This is funny... I was asked to write up short blurb in the historical society monthly newsletter about a photo I recently researched. I sent the text to the editor and apparently his spell check made a minor, yet funny and provocative, change. The sentence should read:
"A collie dog frisks with a gaiter-clad woman on the ground while her friends look on in amusement"
Instead it was published as....
For clarification, this is gaiter-clad:
and this is garter-clad
It is a little known fact that "gaiters" got their name about this time.
In the 1930s, hikers in Oregon were frequently bitten by the dreaded mountain alligator. Fortunately, these 'gaters were only about six inches long and could not bite much higher than a person's ankle, but still many ankle injuries occurred. As pictured in the previous post, tourniquets made of lace (commonly carried by Oregonians at the time) applied at mid-thigh could stop the ankle bleeding, but many feet were lost to mountain alligator bites.
Eventually, hikers on outings in the mountains started wearing protective wraps on their feet to protect themselves. These wraps became known as "general alligator interference to ensure relative safety," which for some reason was shortened to "gaiters."
Sadly, it wasn't long until the mountain alligator, deprived of its natural prey of Oregonian ankles, quickly became extinct, not even leaving a fossil record.
I'd sure like to see a stuffed mountain gator.
Oh, wait. I meant garter.
Seems a bit risque:bored:
People are strange.
Gromaticus, post: 361546, member: 597 wrote: It is a little known fact that "gaiters" got their name about this time.
That's a spot on history of the gaiter's development. One old fashioned tradition that lives on stems from the following fact:
Gromaticus, post: 361546, member: 597 wrote: tourniquets made of lace (commonly carried by Oregonians at the time) applied at mid-thigh could stop the ankle bleeding
To pay homage to our proud, rugged history, we still wear these tourniquets when hiking as shown in the original post photo of my legs prior to 15 mile trek into the wilderness.
Kevin Samuel, post: 361561, member: 96 wrote: Seems a bit risque:bored:
People are strange.
Not all that risky. (oh...wait.)
Gromaticus, post: 361546, member: 597 wrote: It is a little known fact that "gaiters" got their name about this time.
In the 1930s, hikers in Oregon were frequently bitten by the dreaded mountain alligator. Fortunately, these 'gaters were only about six inches long and could not bite much higher than a person's ankle, but still many ankle injuries occurred. As pictured in the previous post, tourniquets made of lace (commonly carried by Oregonians at the time) applied at mid-thigh could stop the ankle bleeding, but many feet were lost to mountain alligator bites.
Eventually, hikers on outings in the mountains started wearing protective wraps on their feet to protect themselves. These wraps became known as "general alligator interference to ensure relative safety," which for some reason was shortened to "gaiters."
Sadly, it wasn't long until the mountain alligator, deprived of its natural prey of Oregonian ankles, quickly became extinct, not even leaving a fossil record.
I don't know, it sounds like a fairy tale....That may be how they got their name, but I call BS on the alligator lizards actually biting ankles.
We have alligator lizards here in Northern California and they can be intimidating (yet harmless) if harassed.
When not harassed, they are very docile and you can pick them up. It does take a little bit a bravery because they kind of look like a combination of a snake and an alligator. Here is a baby one I found in a house a few years back. Kind of a cool metallic gold color.
All grown up.
They are fairly common around here. I found a young one last weekend while clearing brush.
imaudigger, post: 361654, member: 7286 wrote: I don't know, it sounds like a fairy tale....
No, it's true, I swear! It has to be - I heard it from a realtor...
Gromaticus, post: 361672, member: 597 wrote: No, it's true, I swear! It has to be - I heard it from a realtor...
That's funny - but they are actually kind of scary when a large one starts to race off in the wrong direction (towards you).
If you piss them off, they snap their jaws like an alligator.....wait a minute, maybe I do believe your story.
Found one for you.....
Sometimes they win...
Sometimes they lose....
