Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Which Axe, again?

Nice try... this is a backpacking forum unless you've forgotten.

You're obviously out of your depth here and obviously don't know Ed sells stuff here (more power to him, his stoves are cool).

Ed's a great guy, but he's really not primarily a backpacker as anyone that is can figure out. That's not an issue, but try to tell me carrying a hatchet in Montana on a summer backpack is a smart move is like telling Buzz Aldrin the earth is flat. Sorry. You can BS the fans, but not the players.

This forum is titled "Backpack Hunting "...not "walking the trails in light greenie mode".

...and this thread is about a fellow asking about a carrying hatchet.

No chit Sherlock. And I gave a few ideas.

However, when someone with a straight face tells me it's an intelligent thing to carry an axe on a Montana summer backpack (like DanAdair, Take A Knee, and Ed-T) is when I'll take exception. However, if they want to for whatever reason that's on them. I don't have to carry that weight, they do.

Just don't think I won't LOL.

Okay (with a straight face)....because he wants to.

Here is the OP's question in it's entirety. NO mention of gram weenie thru-hikes during the summer.

Please stop modifying your posts after they have been replied to, or at least have the courtesy to show they have been modified.

Anyone that sets themselves up as some sort of backpacking beacon and advocates packing an axe in Montana summertime is up for some good natured ridicule... seriously.

Brad don't look at my number of posts and make foolish assumptions. I know who Ed is. I've bought gear from him.

Yes this was about backpacking and you had to go out of your way to slam Ed and his business for basically no good reason.

So I guess your saying Ed is a good guy and sells a nice stove is your way of apologizing.

So he is selling gear... I thought he wasn't?

One could take things to Brad's logical conclusion and say that in that line of thinking, it's not intelligent to take anything at all while hiking in Montana during the summer as nature provides everything we need.

Tape an empty zip lock bag to your back and voil�, you're backpacking....

Tell me all about your backpacking experience... I'm all ears.

Kind of interesting how Ryan Jordan from BPL had an article last May titled "The SUL Wanderer" with the super ultra light gear he often carries from St. Patrick's Day to Halloween and lo and behold one of his item is a GB Mini hatchet.
He caught a lot of flack from the BPL crowd and this was his response.

"I can't believe how much discussion there is on the hatchet.
OK, so the hatchet is either:
1. Valuable as a cutting tool.
2. Totally fun to use.
3. A neat middle finger to the "UL" establishment.
4. All of the above."

I like 4."

I also like #4

Good for you ED. But I think we both know you're really not a backpacker in the classic sense.

And I also could care less what some dim wit on BPL says.

We both know a hatchet isn't necessary in Montana summer.

If you want to, good for you. It just locates you IMO.

Seriously...please step back and reconsider your stance.




Brad, you seem to have forgotten the HUNTING part, and the wee little question the OP asked.

It is pretty obvious you have a hard-on for ED and you are going to continue till you have established your self as superior.

...Okay, you are superior!


(Sorry Swede).

I always thought people backpacked for their own reasons. I know that whenever I go, I tend to run into people that aren't "back in there" for the same reasons I am. And they are some of the most interesting people I run into. Everyone seems to have their own luxury item representing an extra pound or so that others wouldn't carry.

Seems silly to me to label someone as "not really a backpacker" because of one extra item.

And since this is the "Backpack Hunting Forum" as others have pointed out, what the hell does summer backpacking have to do with anything?

Brad,

I know that this distinction is probably lost on you. But saying that someone is in the business of selling backpacking gear is quite a bit different than saying someone is pimping his gear.

You might be a whiz bang backpacker but that is not an excuse for acting like a jerk.

You could of said that you used a bad choice of words and that would have been the end of this.

Of course a hatchet isn't "necessary" for backpacking in Montana summer. Neither is a stove, a camp chair or the many things people choose to carry. Some might think carrying a radio to listen to the series is foolish, personally I think it's pretty cool. I enjoyed listening to the series this past year while laying in my tipi.

Hell a hatchet isn't "necessary" in any of the other three seasons for that matter but I like having one along most of the time I'm out.

...besides, we are boys and we cannot help but cut things up.


It is expected of us!

Although I do have experience, it's irrelevant.

The merit of the argument itself is flawed.

You propose that due to its added weight and the fact that the things you would use an Axe for could be accomplished with other tools, or even no tools at all, it is therefore stupid to carry one.

So, one must start from scratch and consider everything they bring based upon its need as a tool and it's weight.

You submit that it's not "needed" and therefore it's stupid.

So, if we start with that as the premise, you have to ask exactly what is needed because everything else is stupid.

Using your argument, the truth is, nothing is needed as nature provides everything.

When packing your pack you have to ask why do I need this item, or more accurately, why do I want this item?

The answer is always the same. You don't need it, you want it.

Wanting an Axe is no more stupid than wanting anything else. If it's worth it to you then it's worth it.