and I place the blade on the end of the wood I am splitting. I then gently tap it on a rock to get it started. Once started (axe head stuck in wood) I remove my hand from wood and proceed to hit the wood on the rock to split it. I do NOT take a free swing and attempt to split with one hit. I'm accident prone :( "

I'd trust myself around a hatchet, it's the other people I trip with that I wouldn't trust. They might trust themselves, but I wouldn't. One nasty axe wound and everyone gets to go home, not just the one who got hurt."

If someone else will be tripping with me the axe will be off limits.

I usually bring a saw and a small axe, especially in spring or fall. I used to bring a small hatchet but have switched to a GB Small Forest Axe for light duty as I think it gives better handling control and puts the cutting edge that much further away from me. I bring a piece of close cell foam and kneel for my wood processing - sawing and splitting. Splitting is basically tapping - no big swings are needed, and it's always straight down so if there's a miss or a glance it's hitting the log under or worst case dirt.

A short review on YouTube suggest there are a lot of people with axes who would be better off not handling them.

I'm sort of with Banks - none of those. Cook on a Dragonfly, fires can be built with what breaks or can be burnt from one one end.

We do the same. Axes concern me no matter where I might use them. I'd rather not risk it. Folding saw and a Becker BK2.

billconner: "I'm sort of with Banks - none of those. Cook on a Dragonfly, fires can be built with what breaks or can be burnt from one one end."

But I like cooking over the fire.

Another "D. None of the above" answer. I don't need one for the occasional small fire I build and for me it eliminates dead weight as well as the increased chance of serious injury, especially important when solo.

x2jmorris: "

billconner: "I'm sort of with Banks - none of those. Cook on a Dragonfly, fires can be built with what breaks or can be burnt from one one end."

But I like cooking over the fire."

Then you should pack a saw and a hatchet. I don't swing the hatchet, only use it as wedge and hammer with a log. Seems pretty safe and a very small light hatchet works. Dometimes we stove devotees go with fire cookers. What can I say?

Small folding saw (5.5oz) only. And that's just for the possibility of downed trees on portages or access roads (Ontario).

dang, depending on the trip I may have a folding saw, long handled hatchet and a small "camp axe". If I need to split wood a hatchet works, but grab a piece of wood and use it as a hammer and the hatchet as a wedge. I also at times use a hatchet to product a quick pile of shavings to start a fire. I once landed twice during a trip to gather a chunk of fat pine for use.
Could I get by with out a hatchet, yes, but i could also get by with out a sleeping bag and tent. I bring them to help make things better and more enjoyable.

I bring a saw. I generally bring a hatchet which is used as a wedge for splitting wood.

I do have a "boys" ax. I most often use it for car camping when you have spit those outrageously huge chunks of wood sold in and around the campgrounds.

To me the need for a full size ax when canoeing is for clearing portages. The BW is cleared pretty well. Occasionally you need to saw a few branches of a recently fallen tree to get over/under it.I

x2jmorris: "
But I like cooking over the fire."

I've relied on fire for cooking on plenty of trips but have never felt the need for an axe or saw to provide fuel.

Folding saw but hardly ever use it.

Folding Sven saw is the only thing we've taken and never felt like I needed more tools

Those round logs don't burn well.. you need a hatchet for it ;)

Banksiana: "

x2jmorris: "
But I like cooking over the fire."

I've relied on fire for cooking on plenty of trips but have never felt the need for an axe or saw to provide fuel. "

That is a beautiful pile of hand snapped! Just out of curiousity, is that in Quetico? I'd imagine it would be an order of magnitude easier to find dry, snapable stuff up there or WCPP vs the BW, especially on any popular lake.

That is BW actually but you are correct about difficulty for that specific pile. Usually I don't have much issue but that was on the NW site on Malberg. That was actually the trip where I had to go quite a ways through the woods and fell with the hatchet haha.

Normally I don't pick the popular areas but that was not the case on this trip.

whichever you bring...
+ farm-work type leather gloves.
+ first aid kit that can close a bad gash or saw's skin tear. (even seasoned hatchet/axe/saw handlers get surprised by distraction, occasionally)
Ibuprofen or Tylenol in kit.
Edit: I rarely make a fire but on September trips I like 'em. Then, I bring hatchet and saw. I use a variation of a tip shown on this VIDEO. An informative 36-minute video. Safety tip is at 19:00-28:00.

Saw

and GLOVES!

Gloves aren't a bad idea. Every trip I get cut multiple times from breaking the branches for splitting. Just feels so unnatural wearing gloves while working.

I use some cheap work gloves for wood gathering, processing and cooking. Also nice to have when you pull on ropes to put packs into the trees.

Only a saw.

That said, I do recognize the superior burning qualities of nicely split wood, and am jealous and grateful when someone leaves some at a camp for me.

We used to bring a hatchet, but when we didn't use it for 3 or so trips in a row, it no longer makes the cut (pun intended).

Jaywalker: "
That is a beautiful pile of hand snapped! Just out of curiousity, is that in Quetico? I'd imagine it would be an order of magnitude easier to find dry, snapable stuff up there or WCPP vs the BW, especially on any popular lake. "

Quetico. An unfair advantage in the wood gathering game.

We always take two saws an Irwin, folding, a hatchet and a Bark River bushcrafting knife. I would not go without any of them and had to use the saws and axe to remove blow downs in the campsites a number of times. Not to mention placing logs around the Fire Grate.

I enjoy having a small hatchet and saw. A foot long 4-5 inch diameter piece of wood serves well for 2-4 meals with a stick stove. I cut the wood in 3-4 inch lengths and split after that. Hardly any force is required for the spliting, in fact it could be done with a knife, but I prefer the hatchet. Both saw and hatchet have gotten smaller over time.

I bring my 14" Sven saw and a Granfors Bruks Wildlife Hatchet. Started to bring a plastic splitting wedge (used by loggers to unwedge chainsaws). This works great and also greatly reduces chance of injury when splitting larger pieces of wood.

Since Boy Scouts, I've used axes for 58 years whenever the occasion demanded it was the best tool. I saw my Dad cut pretty bad and managed to cut myself one time so I have no illusions of my "skill" or of others. Stripping branches from a trunk, splitting small logs and shortening kindling often call for using a small axe. For everything else pass me the saw.

I have brought a hand axe many times and am quite confident in my abilities. Have used full size axe on hunting trips and around home a fair amount. See no need for a full size axe in the BWCA. With that said I prefer a saw and batoning. I can do anything I need with an Irwin saw and an Esse 6. Have gotten by with much less.
I have grown to hate axes and hand axes in the BWCA due to the damage Iive trees by clueless irresponsible people.

I sense a song by Rush...

+1 WalleyeHunter24,

I bring a Sven Saw and a GransFors Brux Wildlife Hatcher. Perfect light weight combo for cutting and splitting wood for a campfire.

I own and have carried hatchets and small axes on camping trips, but I have never run into a situation that couldn't be easily handled with a good folding saw and a fixed blade knife.

Im not building a cabin, Im making a cooking fire...

saw, don't cook over fire , don't need an axe.

I get the idea of seeing someone else's mistake/injury can teach you a lesson. To me, the lesson is don't chop wood, basically don't swing a hatchet. To me it is a wedge on a handle. If you decide swinging an axe is correct for your canoe trip, use an axe not a hatchet and know what you are doing. Don't let anyone else use your axe or hatchet.

I thought about switching to a good knife for battoning wood. I decided no. I am no bushcrafting survivalist. I am less likely to injure myself seriously having a hatchet around camp than a big fix bladed knife. Who knows what random way I would find to really hurt myself with a big knife. They have so many possible uses, so many more possible mistakes.

AdamXChicago: "I sense a song by Rush... "

good song. You beat me to it.

JackStraw: "I get the idea of seeing someone else's mistake/injury can teach you a lesson. To me, the lesson is don't chop wood, basically don't swing a hatchet. To me it is a wedge on a handle. If you decide swinging an axe is correct for your canoe trip, use an axe not a hatchet and know what you are doing. Don't let anyone else use your axe or hatchet.


I thought about switching to a good knife for battoning wood. I decided no. I am no bushcrafting survivalist. I am less likely to injure myself seriously having a hatchet around camp than a big fix bladed knife. Who knows what random way I would find to really hurt myself with a big knife. They have so many possible uses, so many more possible mistakes.


"

Jackstraw you think like I do. If i brought whatever these knives are I'd probably be more likely to injure myself.

I fully respect that some people do not find an axe or hatchet necessary, and that some do not like the added risk they bring. Its funny to me, though, how seasonal it all is. In the summer I do consider my axe a bit of a luxury, and in fall important, but on my week long solo trips in January through March to the BWCA I consider an axe one of the most important safety items I pack, just behind my sleeping bag and pad.

Gransfors hatchet and Sven saw for me with leather gloves for me. I use them a lot during cooler weather and usually leave a nice present for the next guy. I bring them in the summer but when it's warm and buggy I rarely use them.

I use my little hand axe at home more then out there. I’ve burnt wood for 99% of my heat for years. I bought it for canoeing being light weight and sharp. I don’t use it much, but it’s used as overcomer and others have stated. Seems some people (and I’ve canoed with people like this) seem like their mission is to burn every piece of good burning stuff within a hundred yards of camp. They don’t even sit and enjoy the fire... just gather and burn. Like it’s yard work... so I bring but rarely use my Gerber hatchet.

When solo I don't use anything. Often don't bother to build a fire but have no problem finding wood in the Q to break by hand or over a rock or log.
With groups it is all of the above: Nothing, sven and/or hatchet. I usually leave the cutting and splitting to someone else.

I've always carried a saw, a Bob Dustrude or an Irwin. I bought a Husqvarna hatchet a few years ago but it always gets left behind. I think I'll take it this spring and make some nice firewood and leave some behind for the next guy, as I too am pleased when someone has done that before me. I have a Wildlife Hatchet on my wish list.

It all depends on your trip, and how you are using fire. If you are cooking with fire you need the tools to process wood. Some trips we have had 8 hungry guys and we cooked of the fire with reflector ovens for just about every dinner. That takes a lot of cut and split wood. These trips we tend to base camp so we have our guys gathering wood and split a big pile. I remember on some trips we have had 3 saws, 2 hatchets, and an axe. Seams like everyone in our group wanted to bring their favorite axe or hatchet that trip.

Maybe someone will appreciate this

For they passed a noble law
And the trees are all kept equal
By hatchet,
Axe,
And saw

nctry: "Seems some people (and I’ve canoed with people like this) seem like their mission is to burn every piece of good burning stuff within a hundred yards of camp. They don’t even sit and enjoy the fire... just gather and burn. Like it’s yard work... so I bring but rarely use my Gerber hatchet.

Some places it feels you can walk 400 yards and not find any downed decent wood.

"

Now there is a picture of someone that know how to use an axe! When possible I always use a hatchet or axe kneeling so if you miss it goes in the ground not your leg. If you feel comfortable bringing a hatchet and / or a saw by all means bring it. If not leave it at home.

Folding Silky Saw, leather gloves, heavy knife for bushcraft. Use a 18"-long beaver stick as a mallet and a 12"-long of the same cut to a wedge. Can split just about anything without ever having a sharp edge moving more than 1" at a time. Must be SAFE!

Just got back from a trip with a couple first timers and brought a folding saw and small machete ($15 Gerber) for clearing twigs off logs. Don't like hatchets for same reasons many have already outlayed. They're just plain dangerous!

First off, that Gerber Machete is a piece of junk! First down tree I found I get done clearing the twigs, look at the blade and there's a huge roll over and multiple chips. From that point it was solely used to split pine logs as a wedge and the problem only got worse. I have never been more disappointed in my life with a piece of equipment, especially from a company I generally trust.

That said, upon coming home I immediately made note to bring my small splitting axe for our next trip. I use it at home all winter to split logs and have never had Eve a close scare with it. For those looking, fiskers makes a really light one you can find anywhere (Walmart, Menards, home Depot) with a composite handle. But mine is very similar to a Gransfors Bruks small forest axe. The handle is long enough you need not worry about hitting your hand or legs. Just be smart.

The folding axe is nice, I've just always had trouble burning the pine and spruce in BWCA unless it was split to expose the interior.

x2jmorris: "I bring a Sven saw and a 14 inch Gerber hatchet. I'm a workaholic at the camp though. I'm good with the hatchet and have never came close. I like splitting the wood into good piles cause it burns much better. Plus I do all my cooking over the fire so it is also nice to be able to have good pieces.


I did have one issue when I was bushwacking looking for wood and I was going up a hill and slipped and as I was falling I dropped the hatchet and it landed blade up and of course I put my hands out to catch myself and of course it sliced my finger a tad. But hand sanitizer, tp, and electrical tape fixed that.


So lesson here is if you are walking through the woods with it...leave the case on it."

+1

I always have a folding saw with me. I am not afraid of an ax, but it is much heavier than a saw, the weight in hikes is critical for me. Additionally, I take a special cord that can cut the trees, this process is longer than the saw, but if the saw breaks it is a good alternative. I broke down, but I always have a backup plan for such cases :)

Sven saw and a GB SFA. The axe was a new addition this year and it really came in handy when we needed quick fires to warm up and dry out socks and boots. You can monkey around batoning with a knife but it is way easier and faster to just use a darn axe.

With an UCO flatpack stove you don't need a hatchet or a saw. Burns small wood and consumes very little fuel. Provides heat, cooking grill, and ambiance.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HZF9FMG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Gransfors Bruk Small Forest Axe and Agawa Canyon Boreal 21 saw for me. I'll baton wood for kicks, but the axe is much more efficient.