Schattenjager
Expedition Leader
Better to have it and not need it...
Emergency preparedness calls for many solutions. If the weather is bad or you have really gotten away from it all, just hitting SOS on your SPOT does not mean you are going to get help quickly.
Axes are of course indispensable tools along with shovels, but here in Alaska I find most serious explores carry a chain saw as well. I pack the axe, shovel, new small chainsaw, new one gallon gas can (no smell or mess) and a couple extra oil additives for the gas mix. I also carry a small cordless drill and a box of long wood screws. My 5 gallon Scepter fuel can is always with me on exploring runs too.
While this may sound like a lot of over kill for a day trip, imagine having a problem, bad weather rolling in, and /or the temp is dropping. An axe is cool if you have time and energy, but in an SHF moment I will have the chain saw and drill going, a proper shelter built and plenty of firewood ready to go in very short order. Like a first aid kit or fire extinguisher, you have to hope recover / emergency equipment is wasted space. But if you need it only once, you will pat yourself on the back the rest of your life.
Ax = This:
Chainsaw = this:
:elkgrin:
Emergency preparedness calls for many solutions. If the weather is bad or you have really gotten away from it all, just hitting SOS on your SPOT does not mean you are going to get help quickly.
Axes are of course indispensable tools along with shovels, but here in Alaska I find most serious explores carry a chain saw as well. I pack the axe, shovel, new small chainsaw, new one gallon gas can (no smell or mess) and a couple extra oil additives for the gas mix. I also carry a small cordless drill and a box of long wood screws. My 5 gallon Scepter fuel can is always with me on exploring runs too.
While this may sound like a lot of over kill for a day trip, imagine having a problem, bad weather rolling in, and /or the temp is dropping. An axe is cool if you have time and energy, but in an SHF moment I will have the chain saw and drill going, a proper shelter built and plenty of firewood ready to go in very short order. Like a first aid kit or fire extinguisher, you have to hope recover / emergency equipment is wasted space. But if you need it only once, you will pat yourself on the back the rest of your life.
Ax = This:
Chainsaw = this:
:elkgrin:
