In Arctic work the clothing and bed cover must be chosen with one
particular fact in mind--that moisture condensation from the body
perspiration or from accidental immersion in water must be eliminated,
otherwise ice will form to the detriment of the individual. Any woven
fabric will hold condensation while fur will not. Fur then is the
clothing and bed cover of choice where one is exposed to extremes in
cold. The fur should be worn with the hair outside the same way that the
animals wear it, otherwise it is too hot. The best fur is caribou skin
and it is warmer and lighter than a blanket of wool. Llama wool is next
best.
Very satisfactory fur robes may be made of the rabbit or cat skin and if
made after the following method you will have the warmest bed fabric
known to man. The skins are tanned by soaking the “green” hides in
running water for one to four hours. Then the flesh and fat is peeled
off with a dull knife and the skin soaked for two days in a tan liquor
of sulphuric acid (_poison_) one ounce, salt one quart and water one
gallon contained in an earthen jar. Rinse the skin in clear water, dry
and when partly dried work well in the hands thus breaking up the fibers
to keep it soft.
The tanned and softened skin is now cut into long strips one-fourth of
an inch wide, which are tied or sewed together, each strip being twisted
so that the fur stands out all around the hide thong. These strips are
then interbraided into a loose web in a frame the size your blanket is
to be. The chief objection to this article is that it is heavy and the
fur sheds a good deal so it is best to cover the blanket with light
cloth which of course adds some weight without giving any additional
warmth. A full sized rabbit robe weighs ten pounds and is warmer than
many blankets of wool. The secret of its warmth is the dead air
interspaces between the fibers.
There is considerable difference of opinion among woodsmen regarding the
choice between the sleeping bag and blanket bed. There are good
arguments for and against. As usually made a sleeping bag consists of
two parts:--(1) a cover for protection from rain, dampness, and wind,
and (2) a warm lining to retain body heat. To its credit may be
enumerated these facts: Being sack-like the sleeping bag retains the
heat within and keeps the cold out. It is easy to unroll, keeps out dirt
and wind and the contents may remain dry and one has full protection in
any kind of weather.
The objectionable feature is that the bag cannot be drawn up closely to
the body and the resulting air space is difficult to warm up. It is hard
to adjust the top to keep the air from the sleeper’s shoulders and the
inevitable twisting and turning of the sleeper bunches the blanket up
around the limbs.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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