Originally Posted by
FarStar
Cooke Custom Sewing is, I believe, the only manufacturer of the Whelen lean-to, an ideal camping tarp designed by Col. Townsend Whelen. He would build a long fire in front of the lean-to and sleep parallel to it; he found he could keep warm in his bedroll with the lean-to reflecting the heat of the fire onto him even in the Canadian winter. Of course, the Colonel's lean-to was made of canvas, and could withstand a stray ember much better than can today's silnylon.
Col. Whelen was a pioneer in lightweight packing -- his kit weighed only 12 lb, in days before silnylon and goose down. Of course, he obtained most of his food by hunting.
Unfortunately, his lean-to doesn't seem suited for hammocking, but I bet the Col. would look favorably on today's hammock camping phenomenon.
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