10 Miles in Winter Moccasins: Warm & Waterproof 1700's Footwear

This is my most intense 18th-century experience yet.
In this video, I'm sharing all seven lessons I learned while hiking 10 miles in my winter moccasins. I've been using these winter moccasins for a year, and I've put around 40,000 steps onto them - 30,000 in this video alone. I finally feel like I've cracked the code. They are well-insulated, comfortable, and impervious to water. This is a documentation of my hike and a collection of all the lessons learned, both during the experience and in hindsight - not a tutorial to help you make these moccasins yourself (although that video is coming in the next few months). I'm looking forward to sharing the key to these moccasins now that I've verified how well they work.
Chapters: (Approximately one lesson covered per chapter)
00:00 - Intro
00:54 - Ash Cave
03:54 - Cedar Falls
04:41 - Hocking Hills History
06:54 - Moccasins Review
08:39 - Woods Reflections
10:08 - Lower Falls
12:36 - Old Man's Cave
14:12 - Choose the hard way
16:26 - Water Filters
19:40 - Final Thoughts
Want more FTC content? Patreon is the place to go. Not only will you receive week-early access to all of my videos, but I also upload behind-the-scenes videos. There is a lot that doesn’t make the cut for KZbin. There are a few bloopers and other commentary that I think will make it worth your time. Please consider supporting me there: patreon.com/FrontierTradingCompany
I recently launched my website frontiertradingcompany.org where you can read companion articles to my videos, browse the FTC storefront, and see my past work. You can also follow me on social media:
- Instagram: / frontiertradingcompany
- Facebook: profile.php?...
My Favorite Gear:
Rob Stone Blankets: / robertgordon. .
South Union Mills (Hat, Socks, Mittens): www.southunionmills.com
Please keep in mind that these videos are merely a glimpse into my development at the time of publishing - I am actively improving and welcome your suggestions in the comments section.
I am seeking new, licensable music to feature in my content. If you or a friend can play a fiddle tune or two, please drop a comment.
Music Licensed in this production:
- Track 1: The Red Line by Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen, Courtesy of Epidemic Sound
- Track 2: The Protagonist by Howard Harper-Barnes, Courtesy of Epidemic Sound
- Track 3: Midst of Life by Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen, Courtesy of Epidemic Sound
- Track 4: Adherence by Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen, Courtesy of Epidemic Sound
- Track 5: Varyra by Sandra Marteleur, Courtesy of Epidemic Sound
- Track 6: The Protagonist by Howard Harper-Barnes, Courtesy of Epidemic Sound
- Track 7: Skulls by Pearce Roswell, Courtesy of Epidemic Sound

[@kathleendaugherty4218]

Awesome. I live 30 minutes from the Hocking Hills, there is nothing like the 10-mile winter hike through the park. I am 71 years old and had to have both my hips replaced. I am no longer able to hike those trails I love so much. Thank you, this video, brought back some wonderful memories.

[@sangarora1216]

I really appreciate folk like you who not only go out and do things like this but take the trouble to record, edit and upload it all for us. Not only am I disabled but I live on the other side of the world in a very hot climate so I have exactly ZERO opportunity to see and experience this adventure first-hand😂! I'm a writer as well and so much of my research comes from folk like you who so generously share their experiences with all of us, so thank you xx

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

Really appreciate this! Thank YOU for watching!

[@earlshaner4441]

Happy Resurrection day everyone and Happy Easter to everyone else and Good evening from Syracuse NY brother and thank you for sharing your live adventures

[@chadwright7614]

I appreciate the video . I'm one of them that couldn't make that hike anymore.

[@TheOaken1]

Frozen. Thank you, being 74 I could not do this anymore and appreciate you mentioning we who can no longer do 10 miles in the Winter. My hard chore for today will be getting some Firewood out of my Forrest and in to my Woodshed. Thank you again, can’t wait for your vedio on your Moccasins.

[@davevancise]

Frozen in time are the spectacular sights that you shared with me on your journey into the past. Keep up the good work! Thank you.

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

Thanks for the kind words, I appreciate you watching to the end!

[@williamqueen8790]

I’m one of those who couldn’t do it, to old but enjoy your videos very much

[@janetnga3234]

FROZEN. Enjoy your channel. I'm one of those you mentioned that couldn't make that hike. Appreciate you bringing it to us.

[@the18thcenturygardener57]

FROZEN... Thanks for taking me along on your hike. Hope to see you at School of the Longhunter.

[@jeffs5093]

Frozen, I have done that hike many times over the years in all seasons. I don't double back as you did, I take the ridge trail back. It is an amazing hike with absolutely incredible views. I can't imagen doing it in moccasins.

[@recondrone6826]

Born and raised in Kentucky the outdoors were part of our life. Every trip into the wilds I always envisioned what the landscape and virgin forest would have looked like to some the first frontiersmen into this land or how the native americans lived in theses heavily forested lands laced with streams and rivers and deep hollows and gorges' while traveling game trails and hunting paths in these deep dark forest.

[@drbnewberry]

Frozen! Interesting topic and great scenery! Looking forward to the moccasin build video.

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

Thanks for watching to the end! Mocs video will be out in time for next season!

[@HillbillysNdaBush]

My wife and i did the same hike in reverse of the way you went. The last 3 miles her knees were bothering her so much that i carried both backpacks, which didnt weigh much, but i can attest to the relief you felt knowing you had only a hundred yards to car. While we didnt use primitive gear as you did, we were a bit older than you at 55 for me and 47 for her. You did a great job videoing your journey, and i enjoyed watching it.

[@J_C_Firelocks]

Frozen - Nice hike. Good to know about carrying a Flintlock in HHs

[@jamesvatter5729]

FROZEN Good stuff, Alex. My winter mocs, "shoepacs", always make a snow, ice or mud trek interesting. They are like putting two toboggans on your feet! I read about lashing leather straps or cordage around them as a make shift tread. It works surprisingly well. Someday I'll get some handforged crampons, but I have held that same goal or over a decade now!

[@lyonforge3077]

Frozen! Yes I couldn't do this hike now, younger days we did historical pack in trips and freezers. You gain a new respect and appreciation for the frontiers man and indigenous people, awesome job Ethan. Thanks for the video.

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

Thanks for watching to the end!

[@robtholt4351]

🎉I really appreciate your videos. I got a bone disease in my 40s and can no longer hike. These videos are really helpful for me! Great video

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

Thanks so much, this means a lot.

[@nathandewberry1741]

Wonderful video and beautiful hike. Looking forward to a build vid for those moccasins!

[@mikechrane6840]

Thank you for taking us along during your FROZEN journey. I always wondered what footwear our ancestors used during the winter. My son wanted to make some moccasins. I told him that was fine for summer and fall. Looks like I was wrong! Your honesty and willingness to truly live out the living history is greatly appreciated.

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

Really appreciate the kind words and thank you for watching to the end. I’ll get the winter mocs tutorial out in time for next season!

[@johnyarbrough502]

Haven't seen tour postings for several years, I was pleased and surprised when this turned up. Always learn something and get some food for thought. Unless serious hiking was a regular activity, that terrain looks like a 10 miler would be a bit of a challenge regardless of season and footwear. I'm a little doubtful that most people in 1700s would regularly be going that far in winter unless fall hunting had been a total failure or something completely unexpected happened. About the last lesson. I'd think the 1700s hunter, regardless of culture, might have grown up with instruction to arrange pieces of kit for both silent movement and quick accessibility. There's a huge amount of traditional knowledge passed down orally that's been lost and we have to learn from scratch in order to understand the past. Thanks.

[@almartin9500]

Another great video! Two words! Too good!LOL

[@thomasbraden8242]

Hocking Hills is awesome. I thought I recognized it in the first 30 seconds.

[@karlharrelson1091]

Frozen! Always on the lookout for your latest creation. You're rocking it again, brother. Incredible venue and brilliant observations. This is so inspirational. I can't wait to get back on the trail using your trail tips. I can almost smell that fresh, crisp air. Looking forward to your moccasin debrief. I find that the struggles are part of the journey. They make it much more vivid, real and memorable. Hope to seeya on the trail one day.

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

Thanks for watching to the end, I really appreciate all the kind words!

[@Qigate]

Your sojourn into your winter woods reminds me of the hikes I would take in the Shenandoah Mts. of Virginia. Climbing Old Rag Mountain and its four ascents in the icy winter with each footfall taken carefully and each handhold slippery with ice makes for a joyous hike. I very much enjoy your channel and your musings along the trail. The sore muscles were always worth it. Thank you for sharing your journey.

[@collinfrandsen7027]

Frozen. That’s a well earned huge accomplishment given the vast majority of people in living history will never do anything remotely like this. With the mocs one thing that could be worth trying is applying pine pitch to the bottoms and then stepping in wood shavings or dirt. Also there are documented mocs that utilize the leg portion of a deer or elk where the dew claws are which act as a kind of cleat. Very cool video I’m excited for that next one.

[@larryeddings3185]

I really enjoyed this video. Excellent lessons.

[@martinmeltzer2696]

Frozen. Hey Ethan! It is so good to see a young person enter in to this great hobby. The lessons that you learn by doing, will stay with you for a long time... and will serve you well! Thanks for sharing your experience with us! I may have a solution to your powder measure, vent pick, and pan brush clicking together as you walk along. Tie a thin leather thong or braided cord on each of them. The length of the thong/cord will depend on your arm length & how long is your firearm at the muzzle end, and where the lock is when you Pick or Brush the Pan. Poke a hole for each of the three items in your Powder Horn Strap or Shot Pouch Strap. Thread the end of each thong/cord through the appropriate hole... then attach a horn or antler button as a stop at the opposite end of the cord/thong from the implement... and tie a knot at the end to keep the button in place. By doing this, the implements will ride along, silently, close to the body. When you need any of them, you can pull it out... to the length of the thong/cord. When you are done with it, pull the end of the thong/cord and the implement will return close to the Strap... ready & handy for the next time it is needed.! It is a 18th Century version of having them be "Retractable"! Try it out and see what you think.

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

This is a cool idea, thank you for sharing - you may very well see me discuss this in a future video. Thank you for watching to the end!

[@YaYaLee]

Enjoy your videos

[@tomritter493]

Thank you for takeing us along ..I did reenactment life can't now lymes took me off my feet so I appreciate your effort beautiful park FROZEN

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

Thanks for watching to the end! Happy to take you along!

[@peterott-tn6pf]

Frozen! Man that was absolutely amazing! Thank you for sharing that beautiful scenery with us! Take care till next time my friend!

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

Thank you! And thanks for watching to the end!

[@peterott-tn6pf]

@FrontierTradingCompany you're very welcome buddy!

[@williamqueen8790]

Very interesting video

[@user-bw2cr9qo9b]

Frozen awesomeness. I am making an 1800s houssif (sewing kit) and in watching videos on that, somehow i found this wonderful video. Thank you for sharing. Please take more food with you next time (make ahead of time in a dehydrator) & stay hydrated. Enjoyed your presentation.

[@scenicdriveways6708]

Frozen, Great video, very interesting. I really enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing it with us. JT Kentucky.

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

Thanks for watching to the end! Really appreciate the kind words!

[@southernlandsolo7839]

Thanks for the hard yards and informative video. Your experience with the various ways to wear the blanket and the resultant variation in heat retention was excellent.

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

Yessir! Thanks for the comment!

[@bobmiller4383]

Frozen ! I'll be 71 next month, and have worn mocassins almost exclusively for over 60 years. Walking with a heel on your footwear is different.than being basically barefoot There's more of a spring to my step, and the heel doesnt take a beating. Hard to describe but I'm sure you'll get the hang of it with practice :- ] Thanks for yhis great video and making the effort to teaach. Yes..a matchcoat is priceless. especially when breaking trail on snowshoes !.

[@palonghunter3608]

Frozen. Great job. Congrats on a great achievement.

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

Thank you, and thanks for watching to the end!

[@rebeccaback3287]

Frozen! This is beautiful scenery! You have verry good gear especially the mocins this also helps me with my gear! Appreciate the history lesson! I always learn something from your videos! I will have to do a hike like this. David Back.

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

Thanks for the comment David, and I appreciate you watching to the end!

[@chicinthewoods]

Awesome video, thanks!

[@ethansammons1964]

Some ice creepers would be a helpful addition for long icy hikes

[@billgraham4127]

I have always found a match coat is best covering to protect you. In wearing native mocs try walking around home bear foot to condition your feet. To bear a trip you took you need to travel light. When traveling on foot natives or the long knives did not carry a large pack of stuff. Traveling light will make happy joints. That's my experience. Keep doing what your doing.

[@zachvanscyoc4009]

Love your videos living in dayton ohio my self and dressing up in frontiersman outfits. Been to hocking numerous times but only twice in winter. Thanks for adventure.

[@bushcraftbasics2036]

Thank you for making this

[@rickgaston7118]

Thank you for sharing

[@randysteed1400]

Frozen. . . Another great video. Excellent fresh presentation method of insight to 18th century life. Looking forward to the next one. You mentioned that you waterproofed your moccasins with an original 18th century method. I just made a pair of center seams that need waterproofing. Did you use the method on A Woodsrunner’s Diary? My wife and I enjoyed meeting you in Kalamazoo. Thank you.

[@robertcurns3845]

yep, those tools are needed,, but can alert an enemy, or game. to old and full of arthritis to go that distance,, but the area you were in interestsme, living in the mountains of VA. Very enjoyable vid,,thanks

[@argyle1812]

great video!

[@TheWoodlandEscape]

Another fine episode, you’re a fantastic orator. I found out the hard way that linen has absolutely no place in winter trekking. It absorbs sweat and is almost impossible to get dry. I almost froze on my first winter trek. Took off my soaked linen shirt and carried the frozen lump of a thing for 4 more days, rolled up on my back. Sorry for the book like comment, but that tinkle of the gear that you’ve pointed out, well, been there done that and it is more than a wee bit annoying!

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

Thank you for the kind words! We are agreed on linen 😫 honored to have you in the comments section, it was great to see you in Kalamazoo!

[@johnovanic9560]

Frozen Indeed my friend you have brought back some wonderfully painful memories for me. I discovered Buckskin trekking when I was your age back in the late 70s. My first set of homemade moccasins were of a knee high lace up Tandy pattern but with a cat's paw leather sole turned upside down Stitch to the bottom. And yes I remember the hip flexor pain and the plantar pain but I wouldn't trade a moment of those memories. I still take my Flintlock off the wall and don my buckskins. But these days I slipped my feet into a pair of Russell mocks for all day comfort.😊 this was a great video enjoy your youth and I hope your videos will entice other young people to take up the mantle.

[@randallledgerwood3949]

Thank you !👀🙏

[@jeffallen6459]

Nice video. You are learning things about moccasins friends and I learned almost 30 yrs ago. Lol. Moccasins makes you use muscles you never knew existed. Just be sure not to let that lifestraw freeze. Take care.

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

Thanks for watching! It’s so funny you should say this - I let it freeze a few weeks later in a winter camp that I’ll be sharing next month. Lesson learned! Thanks again!

[@seansullivan8083]

Frozen indeed! Awesome video! I'd love to see how you waterproofed your moccasins. I wear mine all the time for hiking, and canoe trips. I usually just have a dry pair in my bed roll.

[@jaykirk1659]

Great video and valuable lessons. I am in the process of making my own winter moccasins just haven't made them yet. I live in Northern Kentucky and go to the Red River Gorge quite often so I'm planning to make a day trip hike or an overnight camp 18th century attire to test out the moccasins and gear I have so far.

[@chadwright7614]

Happy easter

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

Happy Easter!

[@jeffreymcintire8273]

Frozen..I and a buddy have carried our flintlocks at Hocking Hills sites and simply conducted impromptu living history talks to those who were interested. Never let political ignorance hinder the passing on of your experience to those who are hungry enough to receive it ( we even drank the water as is as it ran off the cliff).

[@littleriver8859]

I tuck my measure and vent pick in my pouch.

[@naglemonster679]

Frozen ( yeah i can follow directions) Hey Dude, Great Video! Could you do a follow up video of the clothing and gear you carried on this hike. I'm going to have to add this trail to my list to hike someday. Thanks

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

Thanks for watching to the end! The gear is mostly in my gear review posted about a year ago - if you haven’t seen it, that might be helpful - I’ll explain some of my clothing and such in future camping videos 👍 appreciate the comment and I hope you can make it to Hocking Hills sometime soon! It’s a beautiful place.

[@Livinonsunshine]

You’re in my neck of the woods.

[@ohiorusty4982]

Unfortunately you can't get to the cave now at the bottom of Cedar falls. In that cave (unfortunately vandalized long ago) is a standing stone with a depression in it where the local indians would grind corn and acorns in the depression in that rock. Passing Cedar cave below was the path to Chillicothe where the indians took their prisoners to be burned at the stake. In the 18th century, one of those prisoners travelling that path as a prisoner carved into a large tree the message "This is the road to Hell" as he knew his fate at Chillicothe. Numerous people saw that carve message after the Ohio Indian wars were over.

[@dougm5341]

Job well done…..

[@earlshaner4441]

Frozen and wet

[@badbadbob1]

Frozen Man

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

Thanks for watching to the end!

[@claybarry9636]

Frozen

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

Thanks for watching to the end!

[@moorshound3243]

I love what you do Sir. But a word on your firearms carrying, its a case of use it or lose it, here in England you cannot even carry a toothpick without being branded a criminal. If you have freedoms then please use them. Let face it you are not walking about in full tactical gear with a pink AR15 you are clearly someone who is doing some living history and I very much dought anyone will poo their pants at a man clothed in wool with a one shot flintlock? Be the change you want to see in the world. Keep making the awsome content.

[@danieljones2183]

Frozen ... New appreciation for how stuff our ancestors were. Or is it how weak we have become.

[@anyhonyruzzinjr3855]

I am also a person that likes the mountain man era , making my own clothing and camping but you added something else to strive to do if you ever do more of the same and would like company to enjoy the experience just say so I live in Michigan and am not too far away , good luck god bless and keep your powder dry..