Aliases and Outfits
One of the unique aspects of DGS approved Period Credible Photographic Hiking Expeditions is the requirement placed on costuming. Each participant is required to adopt an alias/persona appropriate to a character or profession of the late 19th Century/early 20th Century, an Explorer, Adventurer, Scientist, or an appropriate character from fiction. Their outfit is then developed accordingly. Many event participants gain more enjoyment from the ‘costuming’ aspect of our activity than from the gruelling, debilitating hikes, themselves. Regardless of a DGS member’s individual area of interest, DGS events provide regular opportunities for fellowship and fun with like-minded folks and families.
Choosing an Alias
Every DGS member is required to select a shooting alias representative of a character or profession from the Golden Age of Adventure or the adventure film genre. You’re alias should not in anyway duplicate or easily be confused with any other member’s alias. The following guideline should help you in choosing an alias:
Your alias must be printable before a wide audience. No duplications are permitted. If it sounds the same, it is the same. Adding “too,” “II,” etc., is not acceptable. “Ranger” could become “Texas Ranger” but not “The Ranger.” “John Henry Chisum” could be modified to “Jack Chisum” but not “John H. Chisum” or “Jon Henry Chisum.” Actual historical names may not be used or modified to make them different. “Teddy Roosevelt” and “Col. Theodore Roosevelt” are considered the same.
The DGS Alias Registry (could, one day, in the distant future) change daily. Feel free to search the current alias list then telephone or fax the SASS office to confirm the availability of your alias choice. Be creative and good luck!
Historical Firearms (real and replica) [Coming Soon!]
Cowboy Action shooting is a multi-faceted shooting sport in which contestants compete with firearms typical of those used in the taming of the Old West: single action revolvers, pistol caliber lever action rifles, and old time shotguns. The shooting competition is staged in a unique, characterized, “Old West” style. It is a timed sport in which shooters compete for prestige on a course of different shooting stages.
Each scenario, as they are called, features an array of situations, many based on famous incidents or movies scenes, in which the shooters must test their mettle against steel targets.
It’s Martini Time.
Spirit of the Game
As the ‘game’ of adventuring has evolved; our members have developed and adopted an attitude towards their participation called “The Spirit of the Game.” It is a code by which we live. Participating in the DGS means you fully participate in “The Spirit of the Game”. You try your best to dress the part, use the appropriate gear, kit, and outfit, and respect the traditions of the Golden Age of Adventure. Some folks would call it nothing more than good sportsmanship. We call it “Spirit of the Game.”
Questions? Feel free to ask any of the individuals listed on this website as “contacts.” If they are unable to answer your question, they will keep working at it until they do. Thanks for listening, and Happy Adventuring!
[PAUL’s NOTES: creating believable fiction for photographic purposes is a main bent of the group, or is that just a special feature of the DGS? We should have differently able folks joining. Hmmm, I know all the reenactment groups have uniform guidelines and maybe that’s something to consider at some point. I was looking at the Alberta S***** A**********, or whatever they are called, and they were out there blasting dinosaurs with their disintegrator beams, and one of the oafs had these horrible Reeboks on, that completely screwed the photos. Maybe the idea that we should strive for camera authenticity should be included. I don’t care if the riding boots Lord Swindon is wearing are artificial leather, as long as they read LEGIT. Know what I’m sayin?]
*MacGuffins:
Sometimes a hike seems pointless without a goal. Here at the Dominion Geographic Society we like to mount EXPEDITIONS! Expeditions for scientific discovery, exploration, or treasure hunting. The goal of an expedition can also be an abstract or legitimate McGuffin. (Click this for a definition of McGuffin) We do need Expedition McGuffins, like, say
a lost Ark of the Covenant, old pottery (like a clay chalice) famous historical people used, or some magic rocks or alien bones here and there. This is the one and only place our ‘reality’ based Spirit of the Game can bend a bit, but just a bit! For instance, our Pillar of Darkness expeditions were mounted to discover, essentially, a magic 300 year old icicle – thought by local natives to be imbued with supernatural powers. This part is actually true and historically documented. And there really is a giant year round icicle and giant wall of ice inside this cave. The legend has since expanded to “If one licks the Pillar of Darkness (the Icicle), one will receive Luck, Wealth, Knowledge, or Instant Death. Fortune Decides”. And the icicle is real, folks. Weird stuff existed in Late Victorian/Edwardian times. There were submarines during the American Civil War, and reports of Yetis and sea monsters persist to this day. But no ray guns and no useless gears as decorations. We’re just not that kind of group.
Though safaris fit right in to our group, hunting is not a part of the DGS. IT MUST BE NOTED THAT THE TERM ‘DOMINION‘ DOES NOT REFER TO ANY EMPIRE OR IMPERIALISM, NOR TO THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH, BUT RATHER TO THE DOMINION OF THE EARTH AND ALL ITS PEOPLES.
For more information or to sign up as a member, email us at: pallisercity@gmail.com or puuiki@puuikibeach.com