Adventure Magazine Cover — page 195: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Ask Adventure Flivvering through Mexico ACTUS and bear-grass don’t make the best paving-materials in the world for a road that isn’t there anyway: Question: —“If a person were to leave any given point in Texas, driving a Ford ‘whoopie,’ make it to say Guaymas or Empalme, and then tum south, time being no object, how far would he get? What I mean is as to road conditions? Is it possible to traverse the length of Mexico, and if so, can a man go still farther? Would it be possible to carry gas enough to make it from one base of supplies to another? I am figuring on putting in a thirty-gallon gas- tank to replace the ordinary ten-gallon Ford tank. I would be dependent on no one but myself to make . car repairs, and would be able to camp at any spot I chose and take down the engine and go over it if necessary. The big question with me is, how far would the roads be passable? Could a man enjoy hunting and fishing to any extent along the way? Would I go through any bad snake country, or would I have to make pro- vision against them? I used to think that a good hair rope was ample. Would it be enough for the snakes in question? , Would I meet up with anything like the Gila monster? I once woke up and found one cuddled up against my leg, and I sure rose up in the morning air and did a quick job of shucking my blanket.’”’— Davin L. Mar, Caddo, Texas. Answer, by Mr. Whiteaker:—Your letter was received a few days ago and I will say in reply that you would have some pretty hard going if you attempted such a trip as your letter shows. The roads are nothing to figure on except near the towns. There are some good roads near cities as there are many autos down there, and the roads have been impreved. Out in the rural districts the roads are net much more than paths. The Mexican two-wheel carts are narrow gage, so the roads are built, where they are built, accord- ingly. The country is very rough as most mountainous countries are, so the tires would not last long after being cut with the rocks and jabbed with cacti and Spanish daggers or bear-grass. Every shrub in that section is covered with thorns. Such a trip as you contemplate making could be done if, as you say time is no object, you have the time and money to spare; but for my part I would rather make it on horseback or by walking than run the risk of breaking down in the desert far from water, inhabitants, or food. The question of gas would not be a hard one to solve, as you could get that in most of the towns of any size. Gasoline evaporates rapidly in the desert air, and the larger the container the more rapidly. There is plenty of game on the route you out- line, but you would run the risk of being arrested or likely shot by ruralists if found with firearms. That is a new order that has recently gone into effect. The Government is trying to stamp out the guerrillas, and all found with weapons that haven’t a right to carry them are to be treated as bandits. They are getting strict over the border lately. Another thing will be passports, which in the 189 past were hardly ever thought of but now are very important. The snakes are not so bad except on water- courses, where they hide in the grass. You would not have to sleep on the ground anyway. A hair rope is good protection. 3 The Gila monster is found in that country as well as in Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico; but you may not meet up with any, and if you do they would run from you. Their bite is not often fatal to man. It would be better to have an extra tank than 2 Se in such a large one. Accidents happen to anks, Moose Territory of Canada 4 iets big brutes are running wild in New Brunswick and northern Ontario; but to Mr. Sangster’s mind the best shooting is in northwestern Quebec, unless we go to the extreme West—northern British Colum- bia or the Alaska region: Question: —“A party of three of us are contem- plating a big-game hunting-trip into Canada, es- pecially for moose, and I wish you would state where in your opinion is the best moose territory we can go to.” —F. W. Curran, Gloversville, N. Y. Answer, by Mr. Sangster:—Where is the best moose territory in Canada? That is a question you will have a difference of opinion on, but few have the qualification of experience to fermulate an opinion fairly on this. The writer has hunted the best of New Bruns- wick and of northern Ontario and Quebec. I unre- servedly state northwestern Quebec is today the pick of territory for successful meose-hunting. The reasons outstanding are: a. The game is there in abundance. I believe there are more moose and a bigger average of even, heavy heads than New Brunswick can produce. b. The open season affords the proper hunting- period, when moose are rutting and the waters not frozen up. Ontario has moose in abundance in the north also, but the powers that be have seen fit to keep the season closed until late October, when call- ing is over and the waterways are liable to freeze-up. New Brunswick’s season is being shortened, I un- derstand; but N. B. has been hunted for many years, and her game supply is restricted and areas are lim- ited, which warrant more stringent laws. c. Here are a few actual facters that lead one to hold to favoring northwestern Quebec. The writer has taken in 1917, 1918 and 1921, a series of movies of moose on these areas in Summer-time. He has seen as high as 47 moose in two days within ten miles of a stretch of waters. In two hours he has seen as high as 18 moose. In 1921 29 sportsmen hunting here bagged 23 meose and six bear, which is a very high percentage. Mere bulls are seen, and a bigger run of massive “basket” heads than any other area has produced within the past four years anyway. The territory its immense, and the breed- ing-ground as a consequence is far bigger than the eastern, older-hunted areas. The writer has an organization in the Abitibi region, northwestern Quebec, covering 1,100 square miles; and a return for five years as checked against COnniclboooks