Popular Science Monthly 



289 



Personal Equipment 



Woolen underwear, toque, mittens and 

 socks, a heavy shirt, waistcoat and sweater, 

 with a sheep-lined or mackinaw coat for 

 extra cold snaps, are very necessary. A 

 pair of tweed trousers under khaki overalls 

 will keep out any storm. True^ the cotton 

 overalls wet up easily in snow, but they 

 dry quickly when hung up in camp. A 

 slipper made of harness-felt sole and cloth 

 vamp, with two pairs of socks, 

 will be ample protection for the 

 feet. Excepting in wet snow, 

 chrome tanned horsehide moc- 

 casins are the best winter outer 

 footwear. I have had much 

 comfort in all weathers out of a 

 pair of leather topped rubbers, 

 but the only foot covering that 

 can be used satisfactorily on 

 snowshoes is moccasins. Ordi- 

 nary rubber shoes are excellent 

 to wear around camp in the 

 evening. 



In most localities winter is in 

 the closed season for game, but 

 if the possession of a rifle will 

 add to the enjoyment, take it 

 along. Carry it in a loose 

 mouthed cloth or canvas case. 

 On preparing to shoot, take off 

 your mitten, run the hand up 

 inside the case, grip the rifle 

 and slip off the case, allowing 

 it to hang over the left arm. 

 Treated in this way the muz- 

 zle, sights and hammer are al- 

 ways clear of snow. Do not 

 bring the rifle into the heat of 

 the camp fire unless to clean it. 

 Water condenses in the bore 

 and action, inducing rust spots. 



Articles such as matches 

 (some in waistcoat pocket and 

 some in the safe), compass, 

 sewing outfit, coil of snare wire 

 for repairs and small whetstone 

 need but passing mention. 



The deceptive weakness of 

 winter sunlight, the slowness of the emul- 

 sion in intense cold, and the danger of 

 electric markings on a hastily wound film 

 are points to be remembered in taking 

 photographs. Keep the kodak away from 

 the warmth of the fire. 



Making Camp 



Choose a level, clear spot in a thick clump 

 of trees, in close proximity to some dry, 



This tent is 

 and earily 



firewood trees. Dig out the snow, if deep, 

 with the snowshoe. Pitch camp facing at 

 right angles to the wind. If it is stormy, 

 bank with old logs, brush or snow, or all 

 three. If faced directly away from the 

 wind, the eddy formed by the tent will 

 suck the smoke back into the camp. 



Cut and thaw out enough evergreen 

 bough tips to make the bed and also to 

 carpet the rest of the camp floor. The 

 secret of an all-night open 

 fire is in the use of large logs. 

 Cut dry trees into about 

 6-ft. lengths and reserve the 

 larger butt logs for bed-time 

 fire fixing. Build a back re- 

 flector to the fire by piling 

 up four or five of the greenest 

 logs that can be procured. 

 If two trees can be located, 

 properly placed, against which 

 these logs may be propped, 

 the camp may be set up 

 to suit them. The heat that 

 would otherwise radiate from 

 the other side of the fire 

 and be lost is thus conserved. 

 Do not attempt to fry 

 bacon over the big camp 

 fire. Draw out a bed of 

 or make a small fire 

 at one side, the size 

 of the pan. If camp- 

 ing in a closed tent 

 it will be necessary 

 to use a 

 collapsible 

 stove. To 

 keep a fire 

 all night, 

 put in two 

 halves of 

 the largest 

 blocks it will 

 hold and 

 choke the 

 draft hole 

 with ashes. 

 Further 

 checking of the draft may be effected by 

 partially opening the top lid nearest the 

 stove pipe. 



Dig down nearly to the ground when 

 getting snow for melting into water. There 

 it is nearly all ice crystals, and contains 

 much more water than the new, fluflfy, top 

 snow. See that none of it sticks out over 

 the side of the pail in melting, for its ability 

 to acquire a smoky taste is remarkable. 



ideal for two men, being light 

 erected with a pole tripod 



