Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Since I haven't been able to camp much lately due to the demands of school and jobs (sigh), I've been reading a lot of "classic" camping manuals. Bushcraft/primitive skills/whatever-you-call-it is another interest of mine, so I've been particularly looking for old camping manuals (old as in, pre-1910). I stumbled across "Prairie Traveler" today - this is a manual published in 1859 by the Army Signal Corps to help travellers moving west. It covers paths to take, supplies, choosing a spot to overnight, and lots of other topics (including how to make mule steak more palatable). I thought it might be interesting to some of the folk here. Here's the link to the PDF:

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/downloads/pdf/prairietraveler%5B1%5D.pdf

Woodcraft and Camping by George W. Sears (who wrote under the pen-name Nessmuk) is also available from the same source.

Cool, thanks!

Interesting, I'll check it out.

Very cool. Some of the information is timeless.

Back when I had a lot of spare time, I would do a lot of estate sale shopping and visit different antique/old 2nd hand stores. I loved reading old manuals or looking through old magazines and reading articles about the lastest technological product of that time period.

Todah

I loved reading old manuals or looking through old magazines and reading articles about the lastest technological product of that time period.

I am with you. While I do not have any pre-1910 material, I do have several copies of a book called "Sportsman's Year Book" dated in the 30's and 40's, chronicling camping, hunting and fishing tips. I also have a one titled "Outdoor Life - Fishing, Hunting and camping guide", dated 1942.
Really cool reading.

My first degree is in anthropology and i have always been interested in historical archeology and primarily the gold mining camps in California.
i will be forwarding both links to Nancy, she teaches fourth grade history and there is some good material here. Thanks very much.

Thanks for the link. I spent most of the evening reading the prairie traveler link. I am now well brushed up on buffalo hunting and avoiding conflict with Indians. Fascinating reading.

Larwyn wrote:... and avoiding conflict with Indians. Fascinating reading.

Larwyn you should be safe...you are in Cowboy territory .

Todah

Thoroughly enjoyed reading your link! Thanks!

Of course, teardropping was invented in the 1800s. They called them covered wagons back then and the tow vehicle usually ate grass rather than gas. But you had your galley in the back and could bed down in the front, and you lived out doors. And the land looked a lot like this: http://picasaweb.google.com/jhbonnett/NorthwestUtah#
So here is to the BLM for letting us camp in places like this.