What am I missing? Why is everyone so scared of an axe?

I do not get it either. I figure I'm more at risk during the 400 mile drive to the BWCA than I am using my axe, under the conditions of my choosing.
Maybe the grisly tales of injury spark opinions and comments.

butthead

my concern stems from my next trip. to be near the top of quetico in late may and have an accident happen. they are called accidents for a reason, they arent planned and they do happen. yes, i know the same thing can happen with a knife. anyway, im looking forward to trying battoning. :)

and now im a hypocrite. i just posted something axe related in the gear forum. hah

can ya tell im torn?

I don’t understand the fear of any tool in the hand of a person that has been properly trained to use it. At the risk of being completely ostracized, I have trained, and had both a nine year old nephew and a ten year old niece help me split wood. Yes the parents knew and were OK with it. To make it more fun we made it into a baseball like game. If the log was split in one hit for example, it was a home run. When the handle is long enough, wood placement correct, and arms and hands held in the correct way, an axe is very safe.

Risk management and proper training is key.

What's the best way to get training? Would watching a dvd be adequate or is taking a class the way to go?

Google "An axe to grind video" good stuff as well as some great U-tubes by Les Stroud and Ray Mears. Here is a link to a great blog and the axe to grind videos. Woodtrekker Blog

Thanks! Can't wait to look at that stuff.