Trail Article

Black Powder Trails (January)

“A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a Free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”

Greetings in this month the Chippewa’s call “Moon of the crusted snow”. While we sit here in the sun outside my lodge, watching the fresh elk tenderloin roast cooking over the fire, let’s go over the schedule.

Our monthly Walkthru is on Sunday 5th at 10:00 am. Bundle up and join us for this deep winter shoot.

Our monthly meeting will be on Wednesday 9th at 7:30 pm. Come on out and we’ll probably be talking about the upcoming Kalamazoo show in March, and probably also start talking about upcoming spring projects that we might want to do. Any suggestions you might have would be considered and discussed. I believe this year we’d like to build the outdoor oven for the grill area so that’s one project.

The annual Hog Shoot in Tecumseh is probably this month as usual, although it does not show on my printed schedule, so call Greg or come to the meeting to see if that event is going to occur.

Did you know?….. in Native American tribes who lived in heavily forested areas February is the month when the women and children of the village headed out into the woods to their own private “Sugar Bush” area and made a small camp. Time was spent tapping the maple trees, hanging skin “buckets” to capture the water (sap) and gathering wood for the daily fires. Once the sap starts to run (when it’s below freezing at night, and daytime temps are 40 or above) they spent time gathering the liquid which is now dripping from the taps, boiling it off over the fires, and making syrup and sugar. Enough syrup and sugar was made to last an entire year, and they used them for a variety of foods they made. They even made maple candy. This is done by boiling off the liquid enough so that it starts turning into syrup or just beyond that, then throwing spoonfuls of it into the snow. On contact with the cold air and snow the big drops harden into maple candy. Sugar is made from boiling the liquid past the syrup stage until it crystallizes. Sugar and syrup was used for much of their cooking, and it was also a big trade item. I have made maple syrup myself and now I will not even buy the “fake:” stuff anymore, which is nothing more than corn syrup. Real maple syrup is the only way to go for pancakes and French toast. Warmed maple syrup is also a great dipping sauce for venison steaks. I add a little garlic powder and melted butter to it as well.

Next month is the big re-enactors show of the year, The Kalamazoo Antique Firearms Show, the weekend of March 17-18. Kathy (Thimblewoman) will be making our hotel reservations so please call her ASAP if you want a room. They go quickly so don’t dilly dally. Her number is on page 2 of this Window, right under Greg’s name. Come to the meeting and we’ll be talking about it anyhow.

Well it looks like that roast is done now…… see the juices dripping into the fire? Man that sure does smell good doesn’t it? The women have given us some new potatoes, preserved vegetables, onions, and dried spices to boil up for a side dish. I’ll sign off now and we’ll partake in these fine victuals. Aren’t too many things what beat a fresh elk roast slow cooked over a fire. Hey, looks like they have made us some dessert too…… some kind of sweet cake they make using flour, wild rice they also gather and process themselves, spices they have picked and dried, and sugar from those maple trees…….. let’s eat!!!!!

See you all next month.

Mark “No Name” Johnstone
Scribe, Blackpowder