Personal Safety: Are Throwing Axes the Ultimate Trail Defense

What is on Trail that Necessitates Personal Safety?

As I get closer to our next long distance hike, I find myself listening to Backpacker Radio more and more. On a long drive home with my husband (and hiking partner), we listened to the recent Q&A episode and were fascinated on the discussion of carrying guns on trail for personal safety. The information was balanced, compelling, and approached through a sensible lens. I thought about why people would want to carry guns and came to the following conclusion:

1. Safety from Wild Animals
   Hiking along the Appalachian Mountains, and Green Mountains you seldom come across dangerous wildlife. Black Bears and various snakes do have the means to defend themselves. Along the Pacific Crest Trail however you must also consider Mountain Lions, Cows (one of my husband’s biggest fears), and maybe a Grizzly Bear north of the I-90 (albeit very unlikely).
2. Safety from People
   This is applicable to hiking anywhere. As a 6’2″, 260lb male human I tend to not attract attention from people who may wish to do harm. This is not the case for many hikers who have negative experiences from humans during their lives in and out of the back country.

I recently learned, that as a US permanent resident that I could in fact apply for a permit to buy a firearm, though as mentioned during the podcast, people should really know how to use a gun before they carry one, and I have no intention of carrying one as I find them scary. This left me wondering about alternates for safety. The following article is my pitch as to why Throwing Axes could be that alternate.

The Many Uses of Throwing Axes as Tools

Throwing axes are a popular way to spend time letting off steam, and bonding with friends. It’s great to learn how to aim at a target, score points, and beat your husband in friendly competition. These axes are generally one handed, small, and lightweight. Axes of this type often have a sharp blade on one side, and a sharp point opposite to that. Some axes even have a sharp point below the handle so if your technique lacks, there is still a chance to make contact with your target.

As hikers, we want to minimize weight in our packs, and maximize the utility of our gear. Did you know that some throwing axes come with built in bottle openers!?! I’ve never carried glass bottles that require opening on a hiking trip, but each to their own. One of my pet peeves on the trail is when you have food in your teeth and can’t get it out. Who carries floss when they hike? Not me. I can however use the sharp point on a throwing axe to remove any debris.

When you hit snowpack and need to traverse icy slopes a throwing axe could easily double as an ice axe too. With several sharp points and a good handle you can feel safe in your footing.

Throwing Axes as Defense from Wild Animals

Axes have utility in long or close range, especially if a grumpy kitty surprises you.

Of course we want to deescalate conflict with wildlife according to the National Park Service by the following measures:

• Stay Calm
• Do not approach the murder mittens
• Do not run away from the feisty feline
• Do not crouch or bend over, even if this is how you usually shit yourself.

If these measures do not meet our expectations and the pissed off puss acts with aggression and/or approaches you then you step up your safety measures:

• Appear as intimidating as possible by making noise, waving your arms, and letting the Puma know you are not dough that needs to be kneaded
• Finally, and the most relevant part, throw things at it. ‘THROW THINGS AT IT’! Throwing Axes! It’s literally in the name.

The advice says to begin aiming at the body to avoid escalation with an injury to the eyes of the cantankerous cougar. This is where your hours of practice at the range will help. Moving targets may also be a challenge, but that is why it’s throwing axes and not throwing axe.

Finally, if it gets within your personal space and attacks, you need to fight back. Pistol whipping a Puma will be wholly unproductive, but close combat axe wielding is another story. Especially when you can look as menacing as this:

I’ll hold off on commenting about self-defense from people as it’s none of my business how people decide to feel safe, but I do know that bear spray isn’t just for Bears, and duct tape, a trekking pole, and a throwing axe make a great Halberd.

What About for the ULTRALIGHT Hiker?

The cousin of the throwing axe, with a smaller and lighter setup is the trusty Throwing Knives. If you want to keep your LighterPack data the talk of the UL bros and brosettes, then perhaps these pointy blades are for you.

Knives have a variety of uses too outside of personal safety. Imagine tucking into your rehydrated beans with your multiuse Spork (or perhaps Spknife would be more appropriate), picking your teeth clean, and then securing your guy lines with your knifey tent pegs.

Throwing knives requires the same amount of practice to build strength and accuracy as a throwing axe, but for the animal lovers out there, shouldn’t cause such egregious wounds.

Reflection on Personal Safety on Trail

As hikers, we will all have our level of comfort when it comes to carrying forms of protection. I acknowledge that it is important to feel safe and to be educated on the dangers that face you in the backcountry.

I also recognize I’m pretty terrible at throwing axes, so I may take the strongest form of personal safety as a British Person: A PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE DEMANOUR.