Quote:
Originally Posted by GH85Carrera
I always wonder just how tough the old mountain men from the 19th and 20th century had to be. Wool clothes, no goretex, rubberized products or the modern technology of the clothes of today. Anyone that has even stepped into deep snow while wearing jeans knows how miserable that is.
Those guys were just super tough. Now imagine how tough the Native Americans had to be. They were truly stone age peoples, but they figured out how to survive.
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I actually have some experience with this...
As many of you know, I've been an avid hunter all of my life, often hunting with muzzle loaders. Most of the time, even when out during these "primitive weapons" seasons, I simply wear what I would wear during any other hunting season. There was a period of time, however, during the '80's and '90's, when I fell in with a pretty cool group of guys who definitely went "all in" on the "primitive" aspect of the whole thing. They were a local chapter of the American Mountain Men, who are still one of the preeminent clubs of that nature. A guy who owned the gun shop where I was buying my muzzle loaders and supplies was a member and invited me in.
Their rules were absolutely no modern gear in camp whatsoever. Not even things like matches... All equipment and clothing had to be authentic to the Rocky Mountain fur trade era of approximately 1810-1840. Membership (which I never achieved) required one to make at least a couple of extended wilderness trips with these guys, while demonstrating the request skills, including trapping, tracking, fire starting, dressing game, brain tanning hides, etc.
So, well, over the course of eight or ten hunting seasons, I did all of that with these guys. And let me tell you - the period clothing is eminently suited for that kind of living. Nothing will keep you warmer or drier than a real blanket capote' made from a real Hudson Bay "point" blanket. Heavy, though - I bet mine was all of a quarter inch thick of pure wool, and weighed a good seven or eight pounds dry. And don't ever discount proper moccasins with a few heavy wool socks inside - I don't think anything will keep your feet warmer and drier. Interestingly, these guys will tell you that the hard rubber soles on modern boots are what make your feet cold. And I think they are right - that rubber is wonderful at heat (or cold) transfer.
So, yeah - don't discount what those men wore. They had it figured out. Granted, the "store bought" stuff they all left St. Louis with initially soon fell by the wayside as entirely unsuitable. The stuff they made for themselves, however, (under Native American tutelage) worked as well or better than any of our modern stuff. It certainly wore better and lasted longer, even if it required more day to day care.