Heirarchy of Mountain Men and the Rise of Their Legend

     The man who chose to take up the rugged endeavor of fur trapping in America’s western frontiers was a man who looked to make his own way. While characterized as a single spirit, he often traveled with his company sponsored group. There were three types of mountain men. The most common were the “Engages”; these were men who received all of their supplies and their wages from fur companies such as the American Fur Company or the Rocky Mountain Fur Company. All of the furs these men collected were considered assets to the company for the debt of the gear and the man’s pay. The “Skin Trappers” were slightly higher in the social framework of the mountain man. These men were outfitted by a certain company but had struck a deal allowing the fur company a set percentage of the pelts harvested to pay back the cost of the company’s equipment. The “Skin Trapper” was then able to sell the rest of the years’ pelts for his own profit. At the pinnacle of the social network of mountain men were the “free trappers”. These men outfitted themselves and they were the only mountain men without a company holding his leash. He was free to trap where he liked with whomever he liked, taking the profits and the risks himself.[1]

 The Birth of a Legend and the Ending of an Age

     The age of the mountain man was a short one. Demand for the beaver pelts dropped dramatically by 1834. The beavers, once so plentiful in the rivers and streams, were nearly extinct. The fashion trends that demanded them found a new “must-have of the season” in silk, using it for the hats and other accessories the beaver pelts were prized for. Prices plummeted as fast as the demands did, falling by over half in only one year.[2]

     Roles for the mountain man were changing as well. More and more people were looking to the American West as a place of great adventure and new beginnings. Wagon trains needed direction and pioneers need a leader. The mountain man turned guide was in high demand, able to keep his wild spirit of adventure and his lifestyle. A few would have stayed with their wife’s native family, keeping the tradition of caring for her family. Some men, however, came from the mountains to reenter society. A few had the means to do so but many had only their stories.[3]

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[1] Emily Zimmerman, "The Fur Trade: 'Beaver Powered Mountaineering," The Mountain Men: Pathfinders of the West, accessed December 6, 2011, http://xroads.virginia.edu/~hyper/hns/mtmen/furtrade.html.

[2] Emily Zimmerman, "The Fur Trade: 'Beaver Powered Mountaineering," The Mountain Men: Pathfinders of the West, accessed December 6, 2011, http://xroads.virginia.edu/~hyper/hns/mtmen/furtrade.html.

[3] Osborn Russell, Journal of a Trapper: A Hunter's Rambles Among the Wild
Regions of the Rocky Mountains (n.p.: Fine Communications , 1997).
Grand Teton Photo Credit: Grand Teton Park, Destination 360, http://www.destination360.com/north-america/us/wyoming/grand-teton-national-park

The Museum of the Moutain Man, Pinedale, Wyoming

     On October 28, 2011 I had the wonderful opportunity to visit the Museum of the Mountain Man in Pinedale, Wyoming. The entire museum and its grounds are dedicated to the life of the mountain man, the Native Americans that assisted in the fur trade, and the time when the beavers in the Rocky Mountain Rivers were wearing dollar signs for pelts.  There is an indescribable feeling when one looks at the actual tools that were used during this time. Just hearing that one had to carry his existence on his back does not do the fact justice the way that seeing the actual pack loaded with tools and traps does.

     The museum is covered in wild animal mounts; elk are proudly mounted on the walls while a full body mounts of a bear and a mountain lion grace the floors. There are beautiful samples of Indian beaded jackets, shoes, and pants. Traps that were oiled, baited, and set by the men hunting the thick coated beavers are on display; these traps were so well taken care of that few of them carry traces of rust. A full sized tepee and a replica camp are set up for the visitor to enjoy along with a canoe that traveled the water routes of its captain over one hundred years ago.

     It was an amazing experience to visit the Museum of the Mountain Man. To be able to see real artifacts from the time period and to be surrounded with a taste of some of the sights and sounds that would have made up a mountain man’s everyday was a tactile experience that does not translate well to text but was well worth the trip.[1]

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[1] "Mountain man museum," Pinedale, Wyoming, October 28, 2011.

Tools of the Trade

Imagine, if you will. You have made the decision to move out into the wilderness with the intent of finding and making your fortune. What will you take to ensure your survival? What will you take to make our trip easier? Remember that whatever supplies you choose you will have to carry yourself or put onto a pack animal that brings its own needs. Whether you decide to bring an animal or strike it out alone, everything that you need to survive will either be found in the forests or bought from town. What would you choose?

     Livestock was among the first choice for novice mountain men. The decision was based on many things; the first being if such a beast was already owned or if it had to be purchased. Pack animals such as horses and mules were advantageous because they enabled the mountain man to pack more provisions in and more furs out. The animals could also be ridden allowing for much more ground to be covered. These advantages came at a cost, however. Pack animals needed their own feed; roughage could be found along the trial but grains had to be brought along. These animals also could get sick or go lame, leaving the mountain man with enough gear for a mule but no mule to carry it.

     Guns were often carried by the mountain man. The .50 caliber rifle was a black powder gun with enough power to take down a charging grizzly. With a reloading rate of over thirty seconds by an experienced marksman, the man who chose to take such a shot would have to be deadly accurate to make it count. Hand guns were also available at the time, but relied on the same muzzle loading principals as the rifle. The shorter muzzle made them less accurate but they were an asset in close combat. These guns were not as popular with the mountain man as the rifle.

     Knives were always carried by anyone venturing out into the wilderness. They did not have the problems with reloading and unreliability the way that guns did and they were wildly useful for many tasks. Long knives were used for hunting and defense, smaller knives were used for skinning beavers and other fur bearing mammals and dull knives were used to strip the hides of their fat. Household knives were a forgotten luxury; due to their limited usefulness they were often left behind.

     There was quite a bit of other gear that was brought along: flint and steel to make fire, simple lanterns and candles, pipes and tobacco, coffee pots, cups with plates, and personal items. These latter items varied greatly from man to man; some brought tin types of family members, others brought bibles and liquor. Each man put his own personality into his bags with his choices in gear.[1]

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[1] Carl P. Russell, Firearms, Traps, and Tools of the Mountain Men: A Guide to the Equipment of the Trappers and Fur Traders Who Opened the Old West (n.p.: Skyhorse Publishing, 2010).

Gun Picture Credit: http://whitetailwoods.blogspot.com/2011_09_01_archive.html

Gear Picture Credit: http://www.pinedaleonline.com/news/2004/05/Mountainmangear.htm

An Interview with a Modern Mountain Man

     I had the opportunity to talk with a mountain man re-enactor who takes time out of his busy schedule to attend rendezvous re-enactments in character. While this might sound a little odd to some, out here in western Wyoming it is more common than you might think. We have three rendezvous in our area; the Bear River Rendezvous, the Fort Bridger Rendezvous, and the Green River Rendezvous that have quite the turn out. Traditionally speaking, rendezvous were trading camps that gave mountain men the opportunity to resupply and to sell their pelts without having to make the hazardous trip back to the east. The re-enactments that are held today rekindle the spirit of these rowdy camps as they seek to educate and entertain the people of today.

http://youtu.be/yHBiLOrJ838

The video show above is from the University of Wyoming showing and describing a bit of what these rendezvous were and are.

     I was able to interview Mountain Man Pete. Mountain Man Pete is a husband and a father; he has a regular job but he takes time out of his summer to participate in the local rendezvous re-enactments. You would not know it by looking at him that he dresses in leather and plays with tomahawks for a hobby, but he is a very engaging man who cares about preserving the rendezvous.

What exactly is a mountain man re-enactor?

“It’s someone who dresses up in period clothing and sets aside that time to be in the time period of the mountain man. We camp, eat, drink, sleep, and play like the mountain men did during their rendezvous.”

Why do you do it?

“I like to do it because it reminds me to take time to do the things I like. It’s nice to rough it. And I like the games. We throw knives, tomahawks and shoot black powder guns. What is more fun than that? I also like the people. Nearly everyone comes back from year to year and that makes it even better.”
 
What do you wear while you’re at the rendezvous?

“I have a handmade outfit made of leather. That might sound uncomfortable,  but it’s surprisingly soft. I also wear leather moccasins. And a belt; it has my knives and tomahawk hanging on it. Sometimes I wear a cotton shirt and a hat.”

Why do you think it’s important to keep the idea of the rendezvous alive?

“There is something about that time period that speaks to a lot of us out here in the west. A time when a man can take nothing into the west and come back with a fortune. It was a time when a man could make or break himself and the world was at his feet. And let’s face it, it’s when a man could be a man and do just about whatever he pleased. Mighta got him killed, but he could do it without much harm to others. That part of our history needs to be remembered. The mountain man embodies the American spirit.”

There are a lot of costumes out there. Why did you choose yours?

“I’ve seen some pretty crazy stuff. Hell, last year there was this guy walking around in nothing but a loin cloth and some feathers. I mean nothing! That’s not for me. I wear the leather because it’s what a mountain man wore when his store bought clothes wore out. I like them because it’s something that someone made with their own hands and that means a lot. I also like it because it’s comfortable. The leather is really soft. But I do draw the line at underwear.”

Are women and kids allowed to join in the re-enactment?

“Of course they are! It is true that in the real rendezvous there would only be maybe a few prostitutes and probably no kids, but we welcome anyone. Tourists can wear whatever they want, but the re-enactors stay to the time period. Kids and women and men can wear Indian clothing, eastern clothing, pioneer clothing or mountain man clothes. Every year it seems like there are more women and kids coming. That makes it fun. My son likes to come too. He dresses up like a mountain man. But he’s seventeen, so I don’t know if he counts. Back then he would have been a man for years now.”

Do you think that these re-enactments are true to the period?

“We try to. There are people who come in trying to sell fake stuff, but we take care of that pretty easy. Mostly people come and sell handmade, period stuff. It’s pretty cool. And we have demonstrations and talks about different skills like packing a horse or tanning a hide. It can’t be completely to period because we want the public to come so they kinda put a kink in it by not being in character. But I think there is a lot to be learned and it really is a good time. And we don’t drink as much or kill anyone the way that the real rendezvous might have. Oh, and we don’t have the working girls, either. (laughs)”

Thank you for taking the time to talk to me about your mountain man persona. Is there anything else?

“If you haven’t made it to a rendezvous, you should. They are a lot of fun with really great people that are trying to educate and remind people that America has not always been the way it is now and that there is a rich history here, even in the west. They are great for family trips and for a fun couple of days. Come play the games, I’ll teach just about anyone to throw a knife!”[1]

The following is a video from Teton Todd; it is a bit long, but it really shows the Fort Bridger Rendezvous well.

http://youtu.be/XgzcVyGKHOM

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[1] Man, Mountain Pete. Personal Interview, October 18, 2011.

Jedidiah Smith and Rocky Mountain Fur

Not all furs are created equal. In Europe, beavers and other fur bearing animals were going extinct and their fur was meek in comparison to the thick, warm furs grown on the backs of Rocky Mountain beavers. The cold weather and water allows these animals to grow luxurious and coveted furs that are better than those from anywhere else, commanding higher and higher prices. Trapping technologies advance with the coming of cheaper metal traps that are baited with beaver scent glands. The designs are so good that they are still in use today.

Perhaps two of the most popular western adventurers, Lewis and Clark, discovered beavers in the millions throughout the Rockies. They also found that local Indians will trade common goods for the furs readily and easily. By 1823 there were 300 mountain men pusuing these furs in the Rockies. The mortality rate was high; one in five die. Grizzly bears proved to be violent advocaries just as other large carnivores, the cruel weather and the simple fact that to maintain their life style, mountain men must consume at least six thousand calories a day.

Jedediah Smith was one of the most successful trappers in the west. Every year, he walked one thousand miles through the mountains and valleys, trapping six hundred beavers a season. These pelts were equivalent to three years’ worth of pay in the East. Smith is different from other traders as he made a strong effort to work with the natives. In return, they showed him fertile valleys and rivers, nursed his sick men and sold him horses.  Jedediah opened the west; his trails were soon traversed by settlers, then wagons and even now, Interstate 15 follows in Smith’s footsteps.[1]

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[1] The Story of US, History, September 16, 2011.

Jedediah Smith; Photo Credit: http://mojavedesert.net/historical-figures/jedediah-smith.html

I-15 Map; Photo Credit: http://www.i15highway.com/i-15-news/index.html

Fur, fur, fabulous fur!

“The mountain man is one of the most recognizable symbols of the young American West. He represents the dream that people can seek out their destiny through hard work, a little luck, and an abundance of natural resources. We nostalgically look to him to find what many of us seek in our increasingly frenzied world: scenic beauty, individualism, adventure, and freedom. One hundred and fifty years after the heyday of the rendezvous, the landscape of the American West still holds glimpse of the enterprising soul of the mountain man.”[1]

This is the introduction from a book I have picked up for this project and I could not bring myself to try to put it into my own words. The author, Doug Erickson, Head of Special Collections in the Aubrey R. Watzek Library at the Lewis & Clark College put it eloquently. When thinking of the mountain man we feel all these things and more. He is an icon that stands out as we look back at history; he is not the brave soldier or the rich railroad man that perhaps comes to mind as an icon of American history, but he is an icon that appeals to us all as the any man who can make it. As an icon, he stands to give us hope that we can better our lives even if we have to get a little dirty and kill a few bears to get it done.

Furs have been important to humans as far back into history as the term “man” can be used. They have been used to clothe us, keep us warm, and to show status. Furs have been dyed, cut, stitched, and softened into warm wearable symbols of wealth. Kings in England and Scotland ordained that furs were only to be worn by the rich and powerful men and women of the church and courts and that those of lesser stations wore clothes that illustrated their place in the world. To show the world their new status, the newly rich would invest heavily in furs to announce their coming into the higher echelons of society. As time wore on, more and more people demanded furs and while the social bar for wearing them lowered the luxury of the furs did not. Populations of fur wearing people exploded while the populations of fur-bearing animals were dropping drastically. When word came that furs were found aplenty in the New World, the spark of the mountain man was born.[2]

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[1] Fred Gowans, Rocky Mountain Rendezvous (n.p.: Gibbs Smith, 2005), pg. 11.

[2] Eric Dolin, Fur, Fortune and Empire (n.p.: W.W. Norton and Company, 2011), pg. 6-8

Figure 1 Beaver Photo Credit: http://animal.discovery.com/mammals/beaver/

Figure 2 Natalie Clifford by artist Alice Pike Barney. Photo credit: http://www.modeknit.com/2009/06/work-rest-work-play.html

An American History: Mountain Men

              

Living in the mountainous west of Wyoming it is hard to look out any window and not see the vast wildness that, while now more tame, surrounds us. Some places, some valleys, some mountains that appear untouched it is easy to imagine a mountain man checking his traps while he makes his living off the land. In fact, in September, even today it is hard to forget that such men existed as there are reenactments and recreations of the time, traditions and ideals that set the stage for these adventurers abound through my little corner of the world. The mountain man took his life in his hands, he set himself to live by his wits and often to die trying to make the fortunes a few were able to assemble. While not all were successful, this vocation, this rough and ready life style is one that is still dreamed of often.

            I do want to take a moment and thank the readers for taking the time to bear with me as I work through this blogging process. I have done one before, but not on this platform. I chose to do this project on the mountain man because the idea of truly living for yourself off the land is something I find fascinating and there were so many interesting characters in this part of history. Also, admittedly, the Mountain Man Rendezvous was held recently and I love going to see the tools, reenactments, and costumes that people come out with at such events.

            I am still in the process of reading and working through all of my texts to put this together. I will be talking about who the average mountain man was, how he lived and died, the tools he used and his overall fate. I have quite a few books, a few internet sites, some personal experience, and an interview with a mountain man re-enactor and I plan on making a trip to the Mountain Man Museum in Pinedale, WY. I will be fleshing out the paper and adding pictures, hopefully some of my own from the museum and the area.