> I would like to carry a knife, compass, mag light, pen,
> a few paper towels, and a lighter on an unfamiliar,
> moderate hike. If you can get a map that would be
> perfect.

You know, I can't help but chuckle at the knife. =) I always see it
listed as one of the "ten essentials", but in times of emergencies,
how useful can a knife really be? Something so you can kill a rabbit
for food? Fend off bears? Cut down trees for shelter? Cut off your arm
if it gets stuck under a boulder?

There's never any indication about what the knife should be use for in
times of emergency, and I've always wondered about that. =) In case of
emergency, I can think of a lot of things I'd rather have instead of a
knife, so why does it always make the top ten?

Even, let's assume for the sake of argument, you are lost in the woods
for several days and need to eat--wouldn't it be easier to find
berries or grass to eat than trying to take down a deer for meat? And
even if you were inclined to hunt your own food, how many "average
joes" that carry around a knife would even know how to go about doing
so? Same goes for fending off bears or cutting down trees for shelter.
I'd rather spend my effort finding a natural shelter under a tree and
keep my distance from bears. Cutting off my arm might be useful, I
suppose, in certain circumstances, though I do try to make sure I
never put myself in a situtation where that would be likely. And even
if it came down to that, I'm not even sure I'd have the guts to do it.
Maybe I could scratch my name in a rock saying, "I was here!"

All-in-all, I never really understood the usefulness of a knife as one
of the ten essentials. *shrug* That's just me, though. =)

-- Ryan

Hey, it's just like in the movies!

When the bad guy ties your hands behind your back, and only *you* know that
there's a knife in your backpack, which the bad guy left lying remarkably
close to you, and then the bad guy goes off for a bit to answer the call of
nature, or maybe the bad guy gets into a fight around the campfire with his
partner and neither are paying any attention to you and voila! You get
free!

But forget the deer. Forget the bear. Forget the rabbit. They can run
faster than me. I'd be looking for the nearest cattle ranch or dairy farm
for some beef. But then, if I made it that far, I guess they'd probably
have people there to help me out and I wouldn't end up getting hanged fer
rustlin'. Unless I was *really* stupid.

Knives can also be used for cleaning your nails when you get bored. My
father used to do that. He also used to use it to fix the wicks on
dynamite, but I don't think I'll be carrying any dynamite out on the trail
anytime soon.

And they can be used for gutting and cleaning fish. *If* I could catch a
fish. I probably don't stand any more of a chance with a fish than I do a
deer or a beer or a rabbit.

I've also used one to open cans when camping because I forgot the can
opener. And I also used one as a screwdriver when I was camping, but I'll
be darned if I can remember what I needed a screwdriver for at the time. I
*do* remember that it didn't really make a very good screwdriver tho.

And isn't there something you do with a knife should you happen to get
bitten by a rattlesnake while out on the trail? I seem to remember
something about that in old movies.

~~ Mosey ~~

-----Original Message-----
From: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of rscarpen
Sent: Friday, August 19, 2005 5:25 PM
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [LbNA] Re: You can box alone.


> I would like to carry a knife, compass, mag light, pen,
> a few paper towels, and a lighter on an unfamiliar,
> moderate hike. If you can get a map that would be
> perfect.

You know, I can't help but chuckle at the knife. =) I always see it
listed as one of the "ten essentials", but in times of emergencies,
how useful can a knife really be? Something so you can kill a rabbit
for food? Fend off bears? Cut down trees for shelter? Cut off your arm
if it gets stuck under a boulder?

There's never any indication about what the knife should be use for in
times of emergency, and I've always wondered about that. =) In case of
emergency, I can think of a lot of things I'd rather have instead of a
knife, so why does it always make the top ten?

Even, let's assume for the sake of argument, you are lost in the woods
for several days and need to eat--wouldn't it be easier to find
berries or grass to eat than trying to take down a deer for meat? And
even if you were inclined to hunt your own food, how many "average
joes" that carry around a knife would even know how to go about doing
so? Same goes for fending off bears or cutting down trees for shelter.
I'd rather spend my effort finding a natural shelter under a tree and
keep my distance from bears. Cutting off my arm might be useful, I
suppose, in certain circumstances, though I do try to make sure I
never put myself in a situtation where that would be likely. And even
if it came down to that, I'm not even sure I'd have the guts to do it.
Maybe I could scratch my name in a rock saying, "I was here!"

All-in-all, I never really understood the usefulness of a knife as one
of the ten essentials. *shrug* That's just me, though. =)

-- Ryan






Yahoo! Groups Links

Knives can be used to cut thatch and small limbs to make a shelter in a
storm, or firewood for the cold.

Knives can be used to dig for water or tubers or other beneficial roots.

Knives can be used to make a walking stick or a crutch if needed.
Don't even get me started on the things you can do with a good walking
stick!

And, yes, knives can be used to capture and prepare food, or defend
yourself from something which may fancy you as food, if need be.

I am not a weekend warrior or some survivalist guru. I am not a knife
or sword fanatic. However...

Knives are definitely on my top ten list for medium and long-term
hiking. Think about the times when you were searching for a pair of
scissors for some household task or another. Now imagine yourself out
in the woods needing something like a knife and wishing you had packed
one in with you.

My two cents

tabulator32



On Friday, August 19, 2005, at 05:47 PM, Mosey wrote:

> You know, I can't help but chuckle at the knife. =) I always see it
> listed as one of the "ten essentials", but in times of emergencies,
> how useful can a knife really be?

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Oops! I forgot one. (And I am sure there are others.)

Anyway, the one that just came to mind was...trail marking!

If your lost and want to place reference points or just blazing a new
trail, notching a tree here and there can be invaluable.

tabulator32



On Friday, August 19, 2005, at 05:47 PM, Mosey wrote:

>
>
> Knives can also be used for cleaning your nails when you get bored.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

When my husband & son went to the wilderness area for a week between the Us &
Canada the outfitter forgot to pack the utensils So my husband got some
branches & carved out some spoons with the knife. They didn't want to see
anyone for a week and they didn't. Of course I didn't go.
My father also carried a knife with him too. We use to take walks when I was
young &
once my father bought some rolls & cheese and an apple for lunch. That's
where he used the knife too. It was the Depression so we didn't have money to
go out to eat. This was in New York City.
You can't carry a knife now without people thinking you are some kind
terrorest..

STAR:W+S=DRR


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I have a super-fancy swiss army knife contraption. It would be great for
providing hours of distraction while I wait to be rescued. I could
actually figure out what all the little blades and attachments are for!



Of course, I am no where near ready to do more than somewhat moderate
hiking.



Mama Stork

aka Pam in Cinci

_____



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]