On the Trail: An Outdoor Book for Girls

rs. Lean-Tos. Fires. Cooking. Safety a

orm

e to the various newspapers, magazines, railroads, and outdoor societies for suggestions. The Geological Survey of the United States at Washington, D. C., will furnish maps giving location and extent of forests and water-ways, also location and character of roads; you can obtain the maps for almost any part of every State. Most public automobile houses supply maps of any desired region.

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ll run into your shelters in wet weather; let your camp be so located that in case of rain the water will drain do

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be sure to pitch your camp within near walking distance of a go

st, straight down under the water until the top edge was below the surface several inches, then quickly lift it out; in doing this the overflow would carry off al

tempting, for the purity is by no means assured, and to drink from these sources may cause serious illness. Unless you

and woodsy material for shelters and beds. Bear thi

pan

kindly to the camp spirit of friendly helpfulness, those always ready to laugh and treat discomforts as jokes. This means that

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or older friends of whom the parents approve-who will enter heartily into all phases of outdoor life and while

on, and do not wander from camp alone or unaccompanied by one of the directors. If your camp is in

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that there may be no delay when it is time to go. Be prompt, for you want to pl

rm of the wilderness, the freedom and wonder of living in the woods, all make for the health and happiness of the girl cam

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girls can find in other ways; there is a charm about it which clings in you

e, some definite, well-thought-out plan of activities and sports previously prepared, and

to its size, into different groups, and as soon as the grounds are rea

, two unpack the outfits, placing the provisions and cooking utensils in order co

there are campers, and every camper carry a pack. Count in the outfit fo

drinking water, the other for boiling water, one coffee-pot for cocoa, one frying-pan for flapjacks

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cording to directions on can. Butter in baking-powder can. Dry flour mixed with salt and baking-powder in required proportions for flapjacks, packed in strong paper bag and carried in one of the tin pails. Bread in loaf wrapped in wax-paper. Potatoes washed and dried ready to cook, packed in paper bag or carried in

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even small bits of egg-shell and paper, should be gathered up and burned until not a vestige remains. To be "good sports," thought

water again and again. It is criminal to leave

that the f

manen

and Tents

s is considered by many the ideal of camp shelters. This you can make for yourself. It is a simple little two-sided, slanting roof and

ays of erecting t

or sh

er trees, the second method is to get two strong, straight, forked poles of green wood and drive them down into the ground deep enough to make them stand firm and upright by themselves the

es at regular distances apart, one end of each against the top pole and the other end on the ground slanting outward and backward sufficiently to give a good slope and allow sleeping space beneath. At

at they may hold the cross poles. Try to have spaces between cross poles as regular as possible. A log may be rolled up against

ter better able to withstand a storm, or you may omit the bark, using only the t

y across the lowest cross pole, using the stumps of these thatch branches as hooks to hold the thatch in place on the cross pole (Fig. 19). Overlap the lower thatches as you work along the next higher cross pole, li

with your poncho in case of neces

amp. Lean-T

s shelter has usually a board floor raised a few inches above the ground and covered thick, at least a foot deep, with balsam. Overspread with blankets, the soft floor forms a comfortable bed. A log across the front of the floor keeps

andy racks, an

in, was a permanent camp in the Adirondacks owned and run by one of the best of Adiro

aid crosswise and raised some inches from the ground. These slender logs slanted down slightly from head to foot of the bed, and the edges of the bed were built high enough to hold the deep thick filling of balsam tips, so generously deep as to do away wi

ent covering and kept it in a safe, dry place until n

tent and also a le

camp by t

uide had put shelves, resting them on wooden cleats. The cupboard had a door that shut tight and fastened securely to keep out the little wild creatures of the woods. Pots, kettles, frying-pan, etc., hung on the stubs of

es, the centre filled in part-way with earth, and the cook-fire was made on t

ver of a water-proof tent-like storehouse, with the canvas sides dropped from the ridge-pole,

in the mountain forest and its c

e

he tents range from small canoe-tents, accommodating one person only, to the large wall-tents for four or more people. When

trated catalogues to various outfitters and look the books over carefully before bu

has been condemned merely for some unimportant blemish. Such tents are very serviceable and can be p

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rners and at intervals along the sides for tying to shelters, etc. The water-proof cloth will serve as a drop-curtain in front of the lean-to during a hard storm, or as carpet cloth over gr

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mportance that you sleep well every night while at camp, and y

properly will require about half an hour's time, but the delight of sleeping on a soft bal

he cook-fire, an

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ranches shingle-like in very thick overlapping rows, convex side up, directly on the ground with thick end of stems toward the foot. Push these ends into the ground so that the tips will be raised slantingly up from the earth; make the rows which will come under the hips extra thick and springy. Continue placing the layers in this manner until the space for single or double bed, as the case may be, is covered with the first layer of your green mattress. Over it make another layer of branc

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de of strong cloth, ticking, soft khaki, or like material, to be filled with leaves, grass, or other browse found on or near the camp-grounds. Such a matt

t-

or packing are good and very comfortable with a

ts, and sleeping-bags, and a line to them will bring illustrated

be used to advantage, and I heartily endorse th

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an find for filling, but be careful about having the pillow too full; keep it soft and comfortable. If there is no br

ng merely the starry sky for a canopy. Each girl can select the spot where she is to sleep and free it from all twigs, stones, etc., as the smallest and most insignificant of these will rob her of sleep and make the night most uncomfortable. When the space is smooth mark the spot where the shoulders res

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keep guard through the night and care for the fire, not al

your camp-fire is burning. The next two watchers will be on duty until 2 a. m., and will doubtless hear, if not see, some of the wild life of the forest. The third couple's turn lasts until 4 a. m.; then the last two will be awaken

ow more of, the wild; and, much to the delight of the campers keeping guard through the hours of th

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xt morning with a good appetite for breakfast, until you become accustomed to the outdoor life, it is best to curb your ambition to outdo the other girls in stren

Camp

comfort, and possibilities for a hot di

Build

r nearest at hand, dry leaves, ferns, twigs, cones, birch bark, or pine-knot slivers. As the tinder begins to burn, add kindling-wood of larger size, always remembering that the air must c

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is better than soft when the fire is well going; it burns longer and can usually be depended upon for a reliable fire, not sending out sparks or sputtering, as do many of the soft woods, but burning well and giving a fine bed of hot coals. The tree belonging excl

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comfort and not scorch both hands and face when trying to get n

emlock, pine, hickory, and other bark make a hot fire in

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t parallel to each other. At each end across these lay two smaller sticks, and in the ho

his way, building the log-cabin fire until the structure is one foot or so high, each layer being placed at right angles to the one beneath it. The fire must be lighted from beneath in the pile of tinder. I learned this method when on the Pacific slope. The fire

in th

ther birch bark or pine-knot, use the dry wood as kindling. When it begins to burn, add larger pieces of wood, and soon the fire will grow strong enough to burn wet wood. If there happens to be a big rock in your camp, build your fire on the sheltered side and directly against the stone, which

ices down part way all around the elongated knot and circle it with many layers of shavings until the knot somewhat resembles a toy tree. The inside will be absolutely dry, and this branching knot wi

le in the woods always carry some dry birch b

Fir

e at the other. The fire is built between the logs, and the frying-pan and pail of water, resting on both logs, bridge across the fire. Should the widest space between the logs

ectangular sides of stone, open front, and make the fire in th

ectly opposite each other, one on each side of the circle. Rest the end of a stout green stick in the forked tops of the stakes, and use it to hang pots and pails from when cooking. A fire can also

ut when you are sure the camp-fire is out, pour on more water over the fire and all around the unburned edge of surrounding ground; then throw on fresh earth until the fire space

wood for

ets and fibres mixed in with the mould, and a fire may be smo

hes high, with all crevices filled in and firmly padded with earth and stones. Big stones are anchored securely along the top of the earth-covered log sides and back of the fireplace, raising these higher than the front. The

, fully two yards, from it. Fires built in these are generally used as social cheer-fires, but you can have the cheer-fire even though the substantial fireplace be non est,

sh the reserve stock every day as inroads are made upon it, and have some sort o

king. Pr

nd cooking are of vital interest to the camper. The list of essentials is not very long and

and a few loaves freshly baked can be taken to

ack, and it is quite exciting to toss it in the ai

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ping teaspoonful of sugar, better still molasses, to make the cakes brown. Grease the frying-pan with a piece of fat pork or bacon, have the pan hot, and, with a large spoon or a cup, ladle out the batter into the pan, forming three small cakes to be turned by a knife, or one large cake to be turned by tossing. Use the knife to lift the edges of the cakes as they cook, and when you see them a golden brown, turn quickly. Or, if the cake is large, loosen it; then lift the pan and quickly toss the cake

king the cakes, rubbing the pan with greas

o spread smoothly over the butter. The sugar comes in cans. Ordinary maple-syru

ter will give a delicate griddle-cake an

sc

ch thick on bread-board, clean flat stone, or large, smooth piece of flattened bark. Whichever is used must be well floured, as must also the rolling-pin and biscuit cutter. A clean glass bottle or smooth round stick may be used as rolling-pin, and the cutter can be a baking-powder can, or the biscuits may be cut square, or 4 inches long and 2 inches wide with a knife. The dough may also be shaped into a loaf ? inch thick and baked in a pan by planting the pan in a bed of hot coals, covering it with another pan or some substitute, and placing a de

nny

ky johnny-cakes with a cup of good coffee make a

have ready a frying-pan almost full of hot drippings or lard, dip your hands into cold water to enable you to handle the hot dough, and, taking up enough corn-meal dough to make a large-sized biscuit, pat it in your hands into a ?-inch-thick cake and gently

water when making any kind of corn bread in orde

ups of meal and 1 teaspoonful of salt have been thoroughly scalded and allowed to cool a

and takes longer to bake

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milk when served. It is good eaten with butter and very no

allowing the water to cease boiling. Do not stop stirring until the mush has cooked about ten minutes. It may then be placed higher up from the fire, where it will not scorch, and boiling water added from time to time as needed to kee

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flour, add enough cold water to make a stiff, smooth dough and knead, pull, and pound the dough until it blisters; the longer it is worked

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the can as to proportion, and add the cold liquids after the cocoa is mixed to a smooth paste;

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ur in a little cold water and stir all together; when there are no egg-shells use merely cold water. Add 1 cupful of cold water for each camper, and 2 for the pot, set the coffee-pot

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the tea into the pot, and pour in as many cups of boiling water as there a

d Pot

e-half to three-quarters of an hour for boiling, test them with a sliver of wood that will pierce through the centre when the potato is done. When cooked pour

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of red-hot coals. It will require about forty minutes or more for potatoes to bake. Take one out when you think they should be done; if soft enough to yield to the p

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rnight in fresh water. Next morning scald 1? pounds salt pork, scrape it well, rinse, and with 1 teaspoonful of dried onion or half of a fresh one, put o

t consistency, place the soup over the fire to reheat, and serve very hot. To bake beans, remove the pork from the drained, partially cooked beans, score it across the top and replace it in the pot in midst of and extending a trifle above

t. When the beans are ready, rake the fire out of the hole; then sink the pot down into the hole and cover well with hot coals and ashes, placing them all over the sides and top of the p

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to camp in jars or cans, but cut it as needed. E

n the two sides of the split, then toast it over the fire. Other small pieces of meat can be cooked in the same way. Bacon boiled with greens gives the

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the bird is small it should be baked in about one-half hour. When done strip off the skin, carrying feathers with it, and the bird will be clean and appetizing. Birds can also be roasted in the bean-pot hole, but in this way, they must first be picked, drawn, and rinsed clean; then cut i

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lt and pepper, wrap it in fresh, wet, green leaves or wet blank paper, not printed paper, and bury in the coals the same as

butter, or bits of pork, pepper, and a very small piece of onion. The cloth covering must be wrapped around and tied with white string. When the fish is ready, put it into boiling water to which has been added 1 tablesp

the scales. Scale each side and, with a quick stroke, cut off the head and lower fins. The back fin must have incisions on each side in order to remove it.

en the under side, take out the inside, wash

requently forms part of a meal, have a special c

To be Multiplied by Number of Campers, an

tial

s; these we call essentials; others in addition to

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ent

flour

eal 2

-powde

ee ?

1/

oa

k 1

n 2

t ?

er 1

r 3

r 1 ?

drie

d ?

owder

dried

, dried

s 1

-syru

gar

i

Esse

2 ?

ns ?

urst

ablets

ate (slightly

-suga

5

s 2

lade

rves

acid

, drie

se 1

es, fr

ish

les, dr

ita

and camp

on observing the laws of hygiene. Make sure after each meal that all kitchen refuse is collected and depos

fresh earth is a disinfect

es left on the uprights. Have these last cross poles as nearly the same distance from the ground as possible and over them hang thick branches, hooking the branches on by the stubs on their heavy ends. Also hang thickly foliaged branches on the top cross poles, using the stubs where smaller branches have been lopped off as hooks, as on the lowe

any refuse near your ten

th their assistance you can have perfect camp cleanliness, which will go a long way to

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erfulness under all circumstances; and the determination never to sulk, imagine you are slighted, or find fault with people, conditions, or things. T