Category Archives: Mountain Man Rendezvous

The Itch

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Itches, we’ve all had them. They can be little tiny ones that barely register as an itch. Or great big huge ones that take over your whole life for a moment, or somewhere in between. If you’ve ever had one of those plaster casts they used to use in the last century when you busted your whatever, you probably have a good idea what an itch is. In fact you’re probably one of those that bent a coat hanger just right so it would slide down between the cast and your affected part so you could get at it and scratch like the devil. Even though you knew you shouldna done it. You done it. Any price was reasonable when you could scratch that one place that was driving you nuts.

I think it is pretty safe to say that mountain men had their share of itches. And being the resourceful souls they were they quickly figured out how to get them scratched. Some of them had a favorite scratching stick they carried along in their possibles bag that they had whittled during non-scratching times, just in case the scratching thing came up they wouldn’t be caught flat-footed.

Other’s, the deep thinkers, the more inventive mountain men, developed special ways to get the job done. Now we’re not saying that this scratcher deliberately went out and killed this bear to satisfy his scratching needs, in fact the bear may have been in the act of doing some scratching to him as sort of a volunteer action before it was killed. If so it wasn’t a great leap to figure out that his hide would make a good scratching vehicle in times of need, but also keep him warm at night. And look awfully darn good too.

Mountain men are more than admirable figures. They had to solve a lot of life’s problems on the fly anyway they could, so if they could get the job done and look good doing it that was even better. If you went to the 81st Green River Rendezvous at Pinedale, Wyoming, there were a bunch of them there. Mountain men that is. They’re just downright cool. Ask any one of them.

Faces of Ft. Bridger Rendezvous

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ren·dez·vous
ˈrändəˌvo͞o,ˈrändāˌvo͞o/
noun
 1.
a meeting at an agreed time and place, typically between two people.
verb 1.  
  1.  to meet at an agreed time and place. Let’s rendezvous

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When the mountain men were working the Rockies during the early 1800’s they would trap all winter and when Spring came they would meet or rendezvous with all of their fellow trappers at a prearranged place and celebrate getting through another year, having mostly kept their hair. This meant carousing, and drinking, and having competitions, raising hell and finally selling their bales of hides and resupplying for the next year.

If you were a trapper and mountain man you didn’t miss rendezvous and the biggest and the best was the one at Ft. Bridger. Well it’s about 185 years later and the rendezvous is still going strong and held at the original site where Ft. Bridger stood. The image above shows some of the buildings from the old fort. The rainbow was to let everyone know that this was going to be the granddaddy of all rendezvous. So hang on it’s going to be a wild ride.

Even if you had the patience to sit through all the  pictures taken at this years rendezvous (there were thousands) there wouldn’t be room to display them all so I’m going to show some of the highlights and the faces that made up this years rendezvous. There’ll be  a minimum of text about each one to let you see the fun and excitement in all it’s glory.

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As you enter there is always a friendly face to greet you

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There were kids playing

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Old Time skills being passed along

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People standing in line to get food

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and catching up on the latest gossip.

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The soldiers from the fort were there as were mountain men in all their splendor

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And those who had seen it all before

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There were grumpy ones who were really friendly ones in disguise

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Happy ones enjoying everything to its fullest

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Serious ones that looked you right in the eye

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Drovers and bull whackers

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Those who showed off their own handiwork

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Leaders and guides

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Mountain men who lived with the Indians

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There were many types of head-gear. And then there were the ladies

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Sitting in their wide skirts talking about whatever ladies in wide skirts talk about

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Some ladies sold bonnets

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There were pretty ones with gorgeous smiles

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and some who wore big hats and lacy bodices

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And those who wore bloomers just because it was fun

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Some wore bustles

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There were Indian women in their very finest, wearing ermine and beads10-06-16ftbridge3307

Some wearing the Pony Soldier’s uniforms brought home to them as spoils of war

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There were law ponies just in case someone needed rounding up

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The camp was laid out in a neat and orderly fashion under some threatening clouds

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There’s always a flag flying, usually many of them

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Waiting for dinner

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It’s chicken. Dutch oven chicken. You could smell it a mile away. That’s how I found it, following my nose. Each piece worth a five dollar gold piece.

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How to keep ashes out of your nose. Use this long tube to blow on the embers and get them going again.

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As the day wore down the kids kept cool catching crawfish in the creek

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Towards evening they broke out the fiddles and guitars and the dance started

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Later there were sing-along’s around the campfire

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Then as the sun set and the moon rose there was quiet throughout the camp. Tomorrow’s another day

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But very importantly there is Mike Larson who quietly and tirelessly worked behind the scenes to make all this happen. Good job, Mike.

81st Green River Rendezvous

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The 81st Green River Rendezvous was held in Pinedale Wyoming last July 7th thru July 10th and what a get together it was. There were Traders at Traders row that had Mountain Man paraphernalia for sale, a Midway with vendors and food sellers of all types, a parade with everybody that could fit into it that was two hours long! There was a rodeo at the rodeo grounds that was as exciting as any you could go to, and a pageant Sunday morning that told the story of the Rendezvous with local actors and horses and wagons and everyone in character and regalia from the time of the first rendezvous. Pictured above is one of the participants in the parade who was also a featured actor in the Sunday morning Pageant. This was all good stuff. Spectacular in fact.

For those of you who do not know what a rendezvous is, it was a gathering of the Mountain Men after their trapping season was finished for the year. They brought their pelts, usually beaver, to the rendezvous to sell to the traders and obtain the goods and supplies they would need for the next year’s trapping season. It was also the time they had to have an epic blowout, carousing, drinking, raising hell of all types in particular, to let off steam from the previous trapping season. These men waited all year to have this one big party that had to last them to the following year where they got to do it again, unless of course they ‘went under’ or ‘lost their har’ to whichever enemy happened to be around. It was a tough life and for some this party made it all worthwhile.

Another huge part of this Rendezvous was the encampment of the American Mountain Man group that was held on a grassy area next to the Mountain Man Museum. These folks are the real deal. Everything they do is authentic from making their own clothes and gear, to the tents and teepee’s  they sleep in. Some of the participants of this encampment have been featured in Articles in the National Geographic magazine and numerous other publications and media where authenticity was required. This encampment was worth the price of admission alone. Of course there was no admission charge, the entire weekend was free except for a couple of things like the rodeo ($7.00 ! Cheap at twice the price) and the pageant ($5.00 !). This was a tremendous event to attend and if you ever are in the area when this event is held, drop what you’re doing and get yourself to Pinedale, Wyoming for the time of your life.

We will be posting more images and stories about the Green River Rendezvous as time goes on. Stay tuned  and check back often for more information about the Incredible Green River Rendezvous. We have already marked this event on next years calendar. You should too.

He Who Watches

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16th Annual Indian Market and Powwow at  The Fort Restaurant

This past weekend, May 14th and 15th, was the 16th Annual Indian Market and Powwow held at the Fort restaurant in Morrison Colorado. It was an incredible affair with Indian vendors showing off amazing art and jewelry, members of various tribes participating in the accompanying powwow and re-enactors dressed as people of the late 1800’s telling stories of times long past. There were informational exhibits that portrayed life in the 1800’s and various Raptors were on display as well. The fact that the setting included the extraordinary Red Rocks that made this area famous as a backdrop just made a good thing better. All in all an exciting event and a great time was had by all.

Jeremy is one of the re-enactors and greeted those arriving through the main entrance in a welcoming but stoic manner. Mountain men tended to be somewhat taciturn when amongst town folk anyway. They were more comfortable in the high country, but like you and I, came to town occasionally to see the sights. Costumes of the period were extremely well done as were the regalia worn by the powwow participants.  This is an extremely interesting gathering and the atmosphere and architecture of The Fort Restaurant is more than worth the trip itself. Especially if you get to order one their Buffalo Burgers.

Over the next few weeks we will be bringing you more images of the Powwow and other events from the Tesoro Indian Market and Powwow featuring Powwow participants from the various tribes that attended and other events that took place. Over 50 tribes were represented plus drum groups and singers to round out the festivities, so there was plenty to see, hear and enjoy.

If you get a chance to attend this event make sure you do, you don’t want to miss experiencing this spectacular event held at the Fort Restaurant. Even if the Indian Market is not happening treat yourself to a wonderful meal. It’s worth the trip.