Carcajou Garou said:Does anybody make their own pack frames such as a "Trapper Nelson" or some such style?
a back packdesigned by Lloyd F. Nelson it was claimed to be the first to have a wood frame which distributes the weight and supported the bulk of the load on the shoulderspierre girard said:What's a "Trapper Nelson?"
sam_acw said:Thanks for the picture.
The rawhide lashing on a frame looks to be a traditional North American way of making things - I've been looking at pictures of snowshoes, packs and even furniture today!
torjusg said:Pierre
May I be so rude to ask how you bend them into such beautiful shapes? Is it just thinning and steaming? Do you use something to shape them around?
jerv said:yes me! I have made a roycroft pack frame (needs to be modified) and reconstructions of otzi the icemans pack frame, Much better! I have used them in spring mountaineering trips with deep snow and great success. Wooden back paniers are quite common in Japan so It didn't even illicit any comments. The bamboo water bottle however....!
I returned them to the mountains when I returned to the UK. However I have been in a building mood recently and have begun construction of another otzi backpack. I was 100% authentic with regards to the wood. However I used modern natural cord (hemp or jute) basically because I don't have enough free time to make metre and metres of cordage. I also used canvas not leather for the pack and modern webbing (seat belt) to keep the costs down. I also adapted the scale as Otzi was shorter than I.
T.J. Elpel's adaptation of the roycroft looks more like the design I went for. Also with any weight in the pack you'll need to put some kind of paddig on the bottom strut. A thick fleece worked fine.
pierre girard said:
fred gordon said:I have always thought traditional snowshoes are wonderful things. Has anyone ever come up with a snowshoe tutorial? I would imagine its quite a complicated thing to make a pair but I would love to have a go. I have looked at the modern ones on sale but they all seem to be lacking in character and very expensive.
torjusg said:Off topic:
Did you get my mail Pierre?