Specific answers to specific questions:
OK, this is a question I get very frequently. And the answer, of course, depends upon the purpose of your safari and the destination. If you will just post your questions to me specifically by entering a comment below, it will be my pleasure to answer each one of you.
Yukon Gold Miner’s Outfit, circa 1897
(source: The Hudson Bay Company)
Klondike Gold Rush (circa 1897) CLICK ON PHOTO FOR MORE
In the meantime, take a gander at this list of Gear for a Gold Prospector in the Yukon.
Gold Miners Outfit.PDF
In the PDF file, above, you can review in detail what The Hudson Bay Company recommended for one man for one year in the Yukon. Such things as: 1 pair moleskin pants, 3 pair moccasins, 20 pounds of nails, 20 pounds of Oakum (what is that?), one dozen handkerchiefs, colored (wonder why colored?) … and so on … and can you imagine? NO PHOTO GEAR! No Gortex! Yikes! Those guys were really tough.
This list was given to me by one of my very dear friends in British Columbia, Canada — Lorne Briggs (if you wish to share stories about Canada with Lorne you may reach him at this [email]). Lorne is a native Canadian with tons of experience out in the “Bush”, a man with a wealth of knowledge and experience, and an all-round fine person. He and I are neighbors in SuperNatural British Columbia.
Don’t miss your chance to Ask Mzungu those Photo Gear Questions, enter your questions in the Comment, below.
Happy Holidays
Mzungu
http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=oakum
The above link will connect you a definition of oakum. Since miners were probably not repairing boats, I suppose they might instead repair their wooden sluice? Here’s a photo link to an example — http://lh4.ggpht.com/_OdlkUi2azHs/R56nIg2fb9I/AAAAAAAAAWI/OohioDw7-7E/Mining+Sluice.JPG
Here’s the definition of oakum — loose hemp or jute fiber obtained by unravelling old ropes; when impregnated with tar it was used to caulk seams and pack joints in wooden ships. Since gold miners were probably not using oakum to repair ships, perhaps they were repairing their sluices.
Thank you for the definition. And I suspect you are certainly correct. Can you imagine doing that? Oh, the lure of GOLD.
Mzungu