Camping and camp cooking

Camp Outfits

A camping outfit should be light and compact with all unnecessary articles eliminated and all needful ones included. That reads a little funny, but it is the gist of the whole question and the biggest question that was ever presented to a man. That is, you will think so when you are trying to get a 100-pound outfit over a swampy carry on a rainy day and while laying up over a spell of wet weather afterward. In the first place, you wonder why you brought so much truck, and in the second place, why you did not bring many other things. So it seems needless to say that the composition of an outfit depends, to some extent, on the individual taste of the camper, and more upon the character of the trip.

No sane man would carry the same amount of “duffle” on a walking trip that he would if he went with a team, or if he was to be in a permanent camp during the whole of his trip. Hence, I propose to classify them into two sorts--walking trips and permanent camps. But before I set down the list of impedimenta I want to moralize a little.

I confess that I enjoy the comforts of life, and as many of the luxuries as my purse or circumstances will allow; and while I have enjoyed many tramps with nothing but what I could easily carry in my knapsack, I enjoy one much better if I have more conveniences, and very few vacationists care to “rough it” too much in the short time they have for their annual trips, and there is no need to do so.

One of the finest woodsmen and grandest of men, “Nessmuk,” has written a book which is a criterion for the man who can stand that kind of trip; but what sort of a vacation do you suppose a city clerk would have if he patterned his trip after this model? The question was not needed; he simply would not try it; for the average city clerk is not so big a fool as he appears to the average country dweller. So let it go at that. To get back on our trail again. A party would not need the same outfit in July that he would require in October--and while there is no sense in sleeping cold at night because of a lack of blankets, there is also no use for a sleeping-bag for a July camping trip, and in this judgment of the actual necessities is where the average camper fails.

The majority of camping parties occur in the warm season when game birds and animals are protected by law, and there is no need for a gun, but most men will confess to a feeling of greater security when there is a firearm in camp. A light revolver will serve all purposes to drive away marauding animals or to while away a dull hour at target practice, and a little practice will render it thus available.

In the fall of the year the fishrod will be replaced by the shotgun and rifle, but it is always well to have a line and a few hooks in the ditty bag. A few fish will make an acceptable change in the diet, even if a deer hangs at the tent door.

The following lists have been compiled from the experience of many years in fitting out parties for the woods and are intended to cover everything that is needed and with the idea that the man who reads them knows but little about the subject and wants to know all about it; and as parties will vary in number of persons composing it, I have individualized the items.

OUTFIT FOR A TRIP OF TEN DAYS ON FOOT--SUMMER OR FALL.

For the Party.

Light tent Light axe Camera Camp kettle Fry pan Coffee can Tight can for condensed milk

Clothes, bedding, etc., for each man.

Rubber poncho Heavy blanket Cloth bag for pillow Some small cloth bags for provisions Pack strap Whetstone Map Rod, reel and line 2 dozen flies 2 dozen hooks on gut Suit of woolen clothes Wool outing shirt 2 suits of underwear Soft hat 2 pair extra socks Shoes 2 handkerchiefs 2 towels Mosquito net Belt and knife Pocket knife Compass Watch Tin plate Fork, large and small spoon Tin cup Pipe and tobacco Matches Waterproof matchbox Insect repeller Cake of soap Comb Needle, thread and buttons Pencil and notebook Money in small change 1/2 pint brandy and Jamaica ginger 1 ounce Tinct. Rhubarb

Food for Each Man.

5 lbs. hard bread 7 lbs. ham, bacon or pork 2 lbs. dried fruit 2 cans condensed milk 1/2 lb. salt 2 lbs. sugar 1 lb. coffee 1/4 lb. tea

After September 1st add a sleeping bag, gun and 50 cartridges, and omit the fishing rod and reel, but carry a line and a few hooks.

OUTFIT FOR TEN DAYS IN PERMANENT CAMP--SUMMER OR FALL.

For the Party.