JessButtery
Even though they are known for their famous wooden boats and canoes, the Adirondack Guideboat Museum (now called the Adirondack Experience) has lots of historical exhibits pertaining to the Adirondacks. Here were some very old and still sturdy Adirondack Pack Baskets. They were used in all the canoes and hiking through the Adirondacks in the 1800’s and 1900’s until the nylon pack came about. When the pack basket is lined with canvas or plastic, the basket will easily float downstream or to the nearest shoreline with your gear instead of sinking. The loop of wood on the back allow it to be hung up on a nail or tree to be off of the ground.
They were mainly made of hand split brown ash wood and the leather straps were used to hold the basket on your shoulders as you carried it on portages.
