num1mc Posted May 18, 2011 Posted May 18, 2011 How many people here: 1) Know what a Trapper Nelson is 2) Have seen a Trapper Nelson 3) Carried a Trapper Nelson? My first backpacking experience and later Boy Scout trips were done with a Trapper. Lots o fun Quote
Le Piston Posted May 19, 2011 Posted May 19, 2011 I have painful memories of hiking with a Trapper Nelson in my youth...I even owned one. Ivan said it eloquently. I figure it was some parental form of discipline or extracting information from me. Quote
Tyson.g Posted May 19, 2011 Posted May 19, 2011 I have a trapper Nelson packboard hanging on the wall in my personal climbing archive. Have always been glad to have never had to wear it. Quote
sobo Posted May 19, 2011 Posted May 19, 2011 How many people here: 1) Know what a Trapper Nelson is 2) Have seen a Trapper Nelson 3) Carried a Trapper Nelson? 1) Yes. 2) Yes. 3) Yes. Used to use them for packing out elk quarters. I don't hunt anymore, though, so I don't have to carry one anymore. Quote
OldManRock Posted May 21, 2011 Posted May 21, 2011 When I started back packing, that was the only thing that you could buy - War surplus mountain ski packs were not built for trails, because you could hardly stand upright - Still have mine, to remind me of how things have changed. Quote
Coldfinger Posted May 24, 2011 Posted May 24, 2011 Even thirty years ago I wasn't dumb and/or gullible enough to use one! Quote
olyclimber Posted May 24, 2011 Posted May 24, 2011 When I was in the boy scouts (early 80s) the troop had a bunch of Yukons like these WWII vintage. i don't think we used them more than one trip. Quote
treknclime Posted May 24, 2011 Posted May 24, 2011 1) Yes 2) Yes 3) Yes. Backpacked with one for a couple of years in scouts, before I bought my REI expedition frame pack. Quote
j_b Posted May 24, 2011 Posted May 24, 2011 real shitty external frame pack? but better than most packboards used by humans over the last millennia Quote
OldManRock Posted May 25, 2011 Posted May 25, 2011 Goldfinger - When I started backpacking in 1950, when I joined my dad to do some prospecting, I had no choice - I could have carried a suitcase I guess - In 1960 or so REI did come out with with the Cruiser pack - I have REI catalogs from 1958 to 1967 except for 1960, and Trapper Nelson's only in 1959, both both in 1961 - That's when I got my Cruiser, later a Kelty. Quote
rangertommy Posted May 31, 2011 Posted May 31, 2011 1. Yes 2. Yes 3. and Yes That was my first pack (originally, my Dad's). It was brutal. On top of that, I carried canned goods in it for my first few trips. I think I have grooves in my shoulders, still. Quote
dougd Posted May 31, 2011 Posted May 31, 2011 No. No. No. (thank goodness) I did start hiking/climbing with an external frame pack back in the '70's but nothing quite that draconian. In the early '80's I bought a Lowe internal frame pack and still use it. It's pretty beat up, but is still serviceable... d Quote
OlympicMtnBoy Posted May 31, 2011 Posted May 31, 2011 Dang you guys/gals are OOOOOLD. ;-) I started in the 80's as a wee lad with an old green REI aluminum framed thing where the hip belt ended up just above my knees. Shortly after that my parents got me a state of the art Jansport external frame pack that was small enough to fit. I have fond memories of hiking along the beach on the Ozette Triangle and occaisionally falling between the logs I liked to scramble on and getting stuck as my frame pack would hang up between them with little me dangling underneath. Good times! Quote
murraysovereign Posted May 31, 2011 Posted May 31, 2011 1) Yes 2) Yes 3) Hell yes - my first trips in the Rockies, around the Bowrons, and in to the Cathedrals were taken with Trapper Nelsons. I still have a couple of them, and many fond memories associated with them (mostly fond memories of camping with Dad, and various childhood friends. The packs themselves not so much) My collection originally belonged to Dad and/or grandfather, so way more sentimental value than anything else... Quote
Trap_nels Posted June 1, 2011 Posted June 1, 2011 Hello Climbers: I've been looking hard trying to locate an old Trapper Nelson backpack. I was doing a web search this evening and discovered that there has been a lot of recent chatter on the old Trapper Nelsons. Yes, they were REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE, SHIFTY, etc. I completed a 50 mile backpacking trip with the scouts on the Skyline Trail (Pacific Crest) with one back in summer of 1967 or 68. I was 13 years old. I'll never forget it. That pack (beast that it was) holds special memories for me. It had been my Dad's back when he was in scouts back in Port Angles Washington in the mid 1940's. My Dad died when I was 19. Unfortunately, a family member threw it out during a garage cleaning spree several years ago. I'd really like to find one like it and would be more than willing to pay a fair price. Please contact me if you can help. Thanks, New Trapper Guy Quote
Trap_nels Posted June 3, 2011 Posted June 3, 2011 Hello Murraysovereign: You mentioned in your post that you still have a couple of old Trapper Nelson backpacks, which ones do you have? Maybe you could check out my previous post? Trapper Jay Quote
Trap_nels Posted June 3, 2011 Posted June 3, 2011 Hello Old Man Rock: Sounds like you still have your old Trapper Nelson. Which one do you have (as in which make, model, approx. year)? Trapper Jay Quote
OldManRock Posted June 5, 2011 Posted June 5, 2011 Had to dig my Trapper Nelson out of storage - I got it back about 1950 - It was made by Trager Mfg. Co. They made a lot of stuff for REI in the past - The label says "Trapper Nelson's Indian Pack Boards - Patent no. 1905 661 - Typical brown pack sack held on frame with two wires through eyelets. Quote
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