What to Bring to Noldorath?
Climate and “Housing”.
South east Queensland has the most benign climate in Australia for living outdoors in the forest, and one of the most benign climates in the world. Mild winters, hot wet summers, with few hurricanes and no crocodiles. And this area is free from paralysing ticks that can cause unbearable pain, and micro ticks that cause severe itching. It’s actually tick free.
But for people used to the pampered Western suburban living, it still might be a little worrying. So let me describe a culture that peacefully lived in the most hostile climates on earth for millennia, until the guns and diseases of the white man destroyed them all.
Tribal People.
Farley Mowat ventured into the tundra of northern Canada in the late 1940’s to discover and befriend a dying tribe of inland Innuit who had lived on the migrating caribou, relying on the fall hunt. In the fall, the caribou would flee south to the forest fringe, to escape the deadly winter blizzards of the tundra, but these extraordinary people stayed out in the tundra, and had survived there for centuries.
In his book “People of the Deer”, 1954, Farley says “My high opinion of these Innuit was often clouded when I looked at their homes.” These were small tents of caribou hide, with great gaps between the skins that the freezing gales and rain pass thru unhindered, and invaded by hordes of blood sucking flies from the boggy tundra. Or the winter igloos, built of snow blocks and unheated – they essentially lived in a refrigerator.
“But the tent and igloo were really only auxiliary shelters. The real home of these Innuit is what they carry on their back. It is centrally heated from body warmth. Complete and light weight, it is a gift of Tucktu, the deer. A double suit of furs, carefully tailored to the owner’s dimensions. The only house that enable people to survive the merciless tundra.”
This has remained in my mind ever since 1974 when I first read it. We can ask ourselves, do we really need enclosed houses to be happy, if Nature could provide shelter directly? Perhaps enclosed houses are really to protect the numerous possessions that we white people seem to need, but simply unheard of for the thousands of tribal cultures that used to thrive on this Earth.
Shopping.
So talking of possessions, I recommend you do some shopping before you finalise your plans to come here. Consider the following –
· For wet summer weather; rain jacket or poncho (a sheet with a central hood), probably of nylon (go to the camping shop). Also rubber shoes called crocs (try the Croc Shop ) if your feet are not tough.
· For cold weather, warm clothes including thermal underwear (try Target in winter). Also cotton free clothes for wet and cold weather (try the op shop).
· For hot sunny weather, thin long sleeved collared shirts to protect against sunburn (try the op shop)
. For midges after wet weather, long loose pants of thin cloth
· For digging and pulling heavy things, and walking on rough ground; sturdy boots probably of leather.
· For sleeping in; a 2 to 4 person nylon tent, and something to sleep on and in (go to the camping store)
. If you want to clear your car of your possessions from suburbia, then bring a spare tent with you for storage. And some plastic crates in case the tent leaks.
· Any other personal gear you choose, including ample quantities of any medicines or other supplies you will need here.
When I was young, I slept straight on the ground, in an old worn sleeping bag, and just under a tarp. I always had a nylon jacket, and wore non cotton clothes underneath it. That was in Victoria, not SE Qld.
Now I’m middle aged, and live in the forest, I sleep on a proper mattress from the bed shop, with sheets and blankets, in a 3 person nylon tent, with tarps around and over it. I now have a Goretex jacket; these can cost $600 from Mountain Designs or Kathmandu.
South east Queensland has the most benign climate in Australia for living outdoors in the forest, and one of the most benign climates in the world. Mild winters, hot wet summers, with few hurricanes and no crocodiles. And this area is free from paralysing ticks that can cause unbearable pain, and micro ticks that cause severe itching. It’s actually tick free.
But for people used to the pampered Western suburban living, it still might be a little worrying. So let me describe a culture that peacefully lived in the most hostile climates on earth for millennia, until the guns and diseases of the white man destroyed them all.
Tribal People.
Farley Mowat ventured into the tundra of northern Canada in the late 1940’s to discover and befriend a dying tribe of inland Innuit who had lived on the migrating caribou, relying on the fall hunt. In the fall, the caribou would flee south to the forest fringe, to escape the deadly winter blizzards of the tundra, but these extraordinary people stayed out in the tundra, and had survived there for centuries.
In his book “People of the Deer”, 1954, Farley says “My high opinion of these Innuit was often clouded when I looked at their homes.” These were small tents of caribou hide, with great gaps between the skins that the freezing gales and rain pass thru unhindered, and invaded by hordes of blood sucking flies from the boggy tundra. Or the winter igloos, built of snow blocks and unheated – they essentially lived in a refrigerator.
“But the tent and igloo were really only auxiliary shelters. The real home of these Innuit is what they carry on their back. It is centrally heated from body warmth. Complete and light weight, it is a gift of Tucktu, the deer. A double suit of furs, carefully tailored to the owner’s dimensions. The only house that enable people to survive the merciless tundra.”
This has remained in my mind ever since 1974 when I first read it. We can ask ourselves, do we really need enclosed houses to be happy, if Nature could provide shelter directly? Perhaps enclosed houses are really to protect the numerous possessions that we white people seem to need, but simply unheard of for the thousands of tribal cultures that used to thrive on this Earth.
Shopping.
So talking of possessions, I recommend you do some shopping before you finalise your plans to come here. Consider the following –
· For wet summer weather; rain jacket or poncho (a sheet with a central hood), probably of nylon (go to the camping shop). Also rubber shoes called crocs (try the Croc Shop ) if your feet are not tough.
· For cold weather, warm clothes including thermal underwear (try Target in winter). Also cotton free clothes for wet and cold weather (try the op shop).
· For hot sunny weather, thin long sleeved collared shirts to protect against sunburn (try the op shop)
. For midges after wet weather, long loose pants of thin cloth
· For digging and pulling heavy things, and walking on rough ground; sturdy boots probably of leather.
· For sleeping in; a 2 to 4 person nylon tent, and something to sleep on and in (go to the camping store)
. If you want to clear your car of your possessions from suburbia, then bring a spare tent with you for storage. And some plastic crates in case the tent leaks.
· Any other personal gear you choose, including ample quantities of any medicines or other supplies you will need here.
When I was young, I slept straight on the ground, in an old worn sleeping bag, and just under a tarp. I always had a nylon jacket, and wore non cotton clothes underneath it. That was in Victoria, not SE Qld.
Now I’m middle aged, and live in the forest, I sleep on a proper mattress from the bed shop, with sheets and blankets, in a 3 person nylon tent, with tarps around and over it. I now have a Goretex jacket; these can cost $600 from Mountain Designs or Kathmandu.