I'd be curious to see an inventory of their starting supplies as well.
I know they have: axe .22 carbine hand saw trash can trash bags potatoes mason jars roasting pan
Did each team get the same supplies? Were they given a large quantity of non-iodized salt for meat curing? How about things like soap? How much ammo for the gun?
They had knife, coping saw, crosscut saw, hand saw, hammer, nails, screwdriver, screws, hose clamps, pressure cooker, rice, peanut butter, just over five hundred rounds of .22 long rifle ammunition, a jug of chlorine bleach to disinfect surfaces and purify water. They also had good quality open-face spinning outfits and tackle. The two camps on Icy Bay had crab netting, which wouldn't serve any major purpose in the Chitina River camps. I would say that all camps had some flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, baking powder and basic cooking utensils. Keep in mind that the shelters and wood stoves were a major head start for the volunteers.
I also saw iodized salt, lamp oil and lamps, onions, hatchet, sledge hammer, splitting wedge, shovels, spades, pruning shears, baskets with some sort of bedding or clothing. There was at least one tarp at each camp, plus plastic sheeting. I'd say they had a fair amount of stuff provided.
I was also wondering what they where given to begin with, and after reading all that they where given am a little suprised that they haven't gotten more done.
I also seem to remember them having a supply of oatmeal as well as pectin for making preserves. although it does seem like not all camps where created equal.
Funke75, you are right about the oatmeal and pectin. If you watch the shows via this website, you can freeze the action, and replay. You can also see some sort of crackers and some sort of chips. Not exactly the absolute basics in food, but it was hard for these folks, being weaned away from their normal diets. You are also right that there was some inequity between camps. The two Chitina camps had no need for crab netting. The most obvious inequity, as many have noted, was the nature and exact location of Jeff and Elizabeth's tent camp. That pair was almost doomed to have flooding problems, and the tent is nowhere as secure from bear raids as cabins are.
Oh, I almost forgot that they had ample supplies of dry pinto beans. Musical fruit. That's probably why there were so many comments on farting among the Wise family.
I cant help but think that no matter what the supplies are/were, that because of the inexperience of those participating, they had a steep learning curve learning to use the equipment, and how to ration the food. Beans, as boring as they can be, and I have had to eat a lot of them, are good protein. I would like to see a list of equipment, and really like to know what kind of information/training they may have been given prior to heading out.
Jennifer, thanks for the supply update. It answers the questions of many. It was actually a very good thing to have had the two tubs of Crisco. Something that killed many old gold miners and trappers was a lack of fat in their diets. They were able to provide themselves with very lean game meat, but it didn't have the fat their bodies needed. That had a serious effect on their kidneys, as well as not providing the fat needs for the modified metabolism in very cold circumstances.
Jennifer, you can call me Mark. No, I am not an Alaskan. I'm one of those tough old Minnesota Norwegians with decades of outdoor experience, and I've had friends and family endure and enjoy Alaska in all its glory, for decades. Two of my great-uncles were in the original beach mining gold rush at Nome just over a hundred years ago. Your comment about the emergency beacons is funny. I've known small boat skippers who have had people turn such beacons on out of curiosity. I can maybe find a couple of guys who would be happy to give you an assessment of your situation, Alaskan hunters and miners.
If anyone is curious, I could provide a recommended list of supplies for the miners who hit the trail for the Yukon gold strikes. It is absolutely staggering to see the requirements. The Mounties manning the border post didn't let anyone through who didn't have enough supplies to last them a year. Jimmy Stewart had a great movie about that particular trek.
Okay, someone claiming to be Jennifer Wise was on the forum earlier today. By the information provided, it is likely that it was Jennifer. Perhaps the moderator deleted her entries because they revealed too much of what will be revealed in upcoming episodes. But it would be nice, if that is the case, to hear from the moderator what happened. And if the person claiming to be Jennifer is not, and the entries were deleted because of that, it would be nice if you would share that information with viewers who participate in this discussion forum.
Originally posted by mefolkes: Funke75, you are right about the oatmeal and pectin. If you watch the shows via this website, you can freeze the action, and replay. You can also see some sort of crackers and some sort of chips. Not exactly the absolute basics in food, but it was hard for these folks, being weaned away from their normal diets. You are also right that there was some inequity between camps. The two Chitina camps had no need for crab netting. The most obvious inequity, as many have noted, was the nature and exact location of Jeff and Elizabeth's tent camp. That pair was almost doomed to have flooding problems, and the tent is nowhere as secure from bear raids as cabins are.
I think that jeff and elizabeth were totally screwed in this deal. Why did everyone else get real cabins and they get a tent next to the ocean just to make it even worst. I would think just having to worry about bears 24/7 would wear you down emotionally and i dont see how you could even sleep. I hope they do ok
Okay, since someone has requested the list of supplies from the Yukon Gold Rush, here is an excerpt from "Hard Drive to the Klondike" by Lisa Mighetto and Marcia Montgomery, published in 2002. It focuses on the growth and transformation of Seattle that was due to the gold rushes, primarily the Yukon Gold Rush. I will only reproduce the food section, which is from one miner's purchases, to avoid copyright infringement. I encourage everyone interested to by this excellent book. The Mounties put a rule into place that everyone crossing the border for the Yukon diggings in the winter of 1898 carry enough provisions to last a year. They estimated that would be a weight of about a ton. There are video recreations of the trek from Haines and Skagway over the passes and down the lakes and rivers to the gold diggings. I would recommend everyone see them. You can read this one particular prospector's clothing and equipment lists when you buy the book, or check it out from the library. Food: flour, 800 lbs.; corn meal, 50 lbs.; rolled oats, 80 lbs.; pilot bread, 50 lbs.; baking powder, 20 lbs.; yeast cakes, 6 lbs.; baking soda, 6 lbs.; rice, 100 lbs.; beans, 200 lbs.; split peas, 50 lbs.; evaporated potatoes, 50 lbs.; bacon, 300 lbs.; dried beef, 60 lbs.; dried salt pork, 50 lbs.; roast coffee, 50 lbs.; tea, 25 lbs.; condensed milk, 50 lbs.; butter, hermetically sealed, 40 lbs.; salt, 40 lbs.; (continued next post)
The clothing and equipment lists are equally interesting. Keep in mind that it was a ton of supplies per person, not per group. Most of it was carried on backs, not on pack animals. Each person had to make trip after trip to the border crossing at the pass, until all the supplies were in place. Then a Mountie would go through each person's list and their piles, checking for the proper amounts and types, and also checking for contraband pistols. After receiving approval, the potential miner would start carrying supplies down the mountain, load after load. Boats and rafts had to be made, and portages loomed ahead of them, where they hauled in all on their backs again. Keep in mind that there was no such thing as light mountaineering gear, and there was no saving of weight by having fiberglass handles instead of wood.
