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Gear for Africa 100 years ago …


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Home Forums General Forums General Lightweight Backpacking Discussion Gear for Africa 100 years ago …

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  • #3616396
    Paul Wagner
    BPL Member

    @balzaccom

    Locale: Wine Country

    test missile

    #3616397
    Paul Wagner
    BPL Member

    @balzaccom

    Locale: Wine Country

    And the real thing

    For our trip to Africa, we tried to find a few books to read.  There were a couple that were really good, including “A Primate’s Memoir” by Robert Sapolsky, and “Affluence without Abundance” by James Suzman.  Both excellent.

    But we also read that classic African adventure novel of the late 1800’s, “King Solomon’s Mines” by Rider Haggard. It was not excellent, but it did capture some of the colonial perceptions of the British Empire back then.  It wasn’t a pretty picture.  But in the middle of the book, the heroes undertake a long cross-country hike that made us think of backpacking.  Except they had a slightly different take on ultralight. In the book, five men start out on the journey cross the desert, each one carrying a load of forty pounds.

    Here’s the packing list for the group–described as traveling light!

    3 express rifles and 200 rounds of ammunition.

    2 Winchester rifles and 200 rounds

    3 colt revolvers and 60 rounds

    5 one gallon water bottles

    5 blankets

    25 pounds of Biltong (like jerky)

    10 pounds mixed beads for trade a selection of medicines and surgical instruments

    Knives, compass, matches, pocket filter, tobacco, a trowel and a bottle of brandy

    Times have changed…

    #3616401
    David Thomas
    BPL Member

    @davidinkenai

    Locale: North Woods. Far North.

    I’d switch those 8 heavy guns to one AK and one AR (and maybe a Glock). That would allow for a lot more brandy.

    #3616503
    Paul Wagner
    BPL Member

    @balzaccom

    Locale: Wine Country

    Nice.  Imagine their diet.  They were eating all meat all the time.  That’s gotta mess up your digestion something fierce…

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