Cold Splinters

I could try and rearrange all this info to make it look like I knew a lot about the Toyota Trekker, but since I was first introduced to these beauties from this post on Jalopnik, I’ll just repost it here. One day, I will be a subscriber to this magazine, but for now, the Subaru is doing just fine. Unreal:

Several years before the 4runner was introduced to the world an odd collaboration between Toyota and Winnebago produced a little known compact SUV conversion called the Trekker.

Production numbers vary depending on who you ask, but its generally agreed upon that somewhere between 1000 and 1500 Trekkers were produced between 1981 and 1983. 30 years later Trekkers are even rarer than when they were new which is why we were so intrigued to find a pristine example listed for sale on Ebay.

Trekkers were originally sold and marketed as Winnebagos. The motor home company received partially built Toyota trucks and sub-contracted out construction of the fiberglass body before completing final assembly. After final assembly they were available for order to Toyota dealers.

Exact Trekker history is sketchy at best and there are several different versions of the exact story of these trucks. Some point to Toyota dealers talking Winnebago into producing the trucks, while others suggest the company won the right to build the trucks directly from Toyota’s Japanese HQ.

Regardless of how it came about it’s clear from examining this very original 1981 example that conceptually the Trekker was an early version of what would become the wildly popular first generation 4runner. Because they were specialty vehicles when new Trekkers came equipped with pretty much any option you can imagine on a 1981 Toyota truck, but underneath the hood of the notoriously bullet proof 4 cylinder 22R engine remained.

It’s nearly impossible to find any Trekker considering how few were made when new, especially an example as original as this one. It’s understandable then that the price of obscure old Toyota SUV ownership isn’t exactly cheap. This well kept example has a listed buy it now price of $16,500.

MP3: Black Flag – Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie

They probably fell apart after the third mile of your hike, but for $16.88? Not bad, I suppose. And that “speed lacing” system really looks like it’d save you a lot of time..

Unfortunately for all of us, PicWay was bought out by Payless in the early 90s.

Tentsmiths:

Colonel Townsend Whelen, noted hunter and outdoor writer, designed a tent he called the “hunter’s lean-to” in 1925.  David Abercrombie ( of the old Abercrombie & fitch fame) manufactured the style  and marketed it as the “Whelen Lean-to”.  It has been called the Whelen ever since, Colonel Whelen, as a devout minimalist,  hardly believed in tents for shelter at all.  He wished to be as close to his natural surroundings as was possible and practical.  The Colonel considered this design, which almost has the appearance of half a tent, more than adequate for anything short of -20 degrees or severe bugs.  With a sloped rear roof, slanted and splayed sides and a short fore roof panel, this tent is a relatively dedicated specialized tarp.  Light and easy to pack.

If you want to read a little bit more about the Whelen Lean-To, which I’m sure you don’t, start on page 80 of Bradford Angier’s  Basic Wilderness Survivial Skills. And don’t forget to check out Conway, New Hampshire’s Tentsmiths, who make a large array of “authentic period tents” like The Forester, first used by Daniel Beard, founder of the Sons of Daniel Boone in 1905, which later merged with the Boy Scouts of America.

There’s not much talk of “product” around these parts, but after seeing the Shelter Shirts from Topo Designs, it was too hard to resist. And to sweeten the deal on an already great long sleeve t-shirt (a personal favorite style of mine that usually comes in the ubiquitous “I just finished a race in the 1984!” thrift store variety), the Trail, A-Frame, and Geodome prints are all on Jungmaven shirts, which means 60% hemp and 40% organic cotton made here in the United States of America.

My one complaint? No Lean-To print. Hint hint.

MP3: Neil Young – I’m the Ocean

Thanks to Netflix, I’ve been spending a lot of time watching and/or listening to How It’s Made as of late. A few of them are Cold Splinters friendly (whatever that means), so there’s sardines, harmonicas, snowshoes, and Swiss Army knives after the jump. Because really, what else do you need on a winter camping trip? Nothing. The answer is nothing.

(more…)

In the midst of buying the car that has since shuttled me around New England for the last couple of years, I went back and forth about what it was that I wanted and needed. I couldn’t pull the trigger on a truck: Not nice to my friends. I test drove and salivated over a Dodge Raider (the same as a 2 door Montero), but knew that if I ever wanted to make it to the Kancamagus, I’d have to put in a very pretty penny. The teenager in me imagined taking the top off of an old 4Runner, but those dreams died when I realized I’d have nowhere to put it once it was off. The car that really drove me bonkers was the Toyota Tercel SR5, a car that can still often be seen around town, only noticed if you’re actually looking for it. Yes, they’re sort of ugly, but there’s something about those boxy 4WD wagons (AMC Eagle, Subaru Outback) that just strike a chord. Call me weird…

I didn’t end buying the Tercel (but always still looking…) and went with a 1999 Subaru Impreza Sport instead. I don’t regret that choice for a second – that car has been one of the best purchases of my young life – but after passing a Tercel this weekend parked on a lonely country road, I couldn’t resist getting out and drooling. Probably not a car that most of you feel the same way about, which is very, very understandable, but we all have our Wish List, right?

Hope everyone had a great holiday weekend.

MP3: Erroll Garner – She’s Funny That Way

MP3: Frank Sinatra – Sleep Warm

Tomorrow, November 17th, marks the official start to Penfield’s “Race For the Summit,” an online treasure hunt that celebrates one of their original and classic styles, the Summit Down Insulated Jacket. Starting on the Penfield homepage, twitter, and Facebook, clues will lead you on an online trail (of which Cold Splinters will be a part of) culminating in the final clue to be given out on December 15th, 2011. Watch out for two clues a week, one on Tuesday and one on Thursday. Lots of prizes to be won, including the first prize, a one-off, custom-made ‘Race For The Summit’ premim down insulated parka (pictured above). In preparation, go on over to Penfield and register yourself so you can actually participate. Good luck and stay tuned for more updates.

All above are for sale on Etsy or Ebay. Have at it.

This week’s CS-penned Outside column, “From The Lean-To,” is all about Portland, Oregon’s Poler, making “camping stuff” for those of us who enjoy some of those good ol’ quiet camp vibes. Read the article here then go buy yourself a Napsack.