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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum Gear Forum Camp axe - worth the weight? |
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09/06/2020 10:03AM
Remember you are going to take a trip in September. The campsites will be long ago picked clean of easy firewood laying about. September also can get a lot of rain. Splitting wood will get you into the dry wood for fires. The nights also come sooner, sun sets early, air and water are cooler. You will need to process firewood and an axe or hatchet is needed. No way I would be without one this time of year. Also bring a good saw.
"So many lakes, so little time." WWJD
09/06/2020 10:39AM
Easy to split and break wood without hatchet or axe. Just smack it down on a large rock with a sharp edge.
I've been taking multiple trips/year for 40 years. The only times I've carried a hatchet or axe is when I've found them at campsites and have packed them out.
I've been taking multiple trips/year for 40 years. The only times I've carried a hatchet or axe is when I've found them at campsites and have packed them out.
Nobody exists on purpose, nobody belongs anywhere, everybody’s going to die.
09/06/2020 02:43PM
I agree that for splitting wood or regular camp chores, you can get by with other tools.
That said, I always carry an axe and saw and it's especially handy in the shoulder season as SavageV mentioned. And if you've ever talked with someone that's been out in a blowdown (I personally have not) it might inform your decision to always have an axe and saw in the pack.
That said, I always carry an axe and saw and it's especially handy in the shoulder season as SavageV mentioned. And if you've ever talked with someone that's been out in a blowdown (I personally have not) it might inform your decision to always have an axe and saw in the pack.
09/06/2020 04:59PM
Mnbowyer: "Hello all,
Just wondering people's opinions on whether a camp axe is worth taking for a short, 2 night trip? ."
How important is having a fire during your trip? I'm not good enough at firecraft to split wood with rocks to get at dry wood in a 48 hour rain storm in Sep or October. Outdoor axe in August and light distance trips, Wilderness axe for October slower moving trips where the fire is the tv.
Outdoor Axe
Wilderness Axe
09/06/2020 05:04PM
Savage Voyageur: "Remember you are going to take a trip in September. The campsites will be long ago picked clean of easy firewood laying about. September also can get a lot of rain. Splitting wood will get you into the dry wood for fires. The nights also come sooner, sun sets early, air and water are cooler. You will need to process firewood and an axe or hatchet is needed. No way I would be without one this time of year. Also bring a good saw. "
+1
Endeavor to persevere.
09/06/2020 06:58PM
unshavenman: "Savage Voyageur: "Remember you are going to take a trip in September. The campsites will be long ago picked clean of easy firewood laying about. September also can get a lot of rain. Splitting wood will get you into the dry wood for fires. The nights also come sooner, sun sets early, air and water are cooler. You will need to process firewood and an axe or hatchet is needed. No way I would be without one this time of year. Also bring a good saw. "
+1
"
+2
Paddle 200 yards away from camp with your saw and then go into the woods. You’ll find tons more and better wood. Cut into 5 foot lengths, then process back in camp.
09/06/2020 10:13PM
No.
The suggestion of gathering wood in the canoe a 3 minute paddle from camp is a good one - I find it's all stuff I can handle with a folding saw or even a sharp kick.
The suggestion of gathering wood in the canoe a 3 minute paddle from camp is a good one - I find it's all stuff I can handle with a folding saw or even a sharp kick.
"I don't care what you believe. I care what you can prove." -Philosopher & Mathematician JJJ
09/07/2020 09:14AM
Just one more opinion here...
Years ago I only took a good saw and a knife for batoning. Most of the wood that I processed was 3 inches in diameter or smaller. With the smaller wood, full rounds burn a little longer than split (IMO) so I didn't even split most of it, just cut to length.
With that said, I have taken a small hatchet with me the last two trips to help me with the splitting.
The other part to consider is how much of a minimalist do you want to be?
For just two nights, I personally would be traveling very light.
Years ago I only took a good saw and a knife for batoning. Most of the wood that I processed was 3 inches in diameter or smaller. With the smaller wood, full rounds burn a little longer than split (IMO) so I didn't even split most of it, just cut to length.
With that said, I have taken a small hatchet with me the last two trips to help me with the splitting.
The other part to consider is how much of a minimalist do you want to be?
For just two nights, I personally would be traveling very light.
09/07/2020 01:59PM
Not to me, at least not in the spring through fall. The only time I pack a saw and axe is in the winter.
On the other hand you might like fires more than I do and you might find an axe very useful on most/every trip. As someone else mentioned this is a personal choice.
On the other hand you might like fires more than I do and you might find an axe very useful on most/every trip. As someone else mentioned this is a personal choice.
09/07/2020 07:52PM
Mnbowyer: "Hello all,
Just wondering people's opinions on whether a camp axe is worth taking for a short, 2 night trip? Thinking a saw might be adequate for a couple fires worth of wood. Interested to hear all opinions.
Thanks."
Whenever I see this question asked on the forum, my first question back to the person would be "what do you need the fire for?" If you are planning on cooking all your meals over a fire, breakfast, lunch and dinner, then you will be depending on good firewood for the whole process. If that is the case and if there is a lot of rain that week, an axe or at the very least a hatchet will be very useful.
However, if all you want from a fire is a little ambiance at night and a bit of warmth, then no, I don't see an axe being needed.
If you do want to bring an axe, then my followup question is "how experienced are you with it?" A slip with an axe is a quick way to having a problematic trip.
I go on solo trips mostly and don't bring an axe or hatchet, except for my winter solo trips. In winter the axe and hatchet are needed. I am also not cooking over a fire for my solo trips.
"It is more important to live for the possibilities that lie ahead than to die in despair over what has been lost." -Barry Lopez
09/07/2020 09:05PM
OldTripper: "Just one more opinion here...
Years ago I only took a good saw and a knife for batoning. Most of the wood that I processed was 3 inches in diameter or smaller. With the smaller wood, full rounds burn a little longer than split (IMO) so I didn't even split most of it, just cut to length.
With that said, I have taken a small hatchet with me the last two trips to help me with the splitting.
The other part to consider is how much of a minimalist do you want to be?
For just two nights, I personally would be traveling very light."
I take a saw and batoning knife.
09/08/2020 09:38AM
Yes, if you're competent and plan to use it.
No, if you never use one and are just bringing one because you think you should.
I like fires for cooking, trip a lot in shoulder seasons, and enjoy a fire when I'm in camp so I always bring one. In 11 years I've only once not.... and wished I had.
That said, and like many others have stated, it's not needed if you don't mind breaking sticks and/or sawing up little stuff.
No, if you never use one and are just bringing one because you think you should.
I like fires for cooking, trip a lot in shoulder seasons, and enjoy a fire when I'm in camp so I always bring one. In 11 years I've only once not.... and wished I had.
That said, and like many others have stated, it's not needed if you don't mind breaking sticks and/or sawing up little stuff.
09/08/2020 11:26AM
pamonster: "Yes, if you're competent and plan to use it.
No, if you never use one and are just bringing one because you think you should.
I like fires for cooking, trip a lot in shoulder seasons, and enjoy a fire when I'm in camp so I always bring one. In 11 years I've only once not.... and wished I had.
That said, and like many others have stated, it's not needed if you don't mind breaking sticks and/or sawing up little stuff.
"
Good answer. Twice I've read stories about people getting hauled out of the BW due to injuries caused by an axe (both leg injuries). I enjoy a good fire and I have never needed one on a canoe trip, but I'm sure that it could be an asset if you are determined to make use of one.
09/08/2020 05:39PM
All of our food is fresh, and we cook all meals with wood so a camp axe gets a lot of use. If you never have a fire you don’t need one. I’m sure more people are injured and have to leave the BWCA When carrying canoes across portages than injured with an axe but everybody still takes a canoe.
09/08/2020 06:01PM
Mnbowyer: "Hello all,
Just wondering people's opinions on whether a camp axe is worth taking for a short, 2 night trip? Thinking a saw might be adequate for a couple fires worth of wood. Interested to hear all opinions.
Thanks."
The only opinion that matters is the guy's who will carry the axe. Everything else is just noise.
09/09/2020 11:35AM
I agree. Bring anything you are willing to carry. For me, as I get older I lean towards the ultralight equipment and leaving behind "luxury" items. That said, I like a good fire each night and I will bring a saw and hatchet on every trip.
"Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit."
09/15/2020 01:21PM
I have a collection of log working tools, but often bring no axe or saw. I just put the end of a log in the fire and push it Indian style.
An axe is good to make a paddle is you have to. I bring one for longer trips or rougher water. When people start drinking I hide it.
An axe is good to make a paddle is you have to. I bring one for longer trips or rougher water. When people start drinking I hide it.
The old ways are the best ways.
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