This article appeard first in the March, 2021 issue of Muzzle Blasts Magazine
By Muskrat Mike McGuire
Even though rendezvous time is still months away as I write this article, having just been through a pandemic here are some thoughts on how to keep yourself safe & healthy at rendezvous. I have been named one of the “medics” at this year’s Pacific Primitive Rendezvous June 18th-26th, 2021. We were not able to have it in 2020 due to the Covid Pandemic, but it will be held this year for sure! No place could be more perfect than Little Whiskey Ridge in La Grande, Oregon (for more information go to www.pacificprimitiverendezvous.com). We are planning on having one of the largest turnouts in recent history in this region. At any point in this article feel free to substitute the word “rendez-vous” for family camping trip or hunting camp.
The person most responsible for your safety is yourself! Make sure you have all your medications up to date and an ample supply in your camp along with any testing devices and spare batteries for them. If you are camping with a fellow buckskinner make sure they know of any medical condition you have and how to administer your medications if needed. This is especially important if you are diabetic, have heart issues, or are prone to anaphylaxis. If you are camping alone it is always smart to tell your neighbors about any conditions you have and know where the 1st-aid stations are, including the main “hospital” tent is. Here and to a limited extent at the 1st-aid stations, there will be bandaging supplies, slings, blood pressure kits, splinting supplies and most important a method of notifying the local EMS services if transport is required. Now for the considerations to be aware of:
Water:
Water is critical to life, and nothing can replace safe drinking water. Nothing is as effective as water in replacing the fluids your body will lose through sweating, breathing, exercising and any other number of reasons. Most of us will lose more water at a rendezvous than at home or work through dehydration. This year’s rendezvous will be at 2800-3000 feet above sea level. Issues with water loss and dehydration are greater at higher altitudes and during hot weather. If you wait to drink until you experience thirst, it is too late. It is particularly important to drink copious amounts of water to keep hydrated. Beer, pop, and any other “group tighteners” are not acceptable replacements. Save them for around the campfire. It is important at this time to stress that you only drink from “Potable” water sources meaning it will be free of bacteria, germs and any number of other impurities. Out here in the Western U.S. any stream will probably harbor a nasty parasite (giardia lamblia) which causes “beaver fever” and will make you quite ill and keep you running for several days to the
“Hooters”! The best prevention from this issue is to simply bring your own water from home. Even though the water supplied will be truly potable water, drinking water that is different than your system is used to can cause gastric distress. If camping alone figure 5 gallons will do for a weekend and 10 gallons will do for a longer rendezvous. That saying, I would still bring any number of products out there like Pepto-Bismol. Absolutely never, ever drink or acquire water downstream from campers, swimmers, the hooters, and especially any livestock! Sterilization of water can be accomplished in several ways if you choose to not bring your own. Just bringing water to a boil for 20 minutes will kill the vast majority of bacteria, parasites and is the most reliable means of killing viruses that cause hepatitis. If this sounds like too much trouble or is too time consuming then consider your 2nd option, chemical purification. This can be accomplished by adding chlorine, iodine or water purification tablets. By simply adding 1 teaspoon of chlorine bleach to 5 gallons of water and letting it sit for an hour will make safe potable water.
Food Borne Illness:
Safe food storage can present any number of problems at any rendezvous that lasts more than a couple of days and refrigeration is problematic at best. A couple of suggestions are:
1. Buy a very good cooler (and yes, I know some of the newer ones cost as much as a new rifle). They will however keep your food cooler and longer. Keep the ice replenished often to keep the temperature as low as possible. Use block ice over cubed ice if at all possible.
2. Consider keeping two coolers (under primitive cover of course). One to keep your cold food in and another to keep your cool beverages in.
3. Consider bringing pre-cooked meals that simply need to be reheated. This will save time as all you need do is heat and eat. This is an option I most always do along with freezing everything I can as it will stay fresher longer.
4. Consider using canned food whenever possible. Yes, I know it is not pre-1840 but if kept out of site is a viable option.
5. When in doubt throw it out!
After you have eaten consider your next health issue cleaning your pots, pans, dishes, and utensils. Those who tell you to just “wipe them off” with a paper towel are the same buckskinners you see in two days running to the
“hooters” all day and night. Never wash your dishes in water you would not personally drink out of. If water is getting low find the “potable water” and use it or bring the water source to a boil for twenty minutes.
Personal Hygiene:
Now that we have all been through a pandemic, I should not have to harp on the issue of keeping yourself clean. Hopefully the “hooters” will be downstream, down-
hill, and downwind of your camp. Do not count on the hooters to have toilet paper in them even though they are pumped and cleaned often, I always pack a small partial roll with me. Do not forget to bring your hand sanitizer along with you to the hooters. They should have some inside but do not count on it. Inside your tent, trailer
or teepee, make sure you have a couple of boxes of Sani-wipes, alcohol wipes, and some bath soap. Just because you are at a rendezvous does not mean you need to stink and be dirty. Occasional applications to your body with soap and water are helpful for keeping camp comfortable for yourself and others. If stinking is something you enjoy than do not wash up just, please camp down wind of me (my camp will have the Red Cross flag flying).
Mostly be safe, considerate of others, and take a little time in your preplanning to think about what I have said and have a great time. If coming to the Pacific Primitive and you see my tent camp with the Red Cross flying stop by and say hi to ‘ol “Muskrat” Mike.