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The Kephart design is sort of a fore runner to the general bush lore or bush craft design that is so common today. Horace Kephart would have carried another cutting tool (hatchet probably) along with the knife. Just a case of adjusting your tool set you carry in the woods for camping based on your needs. In Kephart's day, a fire was indispensable, but today, most back packers carry their "fire" with them for cooking. The leave no trace approach was not so important then unless you were trying not to be found/discovered like operating a still. The woods survived.
In Kephart's day, this was the time of major logging operations in the Smoky Mt area. There was no electricity for the most part in rural areas except what was set up around saw mills or other industrial/commercial operations in company towns. The timber from whole mountains was cut to the ground and the mountains left to rebound on their own. Certainly some fire ashes or partially burnt logs was not very important. Things change. Kephart had a love of the woods. But I think he walked/hiked simply to go places (point A to point B). He died in an auto accident; another one of those new fangled inventions when a horse did fine. The pace of life was different. People today yearn for a simplier time, but most like the conveniences we have.
In Kephart's day, this was the time of major logging operations in the Smoky Mt area. There was no electricity for the most part in rural areas except what was set up around saw mills or other industrial/commercial operations in company towns. The timber from whole mountains was cut to the ground and the mountains left to rebound on their own. Certainly some fire ashes or partially burnt logs was not very important. Things change. Kephart had a love of the woods. But I think he walked/hiked simply to go places (point A to point B). He died in an auto accident; another one of those new fangled inventions when a horse did fine. The pace of life was different. People today yearn for a simplier time, but most like the conveniences we have.
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