2014 FUMLA Spring Fever Camp

The following is transcribed from my field journal. There are typos, misspellings and editings as there would be for transcriptions of other period journals. This entry is from the 2014 FUMLA Spring Fever Camp.

3/21/14 FRIDAY, SPRING FEVER CAMP
     I arrived the camp later than I wanted to but still with plenty of light to make camp. After presenting myself to Mssr. Lassey & the party I picked myself out a small area somewhat sheltered  by some small russian olives. It was a simple affair of a bedroll of canvas, six blankets, all wrapped up in my 10x10 canvas tarp.
     My supper consisted of beef, carrots, onion & some barley all tossed into my lidded copper kettle & brought to a boil over the flame. It was eaten straight from the kettle & washed down with some hot coffee. conversations & good natured humor ensued. This evening our party consisted of Messers. Jerry & Rod Lassey, our hosts … Messer. Finders, Messr. Brandon Delvo, who has recently served our great nation, & Messer. Aaron Nelson, a newer member to our party.
     When it was well dark & part way into our evening of frivolity & cribbage the was a knock on the door to the cabin. Upon it’s opening there appeared a great towering figure of a man with a red voyager’s cap, dark capote & full graying beard. “It’s Santa Claus!” I shouted as we welcomed in Messer. Monk (Mark Thorn) one of the canadien members of our party. It had been some time since we’ve seen him, being Rendezvous of the previous year. Then evening carried on with stories, laughing, cribbage & tasting of fine spirits. After one final game with Messrs. Finder & Delvo I retired for the evening in my secluded bedroll. I would toss & turn some throughout the night, realizing the errors of how I had compiled my blankets. I was cool mostly, cold partly, but none the worse for wear come morning. I was thankful to have my recently completed capot. Its dark blue with red welting, a collar & hood. The temperature would get down to 10 degrees F.

3/22/14 SATURDAY, SPRING FEVER CAMP
     I woke this morning to the voice of Delvo talking. I threw back the canvas & blankets to find a thin

layer of frost and ice covering the bedding. The glass of my lantern & my glasses had frost on them as well. The Charbonneau Creek not 30 feet from me was also iced over. It has been free running water the day before.
     My breakfast was a simple one of hard cheese & flat bread & and apple, which had frozen during the night in my market wallet. I cut slices off with my knife. It’s texture & flavor was reminiscent of eating a pear. Conversations & coffee ensued.
     The morning was cool & all wore capotes, save Messer. Nelson who draped a blanket about his shoulders in an effective manner.
     Again inspired by Russel I assumed the roll of party cook. With flint, fire steel, char & grass, with a few bits of hard candle wax mixed in I soon had a fire going. I was able to procure a larger  portion of pork ribs, still unable to get beef ribs. I believe I shall try to prepare beef tongue, buffalo if I can find it, during our parties next venture.

     Maintaining a fire was much easier today as melting snow was not threatening the coals. This did pose a different problem of not allowing the fire to get too big.
     Our party was joined by several others today. MSSR. Evanson & the Swede, Messer. Todd Fossetta & his wife & Messer. Bauer. Rod was not with us today as his stomach was not tolerant of the thing that were in it. While keeping watch of the ribs some of our party partook in the firing of rifles & pistols, taking aim at targets both near and far.
     I had a later lunch. Stew again, some as lastnights Stew. Messr. Bauer, who originally intended to say for only awhile, decided instead to spend the evening in the company of the party. He left to get the rest of his gear for the evening. Messer. Fossetta & his wife would leave, hoping to make it back tomorrow.
     When the ribs were done, I put the limb & all into my large pan. Upon Messr. Bauer’s

return I heated them once more, & to my horror the bottom of the ribs caught ablaze! Being a man of large lungs I managed to quickly blow the flames out. Amidst laughter I shouted “Meats done boys!” Jerry had returned shortly before this to report on Rod. With the party assembled I drew my butcher knife & began to slice through the charred ribs. We saved one for Rod. I appologised to the men for having burned the ribs, assuring them that next time they would be better. The men assured me, there being much meat on the ribs, that the ribs were fine & tasted well. The ribs would end up feeding nine men. After they were consumed we engaged again in conversation, some spirits & cribbage.
     I had reassembled my bedding earlier today, to provide for maximum warmth. I slept much better, though still fealt cool on occasion. Temp down to 5 degrees F.

3/23/14 SUNDAY, SPRING FEVER CAMP
     I woke up to more pebbled ice & frost on the canvas tarp & blankets than yesterday. I didn’t notice anyone up yet so I checked the cabin & found everyone up with coffee in hand. I filled my tin cup & ate the rst of my stew from yesterday along with an apple, hard cheese & flat bread. Rod & Jerry [came out to the camp] mid-morning. Rod said he was feeling better but that his stomach was still churning. Delvo informed him that we had been calling what he had “The Pox”. Rod offered to spit in his palm & shake our hands. The party declined.

     After washing out my kettle & pan I heated water & prepared to shave. This proved to be entertaining to the party. I was equipped with my razor box, made by Mark Morrain, Joseph Elliot wedge strait razor, boar brush, lard/lye soap & small trade mirror. The soap lathered to an extent, no where near the same as modern shave soaps, however, was still rather slick. The shave felt good & sufficient for it’s purpose. No nicks or cuts or “blood letting” as Rod was referring to it earlier in the week.
     With the shave complete, I began to pack my gear along with everyone else.
     Before leaving I was able to see Rod’s collection of period traps, both original & reproduction.
     Shaking hands with Messer. Finders & Messers. Rod and Jerry Lassey, the remaining men, I left the camp. -- Leif