Camping and woodcraft - Scoutmastercg.com

102 CAMPING AND WOODCRAFTlumbermen, lighter, more flexible, fit better, and areeasier to dry out. The rubbers should fit proper!-;over the heavy socks, neither too tight nor too loose,but especially not too tight or you risk frostbite!Thus equipped, a still-hunter is" shod with silence."For cold weather the vital necessity is suppleness ofthe foot, and here you have it.Cold Weather Clothing.— The main fault ofmost cold weather rigs is that, paradoxically, they-re too hot. You go out into '' twenty-some-odd "below zero, all muffled up in thick underwear, overshirt,heavy trousers, and a 32-ounce (to the yard)Mackinaw coat. Very nice, until you get yourstride. In half an hour the sweat w'll be streamingfrom you enough to turn a mill. By and by youmay have to stand still for quite a while. Thenthe moisture begins to freeze, and a buffalo robewouldn't keep you warm.Conditions vary ; but for average winter work puton two suits of medium weight all-wool underwear,instead of one heavy one, moleskin trousers (heavyMackinaws chafe), wool overshirt,Mackinaw shirtworn with tail outside, so it can easily be removedand worn behind you when not needed, the rubber" overs " and socks mentioned above, a Mackinawcap with visor and ear laps, large, old kid gloves,and thick, woolen mittens held by a cord around theneck.In buying Mackinaws get none but the best qual-^ity. Cheap Mackinaw is shoddy, or part cotton,and soaks up moisture like a sponge. A good gradesheds rain so long as the nap is not worn off; then itcan be waterproofed by the lanolin process. It isnoiseless, and stands rough usage. The natural graycolor is best, except where the law requires you towear red for protection against gun-bearing fools.(About this, saith our friend Crossman: "Yes,some fellow might take you for a deer if you wore-m inconspicuous color in the woods, but whatwould you ? He'd take you for a zebra if you wore