I am planning a 3-day jaunt 20 miles for the end of March and I would like advice on how to carry my gear utilizing mountain man era historically correct method. I have read a little about pack baskets, pack frames, knapsack/haversacks and blanket rolls from the Buckskinning 1 and 2. What do you all use to carry your gear? What works for you given the amount of food, water (2-3 gallons)and bedding required for a trip of this length (starts in the mountains and ends on the desert floor.) Pack baskets seem the easiest but I have read that they make your back and hips sore (is that true?), any success with pack frames, knapsacks/haversacks (are these actually used for jaunts requiring blankets, lean-to cloth, provisions, etc. they seem to small) I would appreciate any advice you would like to share.
Thanks, Lou
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Date: Fri, 09 Jan 2004 04:27:59 +0000
From: amm1616@comcast.net
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Rocky Mountain College dates
Frank,
If you go to the Colorado State Muzzle Loading Association's
webe site (csmla.org), it will give you the dates, and who to
talk to there. It is usually the first full week in August, hope
to see you there!
mike.
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hist_text list info: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/maillist.html
<BR>When it comes to Indian women swimmers I like to think of the breast str=
oke.
<BR>Bad Cyot! Bad, bad Cyot!=20
<BR>Sorry couldn't help it Crazy made me. (VBG)
<BR>=20
<BR>=20
<BR></FONT></HTML>
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Date: Fri, 09 Jan 2004 06:37:39 +0000
From: "Michael Powell" <amm1769@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Swimming
<html><div style='background-color:'><P>Wynn,</P>
<P>I'm pretty sure that Miller documented that occuring "topless" to to be sure!</P>
<P>I, for one, would sign on and volunteer my time to document the event, visually!</P>
<P>Mike<BR></P><BR><BR><BR>
<DIV>AMM #1769 </DIV>POISON RIVER PARTY
<DIV></DIV>"Ride, Ride, Ride"
<DIV></DIV>"Aux Aliments du Pays"! >From: GazeingCyot@cs.com >Reply-To: hist_text@lists.xmission.com >To: hist_text@lists.xmission.com >Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Swimming >Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2004 01:23:57 EST > >Wynn >When it comes to Indian women swimmers I like to think of the breast stroke. >Bad Cyot! Bad, bad Cyot! >Sorry couldn't help it Crazy made me. (VBG) > > > </div><br clear=all><hr> <a href="http://g.msn.com/8HMAENUS/2746??PS=">Working moms: Find helpful tips here on managing kids, home, work ù and yourself. </a> </html>
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Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2004 02:29:34 EST
From: Hawkengun@aol.com
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Swimming
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Hey, uh, I hope this comment isn't too cleanor in good taste, but I found
that info. on the different swimming strokes to be interesting.
It WOULD be fascinating to know if the Native Amer. had different/better
strokes than the Europeans and that accounts for the many glowing accounts of
Thanks for the information on methods of carrying your gear and insights as=20=
to how, in the absence of detailed historical references, to make choices th=
at are reasonably plausible for the period. <BR>
<BR>
It sounds like the pack frame is your choice. Do you happen to have an=
y instructions on how to make a pack frame and maybe a picture of the one yo=
u use (both loaded down with your gear and without gear)? Have you see=
n the description of the pack frame in Buckskinning 2? What do you thi=
nk of it? Finally, you mentioned that you strap 3 bundles to your pack=
frame: a portmaneau for possibles and 2 canvas rolls and bedding. Wha=
t do you carry in the portmaneau? What are possibles? (sorry for the e=
lementary questions?) When you say to canvas rolls and bedding what ex=
actly do you mean? Are you simply rolling up your remaing gear in your blank=
et(s), canvas ground cloth and canvas shelter cloth into two separate rolls=20=
and strapping them on?<BR>
<BR>
Look forward to your thoughts. Take care.<BR>
<BR>
Lou<BR>
<BR>
</FONT></HTML>
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I am in Southern California. Thanks for the insights. Excuse my ignorance of terminology and gear but when you say that you carried everything in a blanket roll. What was carried in the blanket roll (extra clothing, food, corn boiler, cup, spoon)? How is the blanket roll constructed? Is it like as follows: 1) lay out your ground cloth, 2) lay your blanket(s) on top, 3) fold blanket in half length wise 4) lay all of the items to be carried on the blanket evenly, 5) roll the blanket over the contents and 6) fold the rolled blanket in half so that the two ends meet and tie them together with some rope or straps. How is it carried then (over the head and one arm that that it is diagonal across your body? Sorry to be so anal retentive but I am really trying to understand what how to do this.
That's it. I put anything flat, dried meat and corn in cloth bags, long underwear, extra pair socks, whatever else, in the blanket roll and tie it with four straps either hemp or leather. Then I tie a shoulder strap and just as you said, sling it over my shoulder so it lay diagonally across my back. I tie bulky items to the outside. You don't want them to flop around cause this will bug the hell out of you while hiking and it may make noise.
A great ground cloth can be found, if you are in So Cal, at a good gardeners shop where real Japanese gardeners buy their supplies. They use a cotton duck tarp to gather grass and leaves and it is the perfect size for a ground tarp. Serves the period too (some of the AMM guys can weigh in on that), no grommets just cotton duck with a hem on the perimeter. You can treat it with linseed oil, but be careful of that. Many natural oils will support/cause spontaneous combustion. After treatment you need to make sure it is completely dry. I believe this subject (oiled cloth) has been on the discussion list in the past.
Finally, you said that you also carry your "possibles". Is this just a separate bag worn over one shoulder or across your chest as with a shooting bag. What are "possibles"?
Yes, I carry minimal shooting accessories in a over the shoulder shooting bag, powder horn attached (riveted) to shooting bag strap. Possibles in a bag hanging on my belt along with a couple of knives, skinning and gutting, that also serve as knives for food preparation and eating. Possibles is a term that means, near as I can tell, and this is what I mean, anything you carry that makes it possible to survive, like flint and steel, tinder, bees wax candle, burning glass (magnifying glass). (This doesn't include motorhome, kitchen sink, microwave, dried beer, etc.:).
You need to put your gear together and try it out. Put it all on at home and walk around with it. Your wife and other inhabitants of your abode will think you're nuts if they already don't, but that's OK. You'll know pretty quick what will not work on a long trek. If things are banging you in the knees or back or anywhere else, think about three miles down the trail when said banging has hit target a few hundred times. It will get sore real quick. Get everything snug.
Thanks again for your patience.
I have the patience, just not the ability to type fast. Again, everything I said works for me. It may take you years to get it completely right for you. I'm almost half a century old and still learning, thank God.
I know the California mountains and desert pretty well. What is your intended route? E-mail me off list if you would like - carpentersa5k@earthlink.net
BTW - Don't forget about portable soup and coffee for your trek. Good on cold mornings and evenings.
<DIV><FONT size=2><FONT face=arial,helvetica><FONT lang=0 face=Arial size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10">Carp,<BR><BR>I am in Southern California. Thanks for the insights. Excuse my ignorance of terminology and gear but when you say that you carried everything in a blanket roll. What was carried in the blanket roll (extra clothing, food, corn boiler, cup, spoon)? How is the blanket roll constructed? Is it like as follows: 1) lay out your ground cloth, 2) lay your blanket(s) on top, 3) fold blanket in half length wise 4) lay all of the items to be carried on the blanket evenly, 5) roll the blanket over the contents and 6) fold the rolled blanket in half so that the two ends meet and tie them together with some rope or straps. How is it carried then (over the head and one arm that that it is diagonal across your body? Sorry to be so anal retentive but I am really trying to understand what how to do this.</FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV><FONT size=2><FONT face=arial,helvetica><FONT lang=0 face=Arial size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"></FONT></FONT></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV><FONT size=2><FONT face=arial,helvetica><FONT lang=0 face=Arial size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"><EM>That's it. I put anything flat, dried meat and corn in cloth bags, long underwear, extra pair socks, whatever else, in the blanket roll and tie it with four straps either hemp or leather. Then I tie a shoulder strap and just as you said, sling it over my shoulder so it lay diagonally across my back. I tie bulky items to the outside. You don't want them to flop around cause this will bug the hell out of you while hiking and it may make noise.</EM></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><EM><FONT face=Arial size=2>A great ground cloth can be found, if you are in So Cal, at a good gardeners shop where real Japanese gardeners buy their supplies. They use a cotton duck tarp to gather grass and leaves and it is the perfect size for a ground tarp. Serves the period too (some of the AMM guys can weigh in on that), no grommets just cotton duck with a hem on the perimeter. You can treat it with linseed oil, but be careful of that. Many natural oils will support/cause spontaneous combustion. After treatment you need to make sure it is <U>completely</U> dry. I believe this subject (oiled cloth) has been on the discussion list in the past.</FONT></EM></DIV>
<DIV><BR>Finally, you said that you also carry your "possibles". Is this just a separate bag worn over one shoulder or across your chest as with a shooting bag. What are "possibles"?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><EM>Yes, I carry minimal shooting accessories in a over the shoulder shooting bag, powder horn attached (riveted) to shooting bag strap. Possibles in a bag hanging on my belt along with a couple of knives, skinning and gutting, that also serve as knives for food preparation and eating. Possibles is a term that means, near as I can tell, and this is what I mean, anything you carry that makes it <U>possible</U> to survive, like flint and steel, tinder, bees wax candle, burning glass (magnifying glass). (This doesn't include motorhome, kitchen sink, microwave, dried beer, etc.:).</EM></DIV></FONT></FONT></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid"><FONT size=2><FONT face=arial,helvetica><FONT lang=0 face=Arial size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"><EM>You need to put your gear together and try it out. Put it all on at home and walk around with it. Your wife and other inhabitants of your abode will think you're nuts if they already don't, but that's OK. You'll know pretty quick what will not work on a long trek. If things are banging you in the knees or back or anywhere else, think about three miles down the trail when said banging has hit target a few hundred times. It will get sore real quick. Get everything snug.</EM>
<DIV><BR><BR>Thanks again for your patience.</FONT> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><EM>I have the patience, just not the ability to type fast. Again, everything I said works for me. It may take you years to get it completely right for you. I'm almost half a century old and still learning, thank God.</EM></DIV>
<DIV><EM></EM> </DIV>
<DIV><EM>I know the California mountains and desert pretty well. What is your intended route? E-mail me off list if you would like - <A href="mailto:carpentersa5k@earthlink.net">carpentersa5k@earthlink.net</A> </EM></DIV>
<DIV><EM></EM> </DIV>
<DIV><EM>BTW - Don't forget about portable soup and coffee for your trek. Good on cold mornings and evenings.</EM></DIV>
