New Trip Report posted by ferris51

Trip Name: One to remember.

Entry Point: 55

Click Here to View Trip Report

hatchet trouble and car trouble both. Not cool.

Oh what a bummer of a trip but a good PSA for blade safety! Never have axes or hatchets on my trips, but I did have a client on an adult trip slice their digital artery with a knife. Glad your friend gets to keep his finger. Be careful out there folks.

Ow, hurts to think about. There was a pretty extensive thread about the merits and problems with hatchets in the wilderness. This sounds like a vote for against. I have gotten to debarbing hooks even in the BWCA for this reason after reading reports of people getting a barbed hook deep in their hand or finger. Too much goes into planning a trip to take the chance of having to evacuate due to a medical emergency so I can remove one more potential hazard.

Sorry about your shortened trip. Lesson learned I hope.

Freeleo1: "Ow, hurts to think about. There was a pretty extensive thread about the merits and problems with hatchets in the wilderness. This sounds like a vote for against. I have gotten to debarbing hooks even in the BWCA for this reason after reading reports of people getting a barbed hook deep in their hand or finger. Too much goes into planning a trip to take the chance of having to evacuate due to a medical emergency so I can remove one more potential hazard."

debarbing is a good idea. One from Ferne Lake north of Isabella Lake my nephew got hooked by his eyebrow. We attempted to remove it, but he passed out. We cut all the extra hooks out. Paddled out went to the ELY hospital got the hooks removed and paddled back in again.
Many doctors keep collections on their wall of all the hooks they have removed. quite common.

In the summer I just don't see why you need a hatchet, winter camping is different.

How did the finger turn out? Another reason to bring a first aid and pain pills.

Really (really!) sorry to hear about you trip partner's injury. Secondly, bummer having your trip cut short. (no pun intended. sorry 'bout that.)

Thank you for the trip report; it's actually a good PSA.

Your friend's injury reinforces my decision on the few excursions to leave the hatchet at home. No swinging sharp things. I use a saw, thick knife, and leather gloves now. Fishing hook barbs are on the list for the upcoming trip. If I lose fish because of that, no biggie. I release all but what I want for dinner anyway, even here at home. Also have to remember a bit of antibiotic because even a small puncture from Pike teeth is prone to infection pretty fast.

GeneH: "Really (really!) sorry to hear about you trip partner's injury. Secondly, bummer having your trip cut short. (no pun intended. sorry 'bout that.)


Thank you for the trip report; it's actually a good PSA.


Your friend's injury reinforces my decision on the few excursions to leave the hatchet at home. No swinging sharp things. I use a saw, thick knife, and leather gloves now. Fishing hook barbs are on the list for the upcoming trip. If I lose fish because of that, no biggie. I release all but what I want for dinner anyway, even here at home. Also have to remember a bit of antibiotic because even a small puncture from Pike teeth is prone to infection pretty fast."

After I went barbless I lost very few fish, just have to keep the line tight.