"Roughing it", Sierra Club Style

Of course, campers of the past haven't always had to completely rough it. Articles from the South Pasadena Foothill Review from 1931 and 1932 recount tales of annual Sierra Club expeditions to the High Sierra. These tell a far different story of some fortunate campers' experiences.

These month-long expeditions, with 250 to 280 campers, boasted a full staff, herds of pack animals, and a French chef. The articles describe campfire entertainments, lavish meals and even a fashion show. "Twelve girls modeled very smart creations which were made of bandanas and mosquito netting," one article reports.

Lest we get the impression that this was a totally luxurious experience, each camper was limited to 35 pounds of equipment, including sleeping bag and clothing. The pack animals would carry this burden from campsite to campsite. An individual would have to carry anything over that limit in a knapsack. And everyone ate from his own tin cup, plate and spoon, and washed his own dishes at the end of the meal.

This page last updated: June 1, 2008 Original content: Copyright © 2000-2008 Museum of American Heritage