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hist_text-digest      Saturday, January 23 1999      Volume 01 : Number 224




----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 08:13:40 -0600
From: "yellow rose/pendleton" <[e-mail]>
Subject: MtMan-List: WET WEATHER

Ted Hart,
  Sorry, I hit the wrong button and lost your e-mail address. Contact me at
: [e-mail]
    Pendleton

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 09:41:21 +0100
From: Allen Chronister <[e-mail]>
Subject: MtMan-List: wet weather, bum fodder

Dealing with wet weather varies GREATLY depending
on whether you are on the trail or in a r'd'vous
type camp.  On the trail (horse or foot) I have
found that the biggest advancement in my personal
comfort came when I got a pair of period brogans
(shoes).  Well greased, they keep my feet warm and
dry long, long, after everybody with mocs has
gotten wet and miserable feet.  They work
especially well in 30 to 35 degrees and 6" of wet
snow days.
Also, whem wearing mocs in the wet, wool socks are
essential and a layer of dry grass inside the mocs
(sort of form yourself an insole of grass, as much
as you can get in and still get the mocs on) helps
a lot.  It doesn't keep your feet from getting
wet, but it puts a layer between your sock and the
soaked hide.  I got the idea from a pair of mocs
excavated from a pre-historic cave in Wyoming.
Worked then, works now.

As to bum fodder, in the winter snow,  that's
right snow, works well.  Its not really painful
like you thinkit would be, and actually its
refreshing.  Sort of like a menthol cigarette.
Allen Chronister

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 12:01:45 EST
From: [e-mail]
Subject: MtMan-List: John Colter question

Hey Henry:

Did you ever get any definitive answer from your Blackfoot friends about thier
version of the John Colter run story? Seems like they had a different version
and the question was, do they have any substantive evidence that it didn't
happen exactly as we have heard. I can understand some embarrasment on thier
part, and why they would therefore tell a different story. But unless there is
some kind of evidence or reason to believe otherwise, then I won't be like the
many in Colter's own day who wouldn't believe what he had to say.

Happy Trails
Todd Glover

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 16:31:23 -0600
From: John Dearing <[e-mail]>
Subject: MtMan-List: Re:TP

>
>
> >    Ok, I'm just going to go ahead and ask! Does anyone have any references
> >to what was used as toilet tissue (for lack of a better word) when in the
> >woods or mountains pre-1840? Did they pack paper, use leaves, or just stop
> >at streams a lot?
>

The article at this URL deals with those time we find ourselve without TP.
http://www.survival.com/rants.htm    Enjoy.  ;-)           J.D.

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 16:05:12 -0800
From: "Terry Landis" <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: MtMan-List: pre-1840 toilet tissue (Mullein)

I've used mullein both green and brown (dried leaves) works good, but I
prefer fern. 4 or 5 layered together works the best.

ymhs, Terry Landis

- -----Original Message-----
From: [e-mail]
[mailto:[e-mail]]On Behalf Of Chris Sega
Sent: Wednesday, January 20, 1999 8:40 PM
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: pre-1840 toilet tissue (Mullein)




JW Stephens wrote:

> In the northwest especially, the plant "Mullein" makes excellent "bum
> fodder" snip

Mullein can be found almost anywhere in the US and is especially common in
the
west.  As For TP I have had the odious task of chopping out an acre of
mullein in
an area which was to be reclaimed.  The stuff caused burning and irritation
from
the fine pubescence (hair) which covers the plant.  I itched and burned for
quite
some time. These plants were green. I have heard of Mullein being used as TP
several times.  Although I have not done so, I would imagine that the dry
leaves
should be used and not green plants.  Anyone who has actually done so,
Please
tell us if you used green or dry Mullein.  On another note Mullein can be
pulverised and used to stun fish in dammed up streams and the fibrous stalks
can
be used to make cordage, and I have been told, fire drills.

Your most onry' and disobedient hivernant
Sega

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 18:12:42 -0600
From: "Lanney Ratcliff" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: wet weather, bum fodder

After reading this post I ran outside to gather a dishpan full of snow =
for my next trip to the water closet.  Imagine my surprise when I =
realized that it was sunny and 79 degrees and there was no snow....and =
hadn't been for about two years.  Fooey!!  I guess I will have to take =
up menthol cigarettes.
Lanney Ratcliff
- -----Original Message-----
From: Allen Chronister <[e-mail]>
To: chat <[e-mail]>
Date: Thursday, January 21, 1999 10:37 AM
Subject: MtMan-List: wet weather, bum fodder


>Dealing with wet weather varies GREATLY depending
>on whether you are on the trail or in a r'd'vous
>type camp.  On the trail (horse or foot) I have
>found that the biggest advancement in my personal
>comfort came when I got a pair of period brogans
>(shoes).  Well greased, they keep my feet warm and
>dry long, long, after everybody with mocs has
>gotten wet and miserable feet.  They work
>especially well in 30 to 35 degrees and 6" of wet
>snow days.
>Also, whem wearing mocs in the wet, wool socks are
>essential and a layer of dry grass inside the mocs
>(sort of form yourself an insole of grass, as much
>as you can get in and still get the mocs on) helps
>a lot.  It doesn't keep your feet from getting
>wet, but it puts a layer between your sock and the
>soaked hide.  I got the idea from a pair of mocs
>excavated from a pre-historic cave in Wyoming.=20
>Worked then, works now.
>
>As to bum fodder, in the winter snow,  that's
>right snow, works well.  Its not really painful
>like you thinkit would be, and actually its
>refreshing.  Sort of like a menthol cigarette.
>Allen Chronister
>
>

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 17:29:11 -0700
From: Allen Hall <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Wet weather

>Don't get much wet weather in eastern WA but when  we do we take shelter. If we
>don't we swell up like a sponge cause we are so ordinarily dehydrated. As to
>being in sloppy weather, we get sloppy. <G>
>
>So what exactly are you asking? Cloths, shelter, foot ware, etc.? I remain....
>
>YMOS
>Capt. Lahti'
>
>
All of the above.  Ideas, tips, etc.  I'm sure folks would like new ideas.

Thanks,

Allen Hall in normally dry Fort Hall country

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 19:53:01 -0500
From: [e-mail] (Dennis Miles)
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: , bum fodder DANGER!!! INCLUDES A SHOT AT A TEXIAN!! DANGER!!!

OOOOOHHH BOY!!! Here we go!!!!
I thought Texians were tough!!!  Use a cactus!! Them little pricklies are
like a scrubber on a good brush!!
D

P.S Don't even THINK about whining to me about this post...I put a warning
in the subject line.


   "Abair ach beagan is abair gu math e"
          DOUBLE EDGE FORGE
  Period Knives & Iron Accouterments
    http://www.wesnet.com/deforge1
- -----Original Message-----
From: Lanney Ratcliff <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail] <[e-mail]>
Date: Thursday, January 21, 1999 7:30 PM
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: wet weather, bum fodder


After reading this post I ran outside to gather a dishpan full of snow for
my next trip to the water closet.  Imagine my surprise when I realized that
it was sunny and 79 degrees and there was no snow....and hadn't been for
about two years.  Fooey!!  I guess I will have to take up menthol
cigarettes.
Lanney Ratcliff

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 21:36:29 -0500
From: Linda Holley <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: , bum fodder DANGER!!! INCLUDES A SHOT AT A TEXIAN!!  DANGER!!!

Thank all of you...including Allen, for the great laughs on this sight.  All I
can think about is a pepermint patty and the thrill of going out in the
snow...getting hand fulls of cactus and having an "exotic" time.  Didn't want
to use the other word errotic on this web.  What imaginations and whit "ya all"
have.  And to think this use to be just a droll sight of extreme detail and
facts. And don't get me wrong, I need that too.  I need the education.   We
have all (the Texans and antiTexans) and other extremist, have just got to find
an event to sit around the fire and lie, lay, stretch the truth...what
ever....to each other.   I will supply the drink.  Have not done that since the
Colorado 1980 event.  And that was one of the great ones.  I needed the gigles.

Linda Holley

Dennis Miles wrote:

> OOOOOHHH BOY!!! Here we go!!!!
> I thought Texians were tough!!!  Use a cactus!! Them little pricklies are
> like a scrubber on a good brush!!
> D
>
> P.S Don't even THINK about whining to me about this post...I put a warning
> in the subject line.
>
>    "Abair ach beagan is abair gu math e"
>           DOUBLE EDGE FORGE
>   Period Knives & Iron Accouterments
>     http://www.wesnet.com/deforge1
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Lanney Ratcliff <[e-mail]>
> To: [e-mail] <[e-mail]>
> Date: Thursday, January 21, 1999 7:30 PM
> Subject: Re: MtMan-List: wet weather, bum fodder
>
> After reading this post I ran outside to gather a dishpan full of snow for
> my next trip to the water closet.  Imagine my surprise when I realized that
> it was sunny and 79 degrees and there was no snow....and hadn't been for
> about two years.  Fooey!!  I guess I will have to take up menthol
> cigarettes.
> Lanney Ratcliff

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 18:58:06 -0800
From: Roger Lahti <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Wet weather

> All of the above.  Ideas, tips, etc.  I'm sure folks would like new ideas.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Allen Hall in normally dry Fort Hall country

Allen,

Didn't mean to sound flippant but some times folks aren't looking for long
dissertations and open ended questions got too many ways to be answered.

For myself, I like to stay dry. Mainly because I live in dry country like you do.
Bit lower elevations but just as dry or drier and rain and natural water feels funny
on the skin. I know it won't hurt me but that's  a lifetime of conditioning. So when
I go trekking and know the weather will be damp, I take precautions. My friends on
the wet side don't seem to mind and often don't go to the trouble I will go to. You
already have gotten most of the good answers so most of what I can offer is just
support.

I like wool. I hunted in ID. through most of Nov. and into Dec. for elk and it
rained and made wet snow most of the two weeks I was there. I kept myself and my
rifle dry under a wool/wool lined, capped great coat that came down to my calves.
Picked a few booger lice out of it but it was worth it. I like to wear a four piece
shoe pack/center seam moc that has been well greased with lard and bee's wax. Two
sole pieces and two side pieces. They do a good job of keeping my feet dry most of
the day. I wear at least one wool blanket bootie inside built just like the shoe
pack. Wool knee socks and knee breeches or leather leggings or both. In snow I will
wear wool leggings tied below the knee. Wool shirts and a wool vest or weskit and a
wide brimmed felt hat. In snow I will wear pucker toe mocs of brain tan with the
wool booties and two pair of wool socks inside. Great for snow shoeing and
surprisingly non-skid on snow and some ice conditions.

My bed roll is a blanket wrapped in an oil cloth of linseed/bee'swax/oil paint,
treated muslin. I usually carry a light tarp of cloth a bit heavier than muslin for
a shelter of 8' by 10'. If rain or snow is gona fall straight down, I rig the tarp
over a long lead about shoulder high and build a fire under one gable end just
inside so the rain won't put the fire out. If I need protection from wind and snow
or rain, I rig it more lean-to style.

I have a snow cover to carry my rifle or Tulle' in but if I want it at the ready I
just carry it tucked under the great coat or cradled in my arms. My buddies in Idaho
were using a piece of sock with the toe cut out to pull over their locks and just
pulled the sock back when they were ready to shoot. Seemed to work better than a
cows knee. I naturally carry a flint lock so I can look at the touch hole and prime
and be assured that the gun will go when needed. (can't say that for percussion) In
two weeks of wet Idaho hunting, I never had a hang fire or failure to ignite. Didn't
unload every night, only after I had shot for some reason and the gun needed
cleaning a bit before reloading. Some times I would not clean but just reload.

Well those are my experiences and probably not much different than what most do.
Hope I have been of help. I remain.......

YMOS
Capt. Lahti'

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 19:50:32 -0800
From: Frank <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Re:TP

So I go to this page, think to myself..."this is disgusting" and read a little
more.  Well, I haven't laughed so hard ALL YEAR!
Thanks J. D. I needed that!

Medicine Bear


John Dearing wrote:

> The article at this URL deals with those time we find ourselve without TP.
> http://www.survival.com/rants.htm    Enjoy.  ;-)           J.D.

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 22:59:35 EST
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Wet weather

In a message dated 1/21/99 8:02:26 PM Mountain Standard Time, [e-mail]
writes:

<< I like to wear a four piece shoe pack/center seam moc that has been well
greased with lard and bee's wax. Two sole pieces and two side pieces.  >>

I'm very interested in your four piece shoe pack. I'm getting ready to make
winter moc combination from elk hides I tanned. I've looked at a number of
designs and combinations and I am still researching. Could you explain your
system in more detail, i.e. various parts/combination, order of wear, designs
used, construction, hints, what would you do different, etc.  Thanks, looking
forward to your post.

Ghosting Wolf

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 23:20:32 -0800
From: Roger Lahti <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Wet weather

[e-mail] wrote:

Could you explain your system in more detail, i.e. various parts/combination,
order of wear, designs used, construction, hints, what would you do different,
etc.  Thanks, looking forward to your post.

> Ghosting Wolf

Gosting Wolf,

Using blanket material, make two soles for each foot, tracing the pattern while
wearing what ever socks you will wear. Stitch across the soles at ball of foot and
just ahead of heal to keep the two pieces from moving. Cut two pieces of wool
blanket material that will go from center back to center front, one piece for each
side. Make each piece as tall as you want but a bit taller than your moc sides
will be. Start stitching the pieces on from center back. Put one piece on and then
the other until they meet in the front at center of foot or just inside big toe.
Sew up front center seam with a gathering stitch until you have them sewn up the
front to the forward part of leg. You can cut off the extra in front or let it
wrap the leg. Cut off extra above front center seam quit close to stitch. Sew up
back seam from bottom to top with whatever stitch you like. Make one pair ,or more
while your at it.

Make a pattern for the soles while wearing your socks and blanket booties. Make it
a bit big, leaving at least a quarter inch of seam allowance. I like to use oil
tanned leather for the soles and I use leather that is about twice as thick as one
letter on this page (like the "p" and "a" in "page") or a bit thicker but not so
heavy that you can't work with it. Put the sole pieces together flesh side to
flesh side and then punch or bore stitch holes all the way around about 3/16"ths
or so apart but no more than 1/4" and about a 1/4" in from the edge.  Turn the
sole pieces over and carefully cut a slit into the bottom piece between holes for
the thread to lay in so it is not quickly worn through. Cut sides of softer
leather with flesh side out if commercial tanned and hair side out if brain
tanned. Sew together just like the wool booties, with stitch showing. Gather up
the front seam to the front of the leg with an in and out single gathering stitch.
Pull thread up towards the leg to gather. Add another stitch to this one after it
is gathered if you wish. Cut the extra leather off above the center seam but leave
some of the sides to wrap around the ankle.

Cut small pairs of slits or punch holes, two sets at the back and one set at
center of inside and outside and one set inside and outside at front of moc
opening to lace with a thong. Make the thong long enough so it will wrap around
the leg a couple times and have enough left for a knot. If you use brain tan and
it is cut 1/4" wide and greased, you can tie with a square knot. Usually won't
come undone and is easy to untie if you don't pull it too tight.

Grease up mocs with a mix of grease and bee's wax in a proportion you can use in
any weather without serious warming. Put the grease mix on in a warm environment.
and let it soak in. You can add some Neet's Foot Oil if you like. Others may have
their favorite recipe. Make booties and mocs a bit loose for better warmth and use
a fairly light leather for the upper parts. You can add a tongue if you want but I
just wrap the extra of the uppers around the ankle. Any thing not clear?

I make pucker toes so they will fit loose over wool booties and socks too. There
are plenty of patterns available for these. I only grease the lower parts of these
mocs and probably don't have to do that if I wear them in cold snow. Hope this was
what you were looking for. I remain....

YMOS
Capt. Lahti'

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1999 03:29:15 EST
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: First Flint and Steel Fire

Good for you Frank.  This past summer, I went to my first rendezvous and got
to experience many things for the first time. including making fire with a
flint and steel.  I had to borrow a set from my best friend and to my
amazement, after a few practice strikes, I got a fired in a timed 13
seconds!!.  I was shocked,and hooked instantly.  keep up the good work and
keep your powder dry.
Wade Smith

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1999 15:51:53 -0700
From: "Kurt Westenbarger" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Pipe smoke

- --------------5DBFDE7AC7F73883602B8DF3
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; x-mac-type="54455854"; x-mac-creator="4D4F5353"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Bearberry and wintergreen are not the same.
Bearberry is Arctostaphylos  uva-ursi   Wintergreen is Pyrola sp.  often Pyrola
eliptica  or  Pyrolia rotundifolia.
I'm not familiar with the common name teaberry.
Kurt

[e-mail] wrote:

> In a message dated 99-01-20 17:42:27 EST, you write:
>
> > Are bear berries and wintergreen the same thing?
>
> I think that bear berries and teaberries are the same thing.  Wintergreen is
> different.



- --------------5DBFDE7AC7F73883602B8DF3
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Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

<HTML>
Bearberry and wintergreen are not the same.
<BR>Bearberry is <I>Arctostaphylos  uva-ursi <B>  </B></I>Wintergreen
is <I>Pyrola sp.</I>  often <I>Pyrola eliptica  </I>or
<I>Pyrolia rotundifolia.</I>
<BR>I'm not familiar with the common name teaberry.
<BR>Kurt

<P>[e-mail] wrote:
<BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE>In a message dated 99-01-20 17:42:27 EST, you write:

<P>> Are bear berries and wintergreen the same thing?

<P>I think that bear berries and teaberries are the same thing.  Wintergreen
is
<BR>different.</BLOCKQUOTE>
 </HTML>

- --------------5DBFDE7AC7F73883602B8DF3--

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1999 18:29:57 -0600
From: "Lanney Ratcliff" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Wet weather

Allen,
Several Januarys ago at a winter camp on the south high bank of the Red =
River about 40 miles east of Wichita Falls, Texas mother nature took =
several of us to school.   The first day or so was humid and quite warm =
and no great care was taken by some to handle cold or wet weather.  High =
winds, one day from the south and the next day from the north, buffetted =
the camp and then a brief, moderate shower sent folks scurrying to =
batten down the hatches a little.  James Craker and Ron Harris decided =
to pitch their two 10 X 10 tarps together, with James's brand new, =
"waterproof as the hood of a '57 Buick", tarp stretched over a ridge =
pole forming a snug little cubby.  Later when the heavy rains came they =
were shocked to discover that the new tarp barely slowed down the water. =
 Everything and everybody under the leaking tarp was soon wet and fairly =
miserable and dreading the cold wind that was blowing the rain away from =
camp...temporarily, it turned out.  During the brief lull between =
storms, Harris abandoned his close friend, James, to his fate and begged =
entrance to my little, bitty, mostly dry, pryamid tent, claiming =
illness.  Later he did indeed prove to be ill (which is a story best =
told around a fire)  but his most immediate problem was that he was =
very, very cold, with hypothermia a real possibility.  We shed what =
inhibitions we each had (precious few, to be sure) and bunked down =
together under my dry blankets, using my abundant body heat in an =
attempt to stop his chills while we endured a loud thunderstorm, =
complete with lightening and hail.   He pretty much stayed there for a =
day and a half, much of the time shivering like he was passing a peach =
pit, but as soon as I evicted him he felt well enough to chase a skunk.  =
Later Harris recalled one of his favorite books and paraphrased it,  =
saying that the camp on the Red " was the best of times, it was the =
worst of times, it was the winter of our discount tent" .
We often tell this story (with certain omitted details included) and we =
make lots of people laugh.  But the results easily could have been =
different with serious consequences.  You can bet that all of us now =
take great pains to know how ALL our gear works.  Don't assume anything. =
=20
My personal method is to prepare for the worst, choosing a campsite =
carefully, taking note of drainage potential.  If I can find a little =
hump or other high point I camp there and with any luck I can be assured =
that water will run away from my camp. If I have properly aligned the =
opening of my fly away from the most likely wind direction in the event =
of a storm I have one less problem to contend with.  I like to stash a =
little dry kindling and fire wood somewhere under my fly in case of a =
soaking rain.  And for those real wet camps I always bring some food =
that keeps well and needs no cooking....just in case.  I know these =
"tips" are old hat to most of the people on the list, but I have seen =
some pretty skilled men set their camps in an obvious wash and spend =
most of their time trying to keep themselves dry when the rain came.  I =
guess that I am saying that it is wise to scout carefully for a really =
good campsite, studying the terrain closely and running worst case =
senarios through you head as you smoke a pipe or a Marsh Wheeling =
stogie.  Take you time everytime.

Lanney Ratclif
Tejas Party

- -----Original Message-----
From: Allen Hall <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail] <[e-mail]>
Date: Wednesday, January 20, 1999 4:38 PM
Subject: MtMan-List: Wet weather


>Hello the list,
>
>Seveal of us are getting ready for a winter camp on the Lewis Fork of =
the
>Snake River, right near where Osborne Russell described a hot spring.
>Anyway, the forecast is for wet weather, not winter weather.  In =
getting
>ready for this I thought it would be interesting to hear how different =
folks
>deal with wet, sloppy weather.
>
>Looking forward to your answers,
>
>Allen Hall in Fort Hall country
>
>

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1999 19:43:01 EST
From: [e-mail]
Subject: MtMan-List: Yucca stalk as tinder

Greetings All:

Several weeks ago the discussion centered on types of materials for tinder.
Some opined that cloth probably wasn't the first choice of the Mountaineers
due to its costly and valuable nature. Others offered alternatives such as the
ballyhooed hardwood tree fungus. That not being widely available in the West,
others mentioned alternatives.
     Capt Lahti, a familiar name to this group, stated that he'd tried Yucca
with success. I asked tougue -in-cheek if he would mind supplying us with
some. I was surprised at his quick and generous reply. Not only did he send me
an envelope full of dried stalks from his admittedly limited reserve, but all
he asked in return was that I experiment and list my findings here for all to
see. Whall now, hyar's to put out!
     After finally locating my char can, I struck up a small fire out back and
tossed my can in filled with several pieces on yucca stalk about 1 1/2 inches
long and 1/2 inch in diameter. After the gasses stopped venting out of the
small hole in the can I removed it from the fire and let it cool. Taking it
inside to my hobby room, I placed several well charred chunks in the lid of my
striker tin and began striking the sparks downward onto the yucca. This was a
little awkward for me as I'm used to placing char cloth on my flint and
striking to flint with the steel.  It took about twenty strikes before a spark
caught on one of the chunks. When it did however it spread easily and couldn't
be extinguished short of immersing it in water. I touched another chunk to it
and it caught easily as well. I was surprised at the heat the two little
chunks gave off. I think this has great advantages ove cloth as it burned much
longer.
     I'd call this little experiment a resounding success and will be filling
my can with Yucca and keeping my eye open for more.
      Thanks Capt Lahti for your generosity!

Happy Trails

Todd Glover

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1999 17:02:10 -0800
From: Carpenters <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Yucca stalk as tinder

[e-mail] wrote:
>
> Greetings All:
>
>
>      Capt Lahti, a familiar name to this group, stated that he'd tried Yucca
> with success.
>
Todd:

Was this the leaves/needles of the yucca or the bark/stalk?  I live in
the So California Mountains and close to the high desert where yucca
grows in abundance.  I'll do some experimenting also.

Carp

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1999 17:38:43 -0800
From: Pat Quilter <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: MtMan-List: Yucca stalk as tinder

Actually, Yucca has many uses:
   For those unfamiliar with this sentry of the Southwest, the yucca family
of plants grows as a central cluster of leaves in the form of SHARP-tipped
spears, from which a central stalk emerges and grows to some feet or yards,
blooms, goes to seed, then dies. By the following year the whole plant is
dry, and eventually the leaves rot away and the stalk falls over.
   The well-dried spears (leaves) surrounding an expired plant have great
tinder potential, especially the frayed fibrous bases which are as good as
any tow.
The well-dried central stalk is the material from which Lahti and Todd made
good char -- it's quite like balsa wood, except a little hard on the outside
like a shell, and somewhat softer and more pithy inside. It's also a good
material for anything light and stiff -- I made a very serviceable and
comfortable pack frame by taking one 3" dia by 6 foot stalk, splitting it
down the middle, chopping the two sections into four pieces, and lashing
them into a rectangle with ends protruding, using rawhide, and cutting
notches somewhat to locate the corners. Wear it with the round sides towards
the back, and lash a couple more sticks of any wood horizontally across the
middle for more tie points.
   A growing plant is a great source of fiber for cordage. Sever a few
leaves at their base, they're usually 18-24" long. Trim off the sharp edges,
whose fibers peter out, and strip the green "binder" away from the central
fibers with the thumbnail or a dull edge. You'll get plenty of full length
fibers which can be twisted into cordage, and the Indians were supposed to
have sewn directly with the sharp tip.
   A tender green stalk is somewhat edible, although the sap is astringent,
and the flowers are also supposed to have some food value.
Pat Quilter

- -----Original Message-----
From: Carpenters [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Friday, January 22, 1999 5:02 PM
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Yucca stalk as tinder




[e-mail] wrote:
>
> Greetings All:
>
>
>      Capt Lahti, a familiar name to this group, stated that he'd tried
Yucca
> with success.
>
Todd:

Was this the leaves/needles of the yucca or the bark/stalk?  I live in
the So California Mountains and close to the high desert where yucca
grows in abundance.  I'll do some experimenting also.

Carp

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1999 21:38:41 EST
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Yucca stalk as tinder

Carp,

It was the main stalk...well dried

Todd Glover

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1999 18:48:47 -0800
From: Frank <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Yucca stalk as tinder

Okay, now that the market has been established and demand already
growing...anyone want to become a "Yucca Sutler"?  Sounds like the
worlds best char!

Medicine Bear

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1999 22:37:47 -0400
From: [e-mail] (Bob Spencer)
Subject: RE: MtMan-List: Yucca stalk as tinder

>The well-dried central stalk is the material from which Lahti and Todd made
>good char -- it's quite like balsa wood, except a little hard on the outside
>like a shell, and somewhat softer and more pithy inside. It's also a good
>material for anything light and stiff --

For those of you who like to use a Moses stick or walking stick, it also is
excellent for that, light and strong. A stalk 1 1/2" at the bottom and
about 5' long has worked very well for me. It also makes a great monopod
rest for shooting from the standing position when you are forced to do
that.

Bob

Bob Spencer <[e-mail]>
non illegitimi carborundum est

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 23 Jan 1999 09:57:50 EST
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Re:TP

Johnny Apple seed is a great story but just think if he was planting (not sure
of spelling) Caltalpa trees.  Large soft leaves.

------------------------------

End of hist_text-digest V1 #224
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