Sup /out/, went camping (at a wilderness campsite) recently to try out some winter gear. Sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and the rewaterproofing on my tent held up really well.

One issue I had, was that while there were plenty of big logs available, there was no tinder or kindling and I had to use my swiss army knife to baton massive pieces of firewood to start a fire. This was fucking atrocious work and I realise I need a good fixed blade knife. Now I've got it in my head to get a big knife or a hatchet, picrel is available in a very decent 6 inch blade and this beauty of a 10 inch blade. As much as I know 6 inch is probably fine, my gorilla brain is telling me to get this big fucking thing, then I don't even need a hatchet and can carry the SKA for small tasks/multitool.

Convince me otherwise before I drop serious money on this thing.

>>2832923

I'm going to Aconcagua in a few days. Aconcagua is the highest mountain in the Americas, and the highest mountain outside of the Himalayas. It's not technical by any means but it's a challenge due to its altitude or 6,967m (22,858.1 ft) and it can get really cold: https://www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/Aconcagua/forecasts/latest -30/-40c

Expedition starts on Feb 1st.

I'm going "solo", unguided, with logistical support (a few meals on Camp 0-1, a mule to carry some gear to basecamp, etc.), I have experience, and there's a lot of people on that mountain in case something happens (HACE/HAPE being my main concern really) so I won't be solo for real but I'll be minding my own business for the most part, I'll keep park rangers informed of what I'm doing, etc.

For extra safety I'm bringing an InReach (for routes, messaging/SOS stuff), and a VHF Radio (to talk to park rangers in case some shit happens during certain portions of the ascent), but the most challenging part will definitely be the summit push,which can last a long time and get really cold/disorienting due to the altitude.

I'm all loaded up on audiobooks, books, and I'll be porting my own gear up and down the mountain most of the time anyway so I'll acclimatize pretty well, plus I don't have a guide constantly telling me I'm not fast or that we're running out of time, etc. which generally tends to bring an extra level of complexity if you're not acclimatizing well and you're being pushed to higher camps.

picrel is the south face, I took that pic a few years ago I went with a friend and couldn't summit (felt like shit, had gear issues).

What challenges do you have in mind for this year?

The snowy world you grew up in no longer exists.

There are those out there who made billions depriving you of snowy winters.

Never heave anywhere without it.
HOOORAH Support The Troops!
Shart In Mart!
O\

What's it like to dirtbag?

seems like a cool way to earn ones stripes in the climbing community

> be me
> Practice charting time.
> take a lot of time taking measurements around my basement.
> Take measurements back to charting table.
> Absolutely fucked.
> Repeat measurements repeat charting.
> Still fucked.
> Drop pen in frustration
> North changes.
> That was several hours of my life.

Can I convert this little can into an alcohol stove/ heater?

It has a gasketed screw in lid, that is the biggest advantage. I don't know how I would cut and fill it. I assume a WIC is a good idea on this thing so maybe just an out safe oil lamp. For 1.50 it's basically a free experiment.
Thoughts?

>Bailee Mulholland, an active, popular and accomplished 26-year-old member of a scrambling club in Boulder, died in July 2023 after falling 500 feet from a peak about 45 miles northwest of the city in Rocky Mountain National Park.
I could have saved her bros...

Google claims this is a real story. Do a reverse image search and see if you can convince it otherwise.