Kerry wrote on Apr 12^th, 2012 at 5:31pm:

I don't like hatchets, I think they're dangerous and pretty useless.  Much better, for safety and utility, to carry an axe IMO.

Kerry,
I think your really missing it here IMHO.

I guess an axe is all well and good if you are without a stove and plan to make lots of fires in any and all conditions. Or if you are base camping or running a river or on a lengthy trip of several months where a good full size ax would be more of a requirement.

I have a gransfors hatchet that is quite the tool. I basically use it for splitting wood and at 1lb it is reasonable to carry if I plan to make a fair amount of fires. Where people get the misconception that hatchets are dangerous is when people start swinging them. That is a no-no. I lay the hatchet on top of my saw cut limb and then use another limb as a hammer of sorts to split. Works like a charm.

I learned this from Cliff Jacobson who teaches this to high school students that he takes to BWCA. He says he has never had an injury in many years following this method. It is demonstrated in his vid "forgotten skills". I have learned several helpful things from him and gladly credit him.