A different, albeit more light hearted, perspective from Dave Barry.

Dave Barry's Manliness Manifesto - WSJ.com

My great great grandfather worked for Hudsons Bay (fur traders) in the 1870's. Came over from England on a schooner, at the age of 16
He wintered at Slave Lake, one year.
He was responsible for 19 men, at the ripe old age of 21.
They ran out of food. Except for the horses.
The Nor'Westers raided their camp and stole the horses, in order to starve them out.
They would have all died, if it wasn't for the local natives providing them with food.

I read a story of his, he once walked 130 miles to Winnipeg, walking on the frozen Assiniboine river, in the middle of winter, to look for work.