2023 Beckerhead Hikes and outdoors pics

[Wasty]

To start off this year right, we went on a short hike, roughly 8 miles and up the "highest mountain" of the Palatinate region. With a measly 687m we hiked up 400m up and 400m down.

The Donnersberg (Thunder Mountain) is a volcanic artefact and had a quite big celtic population a couple of hundred years before Christ.

It was freezing and the wind was freaking cold.
On its highest point there is a tower with a small hut, where you can get some coffee and cake...

Also some younger artifacts from the German French war are there... As well as the former American antenna that was used in 1969 to send the pics of the moon landing to German TVs

Afterwards we had a nice burger at home and I'll finish the day now with a nice Whiskey

 

[daizee]

Idaho is real.
Day 2, Lake Imogene, 8400ft, Sawtooth National Forest

18 miles in 3 days w/ 30-50lb packs. 2 nights at Hell Roaring Lake.
If I sound like I'm proud of myself, it's 'cause I am.

More pix to come as I get 'em sorted out.

 

[Dr Rez]

Idaho is real.
Day 2, Lake Imogene, 8400ft, Sawtooth National Forest

18 miles in 3 days w/ 30-50lb packs. 2 nights at Hell Roaring Lake.
If I sound like I'm proud of myself, it's 'cause I am.

More pix to come as I get 'em sorted out.

What is that mate? What a beautiful knife.

 

[daizee]

What is that mate? What a beautiful knife.

Thanks, Amigo, that's my "AuK4.5k", otherwise known as a 4.5" "Keppoon". Finished it just in time for the trip:

Keppoon in Magnacut

The latest variant on my Kepart pattern is the AuKp4.5, featuring extended ricasso, hidden lanyard hole, tapered tang, Magnacut blade steel, and a harpoon tip. Oh yeah, and a stunning heat-treat surface finish. :) The traditional belly and tip geometry and relationship to the rest of the knife...

www.bladeforums.com

 

[daizee]

I flew in to meet Dr. Wood after her BSA conference in Boise.
Lest you think I'm Mr. Hiker-man, understand that she planned this trip. I just brought the cutlery. She'd done this by herself 9 years ago. I had to replace my old pack and spent the previous two weeks desperately trying to strengthen my knees.

Day 1: Drove from Boise to 10mi south of Stanley. We got to the Hell Roaring Lake Lower Trailhead around 4 and onto the trail around 5, which was way too late. It was ~5mi/3hrs in, and we weren't acclimated to the altitude. We knew this and proceeded... Successfully made camp in the late evening light. Dr. Wood was our stovemaster (we had the same model MSR Whisperlite - brought hers) and insisted on making a go of it. We had peppermint tea before bed.

 

[daizee]

On Day 2 we left our campsite set up and hiked with much lighter bags to Imogene Lake and back. The map said about 3.4mi each way, and 900ft additional elevation on the way out. So it was a longer day on foot than day 1, but with a nice lunch break and much lighter packs:

 

[daizee]

And on Day 3 we hiked out, feeling a lot stronger but also a lot more worn:

While there are only Magnacut Keppoon pix here, I'll note the other hardware in case there are cutlery enthusiasts about:

1x Victorinox SAK Tinker (Dr. Wood carried)

1x full-size tapered AEB-L Birudashi on my pack strap

1x tapered AEB-L Mini-Birudashi tied to my firesteel as a scraper and emergency blade/cap-lifter/screwdriver

Also, it's SO dry there and fire is such a risk that we planned to make no campfires, so not much in the way of knifery was needed. We used quite modern technical gear in most cases (weight was critical).

If you want to get a better idea of the topography, fire up Google Earth Pro (desktop is what I use on Linux) and zoom into the 3D view of the Sawtooth National Forest. Wheee!

 

[Dr Rez]

Thanks, Amigo, that's my "AuK4.5k", otherwise known as a 4.5" "Keppoon". Finished it just in time for the trip:

Keppoon in Magnacut

The latest variant on my Kepart pattern is the AuKp4.5, featuring extended ricasso, hidden lanyard hole, tapered tang, Magnacut blade steel, and a harpoon tip. Oh yeah, and a stunning heat-treat surface finish. :) The traditional belly and tip geometry and relationship to the rest of the knife...

www.bladeforums.com

Well I am not gonna lie to you, that is one of the most asthetically please knives I have ever seen. You do great work.

Mind me asking what you use to get your primary grind (and the ricasso) so perfect?

 

[daizee]

Well I am not gonna lie to you, that is one of the most asthetically please knives I have ever seen. You do great work.

Mind me asking what you use to get your primary grind (and the ricasso) so perfect?

Thanks, Rez.

I run a KMG with a standard flat platen and 90-degree work rest. Other than that it's by hand. This one went from 80grit to 120. I may have hit it with an A100 too. I prefer to run Norton and 3M belts because they last and track best (3M tracks best by FAR). I track the edge of the A100 (usually) over the side of the platen to smooth out the plunges. Then the blank goes on the knife board in the vise and gets hand-sanded at 180x to get the tool marks out and flattenize any whoopsies. In this case I went up to 280 and then a quick brush at 400 because I planned to not polish it after heat (saves and hour or two depending on pattern and condition). Then comes heat.

Basically I try to get as close as I can to final on the machine, but with just enough margin for error for hand corrections. Some pieces require more correcting than others...

The heat-treat surface just came out fabulous. I don't always get that lucky. I think the key is a light dusting of foot powder to prevent the foil packet from welding to the blade and a large enough packet that there's juuuust enough air to give some colors (but no pinholes which will cause substantial decarb). The final finish isn't as hard as if it were polished, tho that hard stuff is just a few thou underneath. It IS extremely passive, though, more so than the bare steel.

 

[Dr Rez]

Thanks, Rez.

I run a KMG with a standard flat platen and 90-degree work rest. Other than that it's by hand. This one went from 80grit to 120. I may have hit it with an A100 too. I prefer to run Norton and 3M belts because they last and track best (3M tracks best by FAR). I track the edge of the A100 (usually) over the side of the platen to smooth out the plunges. Then the blank goes on the knife board in the vise and gets hand-sanded at 180x to get the tool marks out and flattenize any whoopsies. In this case I went up to 280 and then a quick brush at 400 because I planned to not polish it after heat (saves and hour or two depending on pattern and condition). Then comes heat.

Basically I try to get as close as I can to final on the machine, but with just enough margin for error for hand corrections. Some pieces require more correcting than others...

The heat-treat surface just came out fabulous. I don't always get that lucky. I think the key is a light dusting of foot powder to prevent the foil packet from welding to the blade and a large enough packet that there's juuuust enough air to give some colors (but no pinholes which will cause substantial decarb). The final finish isn't as hard as if it were polished, tho that hard stuff is just a few thou underneath. It IS extremely passive, though, more so than the bare steel.

Really appreciate the details here, it's helpful. I'm looking into a new grinder currently, one that has a better quality steel Platten. Any suggestions?

I'm sure you have spent a long time to get to where you are at!

 

[daizee]

Really appreciate the details here, it's helpful. I'm looking into a new grinder currently, one that has a better quality steel Platten. Any suggestions?

I'm sure you have spent a long time to get to where you are at!

I think the next generation of grinders is a substantial upgrade from the original KMG. I bought mine on a tight budget in about 2015 with a used 115v motor and 3-step pulley. Several years later I upgraded it with a new KBAC VFD and gifted 2HP 220v motor. If it's in the budget, I'd look at something with the features like the Wertz-90. There are a number of solid competitors in that space in this decade. If the budget is tighter, a KMG or similar is still a powerful tool, especially w/ a VFD. And again, you can upgrade over time. Regardless, go with a 3-wheel machine for the tracking control and interchangeable tooling. I've traded in two motorcycles for knifery gear over the years (grinder and kiln) and been very happy with the exchange.

 

[daizee]

*lol*
Dr. Wood started processing her pictures. She labeled this one "Sawtooth manliness"
Nevermind that she was our hike leader and stove master. This was on the way out, several pounds lighter all around and feeling victorious. Who remembers when that beard was dark?? There's a Birudashi on my left pack-strap:

 

[knoefz]

Hiking in Northern Ireland today. (Summer vacation in Ireland) Good weather for a change.

 

[daizee]

Lookit those cliffs!