Michigan winter trek and camp

[Pigman]

It looked like fun.

Foster From Flint

 

[Tommy Bruce]

Great pictures, especially the one at night with the fire inside of the longhouse.

 

[Mickc01]

I am admittedly no expert but very impressed with your efforts for authenticity. Thanks for sharing. :hatsoff:

 

[Glenfilthie]

How does that shelter work? Are you using blankets or tarps?

I have been winter camping for years and I love it but I have only done it with proper modern equipment.

You guys would have done fine with period authentic equipment if you had been properly acclimatized I think. Back in the day my Dad did alot of work up at Inuvik. He thought nothing of working on engines with his bare hands in -20 C and colder. The natives he worked with couldn't handle room temps when they came down to visit either. If you operate in an environment all the time your body will surprise you with its ability to adapt to it.

 

[Jaeger]

Glen: the shelter is a framework of saplings with large & small pieces of old canvas placed on top. Baling wire was used in some sections to join intersecting saplings and make it more rigid. Heavy snow had collapsed much of it when we first walked in, so we had to shovel it off and out. We placed notched poles down the middle to re-shape it and hold it more rigid. At one end there is a fire pit with a large opening above it to let the smoke out. Leaves are banked around the outer perimeter to keep out the drafts. We cut pine boughs for our beds, and then placed our bedrolls, including the concealed self-inflating air mattress, on top of that. You are so right about being acclimatized to temperature! Several of us were talking about life in the 1700's and we decided that NO one lived in a home where the temp was kept at 70 degrees, or even 65, so people were a lot more used to lower temps.

 

[Len Graves]

I have hunted the Cadillac area. Truly Gods country. Thanks for sharing your story, brings back good memories of that area.