Adam:

In the winter, if you can't break a piece of wood over your knee because it is frozen stiff indicates the wood has moisture in it that is frozen. The energy and time required to split that wood is greater than to find a dry piece which will snap readily if it contains no moisture.

A folding pruning saw will do better at cutting large branches than a knife and weighs very little, plus it is "PHRASECENSOREDPOSTERSHOULDKNOWBETTER." friendly.

If you really plan on digging holes, get the smallest combination folding shovel/pick combination you can afford and I am sure it will work faster and better than a knife, and again, it is "PHRASECENSOREDPOSTERSHOULDKNOWBETTER." friendly.

Bountyhunter