This coming weekend, some "hard core" 18th century re-enactor friends of mine are doing a show-n-tell demo for the public up at Eagle River Wisconsin. They will be demonstrating the late 1700's fur trade in that area - with a trading post, voyageurs, Indians, and even a contingent of French Marines from the time period. And most of them stay/camp on site in their typical camp gear. Temps are usually minus 10 to 20 below zero Ferenhiet, and windy. Here's a link to another Living History message board thread with some discussion and some pictures from last year's event.
Klondike Days - Eagle River
Last year they collected lots of old christmas trees to place around to help create something of a windbreak for the camps. And no matter what the weather, the tourists and school kids show up in droves!
I shant be with them this year, but check out the pics and see some of the "hard core" people I often camp with.
Now to get back to planning an Ice Cutting gathering - with just hand tools - 1880's time frame. And we've been discussing a spring Maple Sugar camp - a week/weekend spent gathering sap from Maple trees and boiling it down into syrup or sugar - with all clothing/gear based on the early 1800's. But these are just for us participants, not as a demo for the public. Full Immersion living history - just for the experience of it!
And we will deal with whatever the weather is at the time. Yeah, kind of hard-core.
Mikey - yee ol' grumpy blacksmith out in the Hinterlands
