The real problem was that creeks shown to be active all year were not. Perhaps it was during a period of drought. But we used detailed topographical maps from the State and they were supposed to be accurate.
I was relatively poor back then and didn't have all the trick equipment. In fact, a lot of stuff you see at REI today didn't exist back then. My pack for anything beyond overnight was typically 60 pounds. Water weight was additional.
YouTube a channel called wranglerstar. He is really into axes and sharpening them. He is a wild land firefighter and likes to find old US forest service tools to refinish, resharpen, and replace handles.
That's the problem sometimes. I've only backpacked in the East, but I have had times where I had to walk an extra hour because a water source was intermittent, and happened to not work. Droughts do change things.
California is famous for them. But it was bad. By the time we hit the river we were getting cracked lips. The sun had been pounding us all afternoon without a drop of water.
When I was a new Boy Scout attending my first Jamboree at about age 12 [huge camping events for troops from all over the region] I was told that we had come up short on bacon and needed a bacon stretcher. So I was asked to go around and ask the other troops if they had one. Okay, not one of my prouder moments, I didn't understand but deferred to authority. The bacon stretcher is a very old BS practical joke and everyone is in on it. Much to the surprise of my gang of pranksters, one troop had constructed a bacon stretcher. I brought it back and thought nothing of it. I think I found it on about the third stop I made - maybe five minutes. But I couldn't understand why everyone was so shocked.
Hiking in following a river on the most treacherous hike I've ever made, we were often walking on sloped ledges only a foot wide or so, with a 20- or 50- or 100-foot drop to jagged rocks if we slip. At one point we had to climb a tall tree to stay on the trail. We were carrying packs that weighed between 50-60 pounds. It was intense but manageable as long as we went slowly and carefully. We had no sooner arrived at our destination when we saw dark clouds looming on the horizon. By the time we started to set up camp, cold winds were blowing and a nasty storm was approaching. What worried us most was the drop in temp. It was probably late fall because we were suddenly worried the weather had turned without warning. We finally decided we had better get out of there. If that trail turns to ice we'll never get out alive. By the time we were hiking out, we started getting sleet and ice pellets. The trail was getting slippery. Then we came to the narrow rock ledge. CRAP!!! It was already getting icy. That was the most treacherous 100 yards or so of my life. There were only rarely handholds and we had to shimmy along the rock cliff with our faces to the wall. If you try to turn around, your pack will hit something and knock you right off the cliff. As this was happening it was getting dark. We finally made it out by flashlight with batteries running low, soaking wet, and freezing cold. We had a blast!
Dirt bike [motorcycle] camping in the high desert: I was injured pretty badly while riding. So after six women in bikinis got done patching me up [I was 16 and they were all in their 20s] Sue and I proceeded to start drinking. Beer, wine, whiskey, rum, tequila... god only knows. I ended up so drunk that they wouldn't even let me ride in the dune buggy. We were sleeping under the stars. So I crawled to my sleeping bag and passed out. Later than night it started to rain. Didn't expect that! And when it rains in the high desert, it pours! I was aware of the rain but in no position to move. The entire time I was getting sick but barely able to lift my head. Then I started getting cold. But I felt a warm spot in my bag and snuggled up in that. When I awoke in the morning, I discovered the warm spot was a little indentation I had filled while getting sick. Yes, I was cuddling up in my own vomit for warmth!
This too shall pass in time. Camping is good experience for kids. Mine are all middle aged and only one doesn't like camping.
We have used a machettee to clear vines and small tress for over 20 years. Made it our of auto leaf spring. Tempered at hubbys job. I think any tool can be dangerous. What is a baton? Same question, kukri
Batoning wood is splitting logs for firewood, but using a blade instead of an axe. A kukri is a curved blade, made famous by the Gurkhas from Nepal.
