In the 1800s, mountain men were an important part of society. These mountain men were trappers, hunters, fur traders, and nature lovers. As a country, we owe these mountain men of the past a great debt. Much of what we have learned and know about animals and certain species, even certain areas of our country were all discovered by mountain men. Due to the great debt we owe mountain men, different agencies and organizations around the country have paid homage to these brave men by holding a ‘Mountain Man Rendezvous’ annually. This gathering is actually a reenactment of the original mountain men rendezvous that were held between 1825 and1840. These original rendezvous were held in St. Louis, which required some of the mountain men to travel for as long as three months one-way. Their dedication level was phenomenal.
Tough Guys
Furs and leathers have always been in demand and very difficult, and often dangerous, to get. As the demand increased, along with the fashions that required furs and leathers, more and more men stepped forward to embrace the mountain man lifestyle and become fur finders. In the 1820s, a company posted an ad, asking for brave young men to enter their employ for a period of time ranging from 1 to 3 years. This company, the Henry-Ashley Trading Co, had originally intended for their men to be up the Missouri river; however, the threat from Native American Indians was so high that the company decided to send their men to the Rockies instead.
The rendezvous was born from the idea to supply the Rocky mountain men with their needed provisions and then to have them meet for trading once a year. At that meeting, the trappers would receive their wages for the entire year.
Due to industry changes, the mountain man era was short-lived and by the late 1830s they were no longer needed. These men had learned to make do with what nature provided, to live off the land, and to navigate tough terrain. These skills were highly valued so some of these men actually became scouts and guides. Their trading routes blazed the path for the Oregon Trail. The brave, tough men lived among wild animals, fought with the Indians and died in the frontier. They were the first Americans to explore certain areas of Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, and Utah.
Rendezvous Today
The rendezvous of today are very different from the rendezvous of the past. Although many of them are held in the same location as the legendary ones of the past, they are still extremely different. We have cell phones, we have sturdy shoes, we have warmer clothes, we have food that is easier to make, the list could honestly go on and on. A Mountain Man Rendezvous is a gathering in which people can go and pay homage and celebrate these brave men who pioneered the way for US Expansion and many other things we now enjoy. It is a way to learn more about our history.
Rebecca Shanks has written on a variety of subjects. Everything from great family vacation destinations to the best core drilling Salt Lake City has to offer. She enjoys spending time with her husband and son, writing, reading, horseback riding, and bowling, in that order.
