History of Gear: Yuck A Yucca
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- Опубликовано: 25 авг 2024
- It had to happen sometime. Have to do a video about something I don't like. The Yucca pack.
#camping #history #bannerman #antique #backpacking #haversack #classic camping #bushcraft #reenacting #reenactment #history of gear
I used a Yucca pack as a Boy Scout in the late '50s. We carried sleeping equipment in a horse-shoe roll tied around the perimeter of the pack and outside of it; we also carried a shelter-half , probably strapped on the bottom of the pack. I camped in the woods, in snow, and on jamborees with that pack thank you very much. I wouldn't want to do the Appalachian trail with one today, but as an 11-year old it was terrific, affordable, and just worked.
I suppose my antipathy towards Yuccas might have something to do with the fact that we wuz po folks when I was young and I wanted a Kelty but could only afford a Yucca, and a cheap Japanese clone Yucca at that.
Thanks. The context of the different packs is interesting to understand. Im doing modern things but ive also been a medieval reenactor. How our ancestors faced the same challenges is important to learn who we are today.
You have to know where you've been in order to know where you're going! Thanks for watching!
I use mine on a Roycroft frame for short hikes to our creek to have a little coffee and fun for the kids on nice days.
In the 1960s the scouts marketed their frame packs as Yucca packs. I still have mine.
Thanks for watching! Basically, they were "old school" Yuccas, but with added attachment for frame back, both the "Kelty" style with the open top side rails and the "Camp Trails" style that fit over a bent tube frame.
I remember using one of these back in the early 60s when I was a Scout. It was a pain to pack and a pain to carry but it was all we had.
I've never liked them. Got an external frame pack as soon as I could.
Agreed. The size and comfort is lacking, but for a teenager on an overnight trip I bet it sure was great as it allowed the them to have fun in the outdoors with their mates.
btw, I like the shorter video. Thanks.
Thanks for watching! I have to confess that I didn't like the Yucca when I was younger, either. But that is likely because I was jealous of everybody else's brand new Keltys more than anything else.
Trying to keep the vids shorter, and that's likely to happen more with the History of Gear stuff as the Classic Camping videos have more "How-Tos". After the backpack series is done, I have a series on prepping for a Classic Camping trip, and then we're back to sleeping bags and tents of the 30s-40s.
Well, ya got me. I saw the title, but the content was unexpected.
A very dear friend for the past thirty years once took a clean dead yucca stalk, maybe 2.5 to 3 inches across, cut it perfectly in half lengthwise, and used it to make a packframe (2 outer verticals, 3 shorter horizontals). He figured to see how long it would last.
At least ten years later it was still chugging away. Very solid and styrofoam light.
I got the wrong yucca pack lol.
Pretty interesting how prevalent these BSA packs were, but had an inherent time-of-service built in. Likely why so many still exist and weren't worn to shreds.
You are a cornucopia of information.
Well, now you got me looking for some yucca. Gonna have to make a trip out to West TX. I've never like the style, really. Capacity never quite enough, comfort not really there.
If there's been any yucca in NH, though----
my first pack was a Yucca...loved it..graduated to the 1307 pack and frame...till have BOTH...fantastic packs...
Thanks for watching! I was never a Scout so wasn't really exposed to Yucca's at an early age. I mostly used my Dad's 1941 Mountain Rucksack and lusted after a Kelty.
Thanks for the shout out!
If'n ya dint deserve it, you wouldna got it! Thanks for watching!
Thank you very much! It was intresting!
Thanks for watching, glad you enjoy the content.
I was in the Yucca Council for the Boy Scouts growing up in West Texas.
Boy Scouts had a huge impact on how we camp. Thanks for watching!
We have to consider the pre-consumer society too. When I see Boy Scouts from pre-WW1 it’s apparent that the overall idea was to get as many local boys who were interested out to the hike as possible. I’d wager that getting the old man to cut them loose from two days of farm or ranch chores was a bigger impediment than how they carried their gear. Pre-WW1 the only surplus available to folks was either Civil War (45+ years old and poorly cared for leather, or Spanish American War, 20+ years old and neglected gum canvas and canvas)
Actually, the surplus on the market pre-WW1 was fairly good as a good deal of it was fairly recent manufacture. Between the Spanish American and First World War the Army went through several changes in field gear, mostly brought on by the issue of the 1903 Springfield rifle, so there was a range of cast-off gear that had been recently replaced by new designs in 1900, 1903, 1904, and 1906.
In 1916, the National Guard as we know it today was created and the 100,000+ NG troops sent to the Border were all issued new 1910 equipment to replace their State issue, even if the State had recently issued that gear to its Militia troops. All of that gear became obsolete overnight. The accounting of the time used to justify the Federal expense involved in replacing State equipment was that the Federal Government took possession of that gear (essentially making a one for on trade), and then selling it as surplus.
I'd also not say that the gear the Army sold as surplus, or stored by vendors after purchasing that gear was necessarily poorly cared for. Military storage standards were fairly strict, leather is easily revitalized, and canvas (unless dry rotted) is easily repairable, and vendors have a financial interest in keeping things in useable condition. I have a couple of Early 20th Century tents and other gear I don't hesitate to use today.
Sometimes I re-watch these just for the music intro!
I'll go through my sound files, maybe I still have the whole thing. If I do, I'll make one of my artsy fartsy videos using it as a soundtrack.
Got mine too
Thanks for watching! Got lots more content coming!
Made 5 miles seem like 10!
Just my opinion, but the only other affordable pack available in the 1950s-1960s was an army surplus 1928 infantry pack---
Thanks for watching!