“I defy the annals of chivalry to furnish the record of a life more wild and perilous than that of a Rocky Mountain trapper.”
–Francis Parkman
It’s rendezvous time and all around the West reenactment organizations or “buckskinners” are finishing preparations for a shining time around the campfire. Participating in rendezvous has been a source of inspiration, frustration and some of the best times, I’ve known.
There are those who find recreating history to be odd, silly and maybe even just plain dumb or a waste of time and money. However, at rendezvous, I have learned more about history, men and nature then could ever be taught in either a class or boardroom.
The life of a mountain man or fur trapper was hard – there weren’t many that died of old age – because the very nature of their life brought them face to face with death on a regular basis. Of course for those that survived to tell the tales, these adventures became the stuff of legend.
The tradition of a rendezvous grew out of a need for the trappers to exchange pelts for supplies, and quickly grew into a month long revelry with trappers, travelers, women, children, Indians and company men joining in.
Mountain Man, James Beckworth, claimed there was “mirth, songs, dancing shouting, trading, running, jumping, singing, racing, target-shooting, yarns, frolic, with all sorts of extravagances that white men or Indians could invent.”
Today’s rendezvous are similar – we compete, we trade, we tell tall tales, we learn from each other and we have a good time. Conditions are primitive – no electronics, no RV’s, no refrigeration, no running water – and it’s easy to find yourself transported back in time, where things might have been simpler, but they certainly weren’t easier.
And yes, I handcrafted all my goods and clothing… from the brain tanned leather, to the beading and quillwork, along with my muzzleloader. What I didn’t make, I traded for, just as the original mountain men did.
So, are you ready for shining times around the campfire?
Great post, outstanding work on the clothing, etc. Enjoyed this!!
Thanks. I’m definitely prepared to live back in the 19th century. 🙂
Thank you liking a recent post on my site. I have to say that your own is very interesting! I look forward to making my way thru it.
On a sidenote, I grew up with the show The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams in the 1970s and have always thought that the moral lessons in that show were important (especially in how to relate to nature)….not sure if there is anything comparable to that on television now. That series is now available on DVD and you may be interested in a post I did that provided some analysis of the show:
http://westernsreboot.com/2012/11/06/grizzly-adams-returns-classic-series-now-on-dvd/
All the best,
Chad
Thanks. I remember Grizzly Adams very well. It was a family favorite and did have some great moral lessons. I’ll be sure to check out that post and others.
Trapper Gale
What a wonderful story. I like the photos too. Thank you for visiting, and the like on Sleepy Thoughts.
Thanks and your welcome!