Posted by Clabert on November 04, 1999 at 13:28:45:
In Reply to: Re: Dear Mohicanland Trekker posted by Dana S. on November 04, 1999 at 07:32:43:
:
: : : : Dear Clabert,
: : : : I have a question about historical trekking. I can't read a James Thom novel without wondering what it would be like to journey about the frontier like George Rogers Clark. Historical trekking is obviously a way to experience such a lifestyle first hand. The problem is there are no women personas that allow for women to take part in the "outdoors" aspect. Or are there? In other words, does a woman have to stick to " the women's stuff" (which I also find very interesting), or is backpacking as close as I'm going to get to the frontier experience? Do any trekkers ever do "one time only" treks for the curious, but not dedicated, greenhorn?
: : : :
: : : : BTW, your ears haven't been burning lately, have they?
: : : : Dana S.
: : : ________________________________
: : : Dana,
: : : There are some personas of women going out and dressing and doing what the men did while on a trek. Research has come up with about 5 or 6 that did. BUT, never fear. Most any group will let a woman trek along with them as long as they are in costume and have no trouble walking and carrying your bedroll and food.(my gear weighs less then 20 lbs) My wife does not trek but my kids do and my 12 year old daughter wants to start dressing in leggings and breechclout. My 17 year old son has always dressed this way. Not all treks are of the war like nature. We have taken a whole family out and looked for edible and medicinal plants. Once we even had to bring a few girls and women from point A to point B after taking them back from the Natives. All they had were the cloths on their back. We had to pull all our food, extra cloths and blankets together to get them thru the weekend.
: : : I have turned down no woman who showed she truely could handle herself on a trek and I know a few who are better then any man I know. Most families have enough extra cloths for one more person. I even have a couple extra muskets. Where do you live? Do you have any 18th century cloths? Would you like to go on a trek? Maybe I can steer you in the right direction.
: : : Yes, my ears have been burning. And my muffin is a bit over done also.
: : : Clabert
: : ______________
: : Very, very, interesting posts (as I have been trying hard to catch up here...)(THANKS for all of the info, Clabert!)
: : So, if, Clabert, you did take girls/women from point A to point B...then what I am thinking of, is in LOTM, when Cora and Alice were at the burial site; and Cora just turned and "slept" on the ground....no bedrolls/blankets in sight that those two guys had carried with them the whole movie; (even if one was left behind)
: : then could one/did you sleep at night with no bedroll/blanket when the women/girls were taken from point A to B; or was the movie assuming a leap of faith that blankets were spread about...in our area, if you slept out with no tent, you'd be sopping wet in the morning with the fog/dew....or over-run with raccoons....
: : Just a thought...thanks again for all of the info..
: : Jo
: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
: Hi, Jo!
: That is a very interesting question, Jo. I look forward to the answer to this one.
: In the meantime, here is a site that Clabert shared with me. It tells firsthand about four treks into the Linville Gorge. It is worth your time to check it out, I promise! Lots of pics!
: Have fun!!
: Dana S.
______________________
Well, I really wanted to review that part of the movie before giving a reply but I cann`t find my copy of LOTM !!! (rush trip to Walmart) I too, don`t remember seeing a blanket under or on any of them. There are a lot of things to think about here. Did they KNOW that a war party was close by? I think so, because they did not kill them all. They knew they would be back. I don`t remember a fire either, did you? This would lead me to believe that this was what we call a cold camp. No fire to be seen by the enemy. Maybe Mann wanted us to think they were in a state of "ready" to move out as quick as possible, for everything was left packed. This also depends on the weather.
Now we shared our blankets and kept a fire going all night. Those that gave their blankets to the women, stayed up on "watch" and then used the blankets of those that took their place. Had it been cold, we would have slept in groups and used body heat for added warmth. This was and is not uncommon. I have slept with my back against the back of my buddy, under two blanket, in very cold weather. (I slept pretty good but he said I snored all night) When my 17 year old son comes along, we sleep snuggled up under our blankets. I told him he was better then a dog.
I`ve also slept many nights down here just on my blanket.
I hope this was kinda the answer you were looking for. It`s the way we do it and it`s all documentable.
Clabert