This is Kevin, part of my extended family. He’s a teacher and a historian with a fascination for 17th century Canadian history. One of his hobbies is reenacting this period and place as authentically as possible. He's also the world's leading expert on French trade guns - yes, both esoteric hobbies, but blowing things up with black powder rifles is fun.
At some point during the Christmas holidays after far too many glasses of wine we had a heated debate - me upholding the merits of current survival/outdoors technology - Kevin taking the counterpoint.
We agreed then and there to settle this like gentlemen and head out into the wintery woods. The next day we both woke hoping neither would remember. The handshake was binding.
This is my set up. I would consider this pretty much the state of the art. A Warbonnet SuperFly tarp, BlackBird hammock, and HammockGear Burrow and Phoenix quilts. All very lightweight and comfy when suspended high above the roots, rocks and squirmy things.
For eats: Freeze dried food, a jet propelled stove to boil water in nano-seconds (Jet Boil). All this represents the cusp of lightweight outdoors materials engineering and technology.
This is Kevin's camp. Those pots and lantern are period. The glass vessels are all hand-blown. The red tarp above the "bed" is oiled canvas. His bedding: all wool, bearskin and pine boughs. The only nod to the 20th century is a first aid kit (not pictured).
Yes - he will sleep under that red tarp. It will fall to minus 10 degrees celsius this night and gust to 40 knots. To keep the coyotes or any curious wolves at bay a matchlock muzzle loading rifle is loaded and at hand.
Two distinctly different approaches.
The period gear is real nice.......but I will stick to sleeping in the trees.
Par Si Vis Pace Para Bellum
Obviously both systems were/are state of the art for the period. One system obviously led to the other as technology improved and we became more resourceful. They both worked well. Imagine where we'll be 300 years from now and how people then will react to what we have now.
KS, great report! Can't wait to see Kevin's daguerreotypes of your gear in use.
HK, surely you meant "less resourceful"!Originally Posted by HangingKayaker
Good to see someone keeping the old traditonal ways alive.......mmmm the pea soup sounds good.
Thanks for the head to head, past & present.
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