From Bedroll To Bedtime

Getting ready for the Trek will require that you to carry everything you'll need to survive "on your own hook". We've discussed the tumpline in an earlier posting, but this is not your only option. You can also make a blanket roll instead.

I know that getting equipped in a historically accurate manner may require a bit of scrounging,  but using your kid's Sponge Bob Square Pants beach towel is TOTALLY unacceptable. Look for a dark colored blanket in your linen closet, one that won't elicit dirty looks from other members of your homestead. Remember, you may be asked to "make camp" with your fellow trekkers, so make sure your blanket could actually keep you warm.

You might consider purchasing a inexpensive but sturdy surplus blanket on-line, or from a local surplus store, if you still have one in your area. A while back, blankets from former Soviet-block countries could be had for a song, but nowadays you could probably find reasonably-priced surplus blankets if you look hard enough. For the most part they were olive drab in color, mostly wool, and good value for the money.

A while back, genuine European surplus blankets were so plentiful that many buckskinners bought them to use as raw material for capotes, leggings, and other period garments. It seems like they were easily found at gun shows (you remember gun shows, right?) and I bought my share. In fact, at one show I found a genuine Hudson's Bay double blanket that is just too nice to do anything with. My personal trek blanket is Eastern Bloc surplus, purchased in like new condition, and dense enough to actually keep me warm!

Order yours here.

I found this 80% wool Olive Drab Green  Blanket, 66" x 90", listed as "US Military Style" on Amazon. It was about $25.00, and you could probably get free shipping if you ordered two. One nice thing about a real blanket: You can keep it rolled up in the trunk of your car for emergencies.

Based on my experiences during earlier club treks, your blanket will be heavy. If you're willing to get an authentic sense of what it felt like to wander the uncharted forests, you'll gain a greater appreciation for the hardships that came with these early explorations. And for those who undertake overnight treks, that extra weight will increase your comfort immeasurably.

Buy yours here.

Blanket Etiquette: When out on a trek, you can forget about the niceties of pressed sheets and hospital corners.  During colonial times, blanket pins, or penannulars, were used. According to Muzzleloader Magazine contributor Mark A. Baker, blanket pins could be used to effectively secure the lower portion of the bedroll to prevent drafts from chilling one's feet. Blanket pins can be purchased from Townsends, but you're much better off finding ones made from wrought iron,  especially if you plan on actually using them to secure a thick woolen blanket. The link below the photograph will bring you to a site where you can purchase a 4" blanket pin/cloak pin for about $11.00. I purchased mine from one of the suttlers that visited our rendezvous, but with things being as they are, your best bet would be to find your blanket pins online.

The following tryptic of photos shows how quickly the pin can be used to secure your blanket. I've experimented with sleeping using a single blanket held shut in this manner, and I can say that the extra layers of blanket around my feet certainly helped!

Here's how you might use a single penannular:

• Fold your blanket in half. lengthwise (left). 
• Fold the lower portion of the blanket to form an 8" overlap at the bottom (center).
• Using your blanket pin, secure all four layers together. Your feet now have three layers of blanket above and one layer below. The pin will keep the "sandwich" together, providing extra warmth for your feet (right).