Before I started getting into the preparedness mindset, I was on a snowmobile trip that taught me a lesson about the need to have wood cutting tools on hand. We, two of us, left for the trails on a beautiful, snowy morning with nary a second thought about cutting wood. By the end of the day, pine trees were literally falling down around us due to a combination of heavy snow accumulation on the trees, soft ground and wind.

We soon encountered trees that had fallen across our only trail back to the base camp. Due to the depth and texture of the snow, along with the lateness in the day, it wasn't feasible to hike out. If we didn't ride out, we would be forced to make do on the trail until morning, something that we were ill prepared to do.

The trees couldn't be drug out of the way because they were still attached at the stump and they were too long to allow us to swing the free end past standing trees. We ended up hacking through the fallen trees by taking turns with my buddy's single SOG SEAL Pup. Trees were falling around us as we attempted to clear the trail. The beautiful winter wonderland that we had so enjoyed earlier was trying to kill us and I would have given all my worldly possessions for a good hand saw.

Before that trip was over, we had purchased a variety of packable wood cutting tools, vowing that we would never again be unprepared for a similar situation.

I would go on but I need to go fondle my saws.