204 



FIFTY YEARS A HUNTER AND TRAPPER. 



will not soak inside. If a log cabin, the dirt from the drain can 

 be thrown up against the logs of the cabin. 



If the camper expects to camp through cold and snowy weather, 

 it will pay him to place a ridge pole in crotches placed firmly in 

 the ground. The pole should be a foot above the ridge of the 

 tent, then place poles from the ground, the ends resting on this 

 ridge pole as rafters to a building, then nail a few poles to these 

 rafters sufficient to keep boughs from dropping down onto the tent. 

 The boughs should be of an evergreen variety. This outer cover- 

 ing should be well thatched or covered with these boughs. This 

 extra covering adds greatly to the warmth and comfort of the 

 camp, as it protects from the wind blowing directly on the tent, 

 also keeps the snow from falling onto the tent. 



It is also a great convenience if this ridge pole is allowed 

 to extend out three or four feet, and a strip of canvas run over the 

 pole and down to side poles, so as to form a sort of an awning 

 so one can step outside to wash when it is raining without get- 

 ting wet. It also makes a convenient place to pile a small amount 

 of wood, and will be found useful in many ways such as hanging 

 furs, clothing, etc., out to air. 



Do not make your bed on the ground. Build a box bedsted 

 by driving four posts into the ground, -then nail pieces across, up 

 about twelve inches from the ground. Lay small poles on these 

 cross pieces, then nail one or two small poles entirely around on 

 the posts above the bottom pieces forming a sort of crib. This 

 crib may be filled first with boughs, then on top of the boughs 

 put a quantity of leaves or grass, when the mattress is lacking. 

 There will also be store room under the bed, which would be 

 wasted if the bed is made on the ground. 



Brother camper, when you are going well back into the tall 

 timber where you are obliged to pack your outfit over a rough 

 trail or perhaps no trail at all, do not waste any energy packing 

 canned "air" in the shape of canned fruits. Take your grub in 

 a crude state in the way of flour, beans, lard, bacon or pork, and 

 if fruit is taken, take it in a dried form. Take the necessary 

 supply of tea, coffee, sugar, salt and pepper, also that unavoidable 

 baking powder. 



