Recent Spring Camp
May 7, 2014 14:29:29 GMT -7
Post by Leifer on May 7, 2014 14:29:29 GMT -7
Here's a recent transcription from from my field journal. There are typos, misspellings and editings as there would be for transcriptions of other period journals. This entry is from the 2014 Crocus Blossom Rendezvous. To see this with pictures you can find it montanandakotan.blogspot.com/2014/05/2014-crocus-blossom-rendezvous.html
2014 Crocus Blossom Rendezvous
May 2, 2014
This is the second camp with Kim & Garrick…I had mantied up our gear this time, with the exception of Garrick’s. He had his bedroll in a tumpline & carried an additional blanket. I ran saddle straps through the rope on mine to be able to wear it with should straps. Kim’s was smaller & ran a belt through the pack to wear it tumpline style.
We arrived to see Dave F, Paul B, Pilgrim, Bob & Ms. Stone were already there. The area was along a creek, wooded & surrounded by hills.
After selecting our campsite I went to chop on some deadfall for a front support for our shelter. While chopping in my usual fashion I saw a quick blur & then felt an impact against the left lense of my glasses that set them off kilter. Upon examining I found the lense had been ha[d] been hit with such force from the flying chip of wood that the lense pivoted in the frames & I had to set it aright. I have few things to be thankful for in regards to my failing eyesight, however, if it wasn’t for my glasses I would have lost or injured my eyes on numerous occasions. This incident would not have been good had I not been wearing my glasses.
Paul assisted me while I set up my shelter in a diamond shape. Ms. Stone, our host,had prepared a hearty soup for all present so we did not have to prepare our dinner this night.
Time was spent around the campfire of Paul & Dave F.’s camp discussing a variety of topics & it was decided that Paul would accompany me the next day while I scouted the creek for beaver sign & a good place to set traps. Before retiring for the evening Ms. Stone informed me & Kim that if we needed anything for us or Garrick all we need to do was ask.
The diamond shaped shelter I decided to make this time proved to work fairly well throughout the night as it would drizzle throughout it. An extra piece of ground cloth would be tossed over our heads & we would be kepts dry. Garrick would end up being placed between Kim & I. My 2 ½ year old is a little furnace that puts off a lot of heat. The temp for Friday night would be a low of 44 deg. F.
SAT. MAY 3, 2014 CROCUS BLOSSOM RENDEZVOUS
Early morning Kim & I would be disturbed by Garrick trying to burrow himself down by our feet. This would be an ongoing battle for about 20 minutes or so until he would finally settle down snuggling into my arms.
Starting a fire this morning would prove difficult, but successful There was a bit of moisture in the air. I split wood down to get to the dry inside part & was use a little wax to help keep the initial flame going.
Breakfast would be oatmeal with a little cinimon & brown sugar & raisins with bannock type bread made roasted on the side of a quartered log placed next to the fire. After camp chores were finished I set about to making some char cloth to replace what I had used.
I cleared a spot at the edge of the fire & buried some cut cloth with a little dirt & ashes & then move some fire back on top of it. I would check it several hours later.
Shortly before going to scout the creek, Pilgrim came up, holding the broken handle of my axe & apologizing for it. Upon inspection it was obvious that shoddy craftsmanship was a factor in my axe breaking. I assured him it was all right. There were more axes available throughout the rest of the group.
Shortly thereafter with rifle ball pouch & powder horn in hand, Paul & I set out to scout the creek. Along the way I found a small piece of petrified wood. I had remembered reading about petrified wood being used as a wet stone, so into my vest pocket it went. I also found the head end of an exoskeleton of a crawfish. Useful information to have. If needed to I could make some baskets to catch crawfish if we were to stay here for any length of time.
Then we found a lots of sign. The beaver had done quite a numbe on an area we had come across, & it was all recent. I found a good spot where the level dropped to a four foot depth or so after about a foot of shelf. Deciding on this spot we hiked back to the main camp & I finished preparing the traps & gear.
We headed back out again about a hour later with the addition of Dave F. Paul lent me the use of his axe. I brought along bait & two of the 7 traps I had along. One of the 7 was a replica of a 5lb. St. Louis type trap that needed a bit of work to function as smoothly as I wanted. I used ti to compare between the historic & modern Bridger #5 traps I would be using in the creek today. The beaver made finding appropriate limbs to drive into the creek bed for trap stakes easy. There were several to choos from that the beaver had gnawed down & eaten all the bark off of. Paul & Dave F observed as I broke both of the unmodified #5 Bridgers over my knee (I haven’t had a chance yet to put a square pan on.) placed the traps, drove the stakes out in the water & placed bait sticks. My legs & feet seamed to adapt to the water relatively quickly today.
After we got back from the creek I didn’t have a chance to change pants & mocs as Ms. Stone had arranged a hunting game for the group. She & her folks had tied a number of red strips of cloth throughout the woods to go & find. Knowing that Garrick was going to be there they purposely tied ones lower for him to be able to find. It was a fun time in the woods with Kim & Garrick finding the red strips. Paul would find ones & then place them lower for Garrick to find.
When we arrived back at the main camp there was a blanket set out for people to choose prizes from. When it came to our turn we let Garrick choose. He picked out a crockery jug. We would also get a pair of deer antlers.
We had a later lunch today. Again, we ended up not having to prepare a meal. Pilgrim had made a bunch of meat, Tod F, who arrived today prepared a bunch of beans & Ms. Stone & her family prepared a bunch of fry bread and Dave F made a bunch of corn bread. It was an excellent lunch which everyone enjoyed.
After lunch I went out into the woods again & set some snares. I had left my brass wire behind, so I had to use my usually trapping wire instead to make some squirrel snares on a limb. I also made a noose snare on a game trail using sticks to make a funnel towards the noose & then a spring snare by pulling down a limb as there were no saplings near a trail.
Dinner was light for me, Kim & Garrick due to the large late lunch we had. We each had an apple & some cheese…
Out of consideration for Kim & Garrick, I took up the offer from Ms. Stone to have our family sleep her tent tonight as it can be completely closed to the weather…It’s one thing if I get cold, it’s another if they do. It got down to 36 deg. F.
SUNDAY, MAY 4, 2014 CROCUS BLOSSOM RENDEZVOUS
Woke up this morning to what I though was the sound of rain. Upon exiting the tent I was relieved it was only sleet, though it had rained some throughout the night.
Breakfast was leftover beans, fresh oatmeal & cheese. Garrick was crnaky this morning & finally just wanted to lay down & nap later on.
After camp chores were done, Tod F & I went & checked the traps. The traps had not been disturbed & no evidence of further activity in the area of the traps was found. I pulled the traps & we headed back to the camp.
I changed my pants & mocs as it was much cooler today & then began to manty up the gear. Kim watched me pack mine & assisted with the other two packs. Shoudering mine & grabbing my rifle, shooting bag & horn I headed through the wood to take my load to the truck. By the time I completed loading everything the sleet had gotten much larger & wetter. We woke Garrick & got him loaded in the truck. He was much happier now. We said our good-byes & headed out. It was a fun camp for Kim, Garrick & me. Good company, good food & some quality time out in the woods. Hat’s off to Ms. Stone. Fine doin’s, Miss.
-- Leif
2014 Crocus Blossom Rendezvous
May 2, 2014
This is the second camp with Kim & Garrick…I had mantied up our gear this time, with the exception of Garrick’s. He had his bedroll in a tumpline & carried an additional blanket. I ran saddle straps through the rope on mine to be able to wear it with should straps. Kim’s was smaller & ran a belt through the pack to wear it tumpline style.
We arrived to see Dave F, Paul B, Pilgrim, Bob & Ms. Stone were already there. The area was along a creek, wooded & surrounded by hills.
After selecting our campsite I went to chop on some deadfall for a front support for our shelter. While chopping in my usual fashion I saw a quick blur & then felt an impact against the left lense of my glasses that set them off kilter. Upon examining I found the lense had been ha[d] been hit with such force from the flying chip of wood that the lense pivoted in the frames & I had to set it aright. I have few things to be thankful for in regards to my failing eyesight, however, if it wasn’t for my glasses I would have lost or injured my eyes on numerous occasions. This incident would not have been good had I not been wearing my glasses.
Paul assisted me while I set up my shelter in a diamond shape. Ms. Stone, our host,had prepared a hearty soup for all present so we did not have to prepare our dinner this night.
Time was spent around the campfire of Paul & Dave F.’s camp discussing a variety of topics & it was decided that Paul would accompany me the next day while I scouted the creek for beaver sign & a good place to set traps. Before retiring for the evening Ms. Stone informed me & Kim that if we needed anything for us or Garrick all we need to do was ask.
The diamond shaped shelter I decided to make this time proved to work fairly well throughout the night as it would drizzle throughout it. An extra piece of ground cloth would be tossed over our heads & we would be kepts dry. Garrick would end up being placed between Kim & I. My 2 ½ year old is a little furnace that puts off a lot of heat. The temp for Friday night would be a low of 44 deg. F.
SAT. MAY 3, 2014 CROCUS BLOSSOM RENDEZVOUS
Early morning Kim & I would be disturbed by Garrick trying to burrow himself down by our feet. This would be an ongoing battle for about 20 minutes or so until he would finally settle down snuggling into my arms.
Starting a fire this morning would prove difficult, but successful There was a bit of moisture in the air. I split wood down to get to the dry inside part & was use a little wax to help keep the initial flame going.
Breakfast would be oatmeal with a little cinimon & brown sugar & raisins with bannock type bread made roasted on the side of a quartered log placed next to the fire. After camp chores were finished I set about to making some char cloth to replace what I had used.
I cleared a spot at the edge of the fire & buried some cut cloth with a little dirt & ashes & then move some fire back on top of it. I would check it several hours later.
Shortly before going to scout the creek, Pilgrim came up, holding the broken handle of my axe & apologizing for it. Upon inspection it was obvious that shoddy craftsmanship was a factor in my axe breaking. I assured him it was all right. There were more axes available throughout the rest of the group.
Shortly thereafter with rifle ball pouch & powder horn in hand, Paul & I set out to scout the creek. Along the way I found a small piece of petrified wood. I had remembered reading about petrified wood being used as a wet stone, so into my vest pocket it went. I also found the head end of an exoskeleton of a crawfish. Useful information to have. If needed to I could make some baskets to catch crawfish if we were to stay here for any length of time.
Then we found a lots of sign. The beaver had done quite a numbe on an area we had come across, & it was all recent. I found a good spot where the level dropped to a four foot depth or so after about a foot of shelf. Deciding on this spot we hiked back to the main camp & I finished preparing the traps & gear.
We headed back out again about a hour later with the addition of Dave F. Paul lent me the use of his axe. I brought along bait & two of the 7 traps I had along. One of the 7 was a replica of a 5lb. St. Louis type trap that needed a bit of work to function as smoothly as I wanted. I used ti to compare between the historic & modern Bridger #5 traps I would be using in the creek today. The beaver made finding appropriate limbs to drive into the creek bed for trap stakes easy. There were several to choos from that the beaver had gnawed down & eaten all the bark off of. Paul & Dave F observed as I broke both of the unmodified #5 Bridgers over my knee (I haven’t had a chance yet to put a square pan on.) placed the traps, drove the stakes out in the water & placed bait sticks. My legs & feet seamed to adapt to the water relatively quickly today.
After we got back from the creek I didn’t have a chance to change pants & mocs as Ms. Stone had arranged a hunting game for the group. She & her folks had tied a number of red strips of cloth throughout the woods to go & find. Knowing that Garrick was going to be there they purposely tied ones lower for him to be able to find. It was a fun time in the woods with Kim & Garrick finding the red strips. Paul would find ones & then place them lower for Garrick to find.
When we arrived back at the main camp there was a blanket set out for people to choose prizes from. When it came to our turn we let Garrick choose. He picked out a crockery jug. We would also get a pair of deer antlers.
We had a later lunch today. Again, we ended up not having to prepare a meal. Pilgrim had made a bunch of meat, Tod F, who arrived today prepared a bunch of beans & Ms. Stone & her family prepared a bunch of fry bread and Dave F made a bunch of corn bread. It was an excellent lunch which everyone enjoyed.
After lunch I went out into the woods again & set some snares. I had left my brass wire behind, so I had to use my usually trapping wire instead to make some squirrel snares on a limb. I also made a noose snare on a game trail using sticks to make a funnel towards the noose & then a spring snare by pulling down a limb as there were no saplings near a trail.
Dinner was light for me, Kim & Garrick due to the large late lunch we had. We each had an apple & some cheese…
Out of consideration for Kim & Garrick, I took up the offer from Ms. Stone to have our family sleep her tent tonight as it can be completely closed to the weather…It’s one thing if I get cold, it’s another if they do. It got down to 36 deg. F.
SUNDAY, MAY 4, 2014 CROCUS BLOSSOM RENDEZVOUS
Woke up this morning to what I though was the sound of rain. Upon exiting the tent I was relieved it was only sleet, though it had rained some throughout the night.
Breakfast was leftover beans, fresh oatmeal & cheese. Garrick was crnaky this morning & finally just wanted to lay down & nap later on.
After camp chores were done, Tod F & I went & checked the traps. The traps had not been disturbed & no evidence of further activity in the area of the traps was found. I pulled the traps & we headed back to the camp.
I changed my pants & mocs as it was much cooler today & then began to manty up the gear. Kim watched me pack mine & assisted with the other two packs. Shoudering mine & grabbing my rifle, shooting bag & horn I headed through the wood to take my load to the truck. By the time I completed loading everything the sleet had gotten much larger & wetter. We woke Garrick & got him loaded in the truck. He was much happier now. We said our good-byes & headed out. It was a fun camp for Kim, Garrick & me. Good company, good food & some quality time out in the woods. Hat’s off to Ms. Stone. Fine doin’s, Miss.
-- Leif
So when forced to be put afoot, it would make sense to use that skill and equipment that may be left after that Blackfoot raid, to make tracks right quick. Why build & carry a wood frame? I can break camp and be moving in under 10 minutes. I am sure if I pushed it maybe quicker? I travel light, 25 lbs. or so is my average weight or more, for 3 day adventures on the move. I did a 5 day solo with 36 pounds, same components, but carried different. Pack on my toboggan or animal the same.