Comfort in the face of privation

[James Hunt]

Brass and I attended the Eastern Regionals hosted by the GLF&M Co. and what a great time we had. We set up our camp which is ment to represent a commercial hide hunters camp of the early 1870's. When we arrived on Friday it was raining and continued until early morning, Saturday found the weather clearing and we were rewarded with an early Sunday morning temp of freezing. Some look at us as if we are nuts to step out side of the RV culture. Particularly me, Brass is but a youth but I am 60 y.o. But limiting our camping to documented period materials we remained dry, warm and comfortable.

The tent was but a couple of sheets of canvas over tree limbs, but we remained dry. Our sleeping strategy employed two ponchos thrown on the ground, a wool saddle blanket over their joining area, a full wool blanket over that and then a buffalo robe over that which we slept on. We were both rolled up in two wool blankets and each had our own buffalo robe to cover ourselves with. We remained warm, as warm as I ever have in a sleeping bag or cowboy bedroll, actually warmer. And although on the ground, it was comfortable. I slept well.

Cooking went well, sticking with period choices, we had coffee, cooked bread and roasted meat. It was delicious. We remained full adn satisfied. For those who are tenuous about giving absolute period correct camping a try, your fears are unfounded.

Thought you might like some pictures.

The complete camp, coffee over the fire and bread roasting in the pan. It does not get any better.



Work never ceases, Brass mixing up the goods for bread.



The finished product.



Meat roasting on period correct forks, bread cooking in the pan.

[Delmonico]

Looks good, but a little snow in the kitchen makes it more fun:





We had 4 inches at the GAF Muster.

['Monterrey' Jack Brass]

Mr Hunt - it was definitely a great experience and even better to get the bread baking process down, the two skillets formed a pretty nice ad-hoc dutch oven and made for a great camp fire experience. Looking forward to the next camping & cooking adventure, nothing that a little camp-kettle boiled coffee, flour/baking powder/lard/water home made bread, and meat broiled over the fire can't fix...!

Was a great camp experience, cold & wet weather be damn*d,

Brass

[Dutch Limbach]

I was Rendezvousing one time. The temperature that evening was about 35-40 degrees with a pretty stout wind blowing through the camp. A several of us were huddled around a camp fire in front of veteran treker Bob Hill's tent eating venison fresh off the fire. When Bob finished eating he leaned back, streched his legs out, and said, "I wonder what the poor folks are doin' tonight?"

[Delmonico]

Dutch, that about sums it up.  Although Friday night I was glad we were bunked in the barracks because the wind chill was I'd guess around zero.  Almost hoped that freezing rain would have came to be, there were several of us that were going to stay if it did, we had wood and food enough.

[James Hunt]

OK, no war stories of discomfort. It was really the opposite point I was trying to make.

The point here is that with forethought period camping - absolutely correct period camping - can be done comfortably and enjoyably even in an in-climate environment. Your scenario and equipment would vary dependent on the camp you were portraying and that could extend from a traveler limited to a single horse and single blanket to the Grand Duke Alexis (Dr. Bob ?  ) with the comforts of the palace. All would be correct. Health and safety are always paramount, food is a primary consideration - we use a cooler for meat and keep it in the car, the short walk preferable to faking it somehow in your camp.

We have repeatedly heard comments to the effect that many would like to try this but are worried about perceived difficulty or discomfort, many commenting that they are older. As far as older goes, I am 60 with no higher testosterone levels than anyone else, if I can do it you can do it. This thread is intended to specifically target those who would like to but are unsure of.

You have an ideal opportunity to try this stuff at the next Nationals and plenty of time to think it over and get it right. And it does not need to be expensive, you do not need $2000 worth of canvas, cots, lanterns, wool, etc . Look at our set up, and it is as comfortable as any nylon, bug proof, light camping crap I have used in my many years of family camping. We were comfortable both in the heat of the Nationals and this past weekend. All with the same minimal stuff.

There are many here who do the period camping stuff, and all of us would be glad to answer any questions you might have - both from a point of practicality and authenticity. And believe me, if done right authenticity is as comfortable and as inexpensive as making compromises.

No need to stay at the Super 8 when you can have so much more fun with this stuff. No one recalls a weekend at the Super 8 - but this is something worth remembering. Privation need not imply discomfort.

[River City John]

There is NO substitute for wool. Nor hide.
Once you're under several layers of wool blankets, with an oiled groundcloth beneath and maybe a quilt over the groundcloth under you, it gets downright toasty. Or, as Messrs. Hunt and Brass use, a buffalo robe.
And most important, dry socks and a stocking cap when sleeping (especially for us 'folically' challenged).

The worst part of shooting last weekend is that it WAS sloppy along with the wind chill. Water would seep in between the seams of my leather shoes and then there was no keeping the feet warm. We learned to scrape away the snow wherever we were standing so that we stood on grass and not compacted snow. It automatically kept the feet from getting too cold.
Many of us had fur caps, either the type that the Army issued back then (looks like the traditional Russian fur cap), or those similar to the Mountain Man-type, etc. These helped a lot.
All wore gloves of one type or another, and some thin fingered gloves with thicker mittens over those.

RCJ   

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

I was Rendezvousing one time. The temperature that evening was about 35-40 degrees with a pretty stout wind blowing through the camp. A several of us were huddled around a camp fire in front of veteran treker Bob Hill's tent eating venison fresh off the fire. When Bob finished eating he leaned back, streched his legs out, and said, "I wonder what the poor folks are doin' tonight?"

Dutch.....Bobby Hill is a good friend of mine...spent many a time on the trail trekking with Bob.....I remember one time it got so cold on top of the Appalachian trail that we all snuggled up together to maintain warmth....that was with a party of 15 trekkers with only one wool blanket each, and what we had on. Built fires with long branches,....seven or eight feet long, slid between two long lean-to's. Stayed warm for four days and we all got to be mighty good friends........

If I remember right, we had a foot of snow on the ground and some mighty cold temps., Don't know exactly how cold since none of us brought a thermometer....We hunted for our food.....but brought little in the way of modern conveniences like flour and fixings...most of what we ate we shot.....and set snares for......

Did this kind of bare bones 18th century trekking many times with John Curry. Both John and I, wrote several articles for Muzzle Blasts magazine on how to survive on a winter trek with nothing but 18th century gear.   We are planning another four day trek at the end of November...this year, on the Iron Mountain Trail.

Bill

[Delmonico]

John, next time yer in the store, remind me to show you a product I use, all natural products that were around in the 19th Century.  My boots were a mess on the outside with all that slop I was in, but stayed dry all weekend.  And as you know my mud hole was sloppy.

[River City John]

I have used mink oil paste on them and take a candle nubbin and rub the seams, but it just doesn't seem to last with the stresses of walking around in damp shoe leather.

I'll do that, Delmonico.

[Delmonico]

John, not to highjack this tread, so go to the Barracks;

http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,28966.msg381171.html#new

[kflach]

There must be something wrong with me - or else I'm too engrossed in the Hells' Half Acre book I'm reading about Ft. Worth in the 1870-80s. I saw this subject line and I thought this was going to be a thread about 'soiled doves.'

<grin>