Members in the Walk-Back Bar at Halley-Burton Outfitters, Bulawayo, 1899.
In a nutshell:
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 grueling, 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.
Original Dominion Geographic Society Members, 1915
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.” We’ll repeat: Close Enough™ certainly counts as we aim to make this all-inclusive and not just for the rich kids who can afford $800 explorer boots. As long as it reads properly or decently on camera, it should be just fine.
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!
J.K. “Jackal” Halley-Burton, searching for Mokèlé-mbèmbé in Congo Free State, 1907.
Lady Candace in a traditional Mayan home, Yucatan, 1915.
Jim Hatzell, Dakota Territory, date unknown
Prof. Davis P. Beache somewhere in Utah, circa 1916
*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, some magic rocks, alien bones, exotic butterflies, or unknown birds, 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.
Another thing worth mentioning, if you mount your own expedition, knock about 100 years off the current date in your expedition title. We date them in the event of return excursions, you know, to keep track, whot?
Additional thoughts: 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.