EARL SHAFFER, THE 10TH MOUNTAIN DIVISION, & THE WW2 MOUNTAIN RUCKSACK

Sometimes its not really about the gear, its what was done with it. I have a bit of a personal connection to this story as I'll explain in the video.
Direct Link to my Collector's Guide for Kelty Backpacks, 1952-1972: www.bannermans...
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EARL SHAFFER RELATED VIDEOS:
Appalachian Trail Museum KZbin Channel: / @apptrailmuseum
Appalachian Trail Museum Website: www.atmuseum.org/
Earl Shaffer Foundation KZbin Channel: / @earlshafferfoundation...
Video of a slide presentation Earl made in the '80s about his thru:
• Earl Shaffer Slideshow...
Smithsonian Musuem presentation on Earl: americanhistor...
Forging the 10th Mountain Division: npshistory.com/...
ASSOCIATED KZbin CHANNELS:
Honorable Outfitters (Shawn Dyer): / @honorableoutfitters
20th Century Adventures (Nathanael Logsdon): www.youtube.co...
RELATATED FACEBOOK PAGES:
Bannerman’s Camp (1890-1939: / 2198491623503266
Kelty’s Camp (1945-1990): / 902618677566756
Vintage Backpacking (1960s & 70s): / vintagebackpacking
Northwest Vintage Sportsmen: / nwvintagesportsmen
Amalgamated Order of Motor Campers: / 1740759529583338
Early 20th Century Sportsmen (1890-1930): / 1497738890539189
Vintage Sportsmen (1890-1970s): / 1076639765715035
Camping In The Old Style (190s-1930s): / 173935546709804
RECOMMENDED VENDORS FOR 20TH CENTURY REPRODUCTIONS:
What Price Glory Militaria: www.onlinemili...
Logsdon & Company: www.logsdonand...

[@behindthespotlight7983]

Sarge you’re the BEST. You have a tremendous, intelligent sense of humor. PS: remember Robert Crumb’s brother who perpetually passed the string through his GI system? In the winter of 1996 my kid brother and I knocked on a door in a flophouse, South of Civic Center, San Francisco, and he opened it. String and all. One of the most surreal moments of my five decades. (And two of those five decades were spent making movies in Hollywood; I’ve seen just about everything) PPS: please make the suggested series about the transient workers, aka Hobos, of the Depression Era. There is precious little about such a historic 20th Century sub culture.

[@sargevining]

The Hobo thing is an outside video and right now the heat index down here is 116. Seriously However, 'tis Texas. 'Twas ever thus---

[@michaelfursa]

@behindthespotlight7983 great insight to the pack, also I know the guy who first published Robert Crumb in Zap comix Charles Plymell. I also got to hike some miles with Earl in 98' and snapped some photos tgat are now in the AT Museum in PA.

[@davidmalo7509]

My father was in the 10th Mtn, we had most of his gear he had brought home. I used that rucksack on a hike through Philmont Scout ranch in 1966. It was absolutely horrible, but it’s what we had. One of the other items I used for many years was a 10th Mtn backpack stove. In later years when the MSR came out I bought one then I realized it was almost an exact copy of that 10th Mtn stove. Most of the ski industry was created after the war by members of the 10th.

[@sargevining]

My first long distance hike was done with the M42 pack my Dad bought after reading about Earl Shaffer. It was better than the Yucca I had been using, so I appreciated that. I use the Mountain Stove if I'm doing a vintage camping trip with other folks and I'm doing the cooking. It does a much better job of cooking for two to four than the SCEA 123 does. Thanks for watching!

[@nomadmarauder-dw9re]

And the 1st Special Service Force, particularly out west.

[@jamesellsworth9673]

10th Mountain Division: 'Climb to Glory!' I was part of the staff on the Steering Council that coordinated with the Army to help the three counties around Watertown, NY become 'Home' to the modern 10th Mountain Division. The Division and its history is of great interest to me.

[@sargevining]

The impact of the WW2 10th Mountain on outdoor sports cannot be over exaggerated. That's why I've decided to do not just one video on the 10th Mountain, but to make sure their impact is mentioned over a series of videos. Hopefully, folks will get the idea.

[@davidallcock6316]

I have one of these bags which I have modified using parts from scrap SADF rucksacks...I have added a padded piece between my back and the frame....a padded waist belt...shoulder straps and some additional pouched around the waist...I found nine scrap rucksack...reconditioned two with parts and built various Belts and load bearing set ups with the rest....including a rucksack specifically designed to carry a toddler up a mountain...it worked great..

[@sargevining]

The waistbelt is probably the best invention ever made for packing, and yah, Bergan style packs benefit especially by adding them. Thanks for watching!

[@davidallcock6316]

@@sargevining indeed ...distributing and lowering that weight to the center...hips...is a real revolution in rucksack design..

[@roberthoffman5951]

Fantastic video. Thank you

[@sargevining]

Thanks for watching! Hope you find more content that you enjoy here.

[@57WillysCJ]

The good old army mountian ruck. Although not the best better than grandma Gatewood's denim sack which also shows if you really want to, what you carry your gear in doesn't matter. Also if you read of her first trip the AT wasn't that great in 1955 but improved a few years later by local hiking clubs. She was a hearty woman as I wouldn't try it and she was older than I am. By the way if you have + or - $700 you can buy yourself a brand new pair of Russell boots like Shaffer wore. For that matter before Edward married Mrs. Simpson he went on safari and his Russell's kept him in the hunt they say. It might seem expensive in this world of cheap imports but they are in line with other custom boots such as White's.

[@sargevining]

Those Russells continue to be a temptation, but I can't realistically justify the expense. I dearly loved my Dad's Mountain Ruck. It felt good on my back and I knew I had "arrived" when he said I could use it. I'll do something on Grandma Gatewood but not until I get to 1990 in the History of Camping Gear. When I get there, I'll start going back and "fill in the cracks" in the history. Thanks for watching!

[@57WillysCJ]

@@sargevining They are a big chunk of change. I know that they would last a life time which would have been profitable 30 years ago. Don't know about the Ebay market. Their roughout shoe would be fitting with a good daubing but still to rich for my wallet.

[@ahchu3256]

Very interesting history!

[@sargevining]

Thanks for watching!

[@smd482000]

I got 271 mile left one the AT. Left got finish Maine up

[@sargevining]

The Hundred Mile Wilderness isn't as much wilderness as it used to be, but still a challenge. Weather is actually a bigger challenge, even though the terrain is tough too. But starting in about early to mid August, the chances for changeable weather increases meaning you have to carry more to be able to adapt quickly. Thanks for watching!

[@jwgbmp40]

new sub, absolutely loving the history on this channel. thank you for sharing. and you're kinda hilarious too!

[@sargevining]

Thanks for subbing and watching! The jokes and asides are fun to think up and I think it helps to tell the stories without being boring. Glad to have you aboard!

[@ROE1300]

👍 Really enjoyed this video combined with the one on the Bergen pack. I just acquired a 10th Mountain Division pack in excellent condition so watching these videos today was very timely for me. Thank you for making them.

[@sargevining]

Thanks for watching both videos! Is you pack directly attributable to 10th Mountain?

[@ROE1300]

@@sargevining Excellent question! The best answer I can provide is what was told to me by the seller, it was part of an estate sale from a retired Air Force Colonel who had served for 30 years before retiring and was acquired by him during his years of service, no explanation is available as to how or where it was acquired. While clearly a vintage piece, I don’t believe it was an WW2 piece of gear issued to the 10th Mountain. I suspect it was an issued piece of gear from the 1950s as the frame braces are stamped and pinned, not forged or welded; but again I have no documentation of that provenance. So, I probably should revise my description to say I have just acquired a vintage 10th Mountain Division style pack. Sorry for any confusion, it was unintentional.

[@sargevining]

@@ROE1300 If you're happy with it, that's all that matters. There were a Lot of rucks, or several types, on the surplus market after the war. And, yah, there were versions made in the 50s as well. That's one of the reasons why when I talk of these things I don't "geek out" on the militaria aspects. That would take away from the History of Camping Gear focus I'm trying to maintain.

[@ROE1300]

@@sargevining Agreed 💯%! I am very pleased with this rucksack, it was the design, quality construction, and condition that I was seeking. One of the things I like most about your videos is that in watching them we never get lost in the weeds. Interesting that you are from NH and now live in TX. I was raised in MA and my parents had a Summer home in Laconia NH on Lake Winnipesaukee and I now live in TX.

[@sargevining]

@@ROE1300 As the wise man once said, NH is a good place to be from. I do miss the "color" and the smell of a Yankee lake (nothing smells like it). I don't miss stepping outside, taking a deep breath of fresh air, and having the boogers freeze in my nose. TexMex makes up for all the stuff I miss.

[@bendover4496]

On Earl’s gear list you didn’t mention anything about cooking or water containment. I assume that since he was a soldier in WWII, that he would have probably carried a canteen & cup. However, I wanted to ask.

[@sargevining]

I assume so as well, as it doesn't seem prudent not to have some kind of water carriage. I went looking for his gear list, as there almost certainly would be one somewhere. I didn't find one in Walking With Spring. The only gear list I found shows: Air Corps survival tent Marine Corps poncho A “rainhat” | “Paper mill” blanket Match safe Compass Sheath knife Small handaxe Sewing kit Snakebite kit Mountain Troop cook kit, plus food for about a week T-shirts Navy turtleneck Mountain Cloth pants Wool-cotton socks Birdshooter boots. Pics in the Smithsonian Exhibit don't any water carriage but do show half of a WW2 mess kit (the half with the handle that can be used as a frying pan) and a rectangular aluminum pan (which conflicts with the Mountain Troop cook kit mentioned above). I found it illogical that he wouldn't have any way of carrying water (even though his whole trip was illogical at the time) until I found a pic on the AT Museum website which shows what appears to be a circular Boy Scout 1 quart canteen (but could also be an Army Surplus pre-WW1 canteen) hanging from his belt. I hope YT will let me post the link to the pic: www.atmuseum.org/uploads/5/5/8/1/55813761/published/1948-earl-shaffer.jpg?1618481535

[@bendover4496]

@@sargevining thank you much!

[@behindthespotlight7983]

18:10 the Red Wing version of those boots “The Moc” are by far the most uncomfortable pieces of overpriced garbage I’ve ever wasted $300 on. The way the soles sweep upwards at the toe had me wishing for a pair of those Japanese Geisha wooden sandals. Yes, Red Wing makes some other models that are exceptional and I do own a pair that I like a lot but the Thoroughgood models and any model with “Moc” in the name? I’d rather trek barefoot. Awful experience in footwear. I cannot say enough how disappointed I was/am in those boots. They’re buried in the same box as the “fix bayonets” gear and the “100 delicious recipes for cooking rats” cookbook. If we ever get to the point where I’m into that particular box of preps how the boots feel won’t matter much.

[@sargevining]

Well, now I'm interested in what your favorite rat recipe was-- OK--- I'll stop thinking of making THAT video now----

[@Cole1966]

I posted a link to your channel on Twitter because you deserve more likes and views than you have

[@sargevining]

Thanks! Every little bit helps!

[@aydenlanglois3256]

Great video, thank you.

[@sargevining]

Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it!