Mountain Men
Who were the mountain Men?
Mountain men were trappers and explorers who roamed the North American Rocky
Mountains from about 1810 to the early 1840s. Although primarily of Canadian or
American origin, mountain men were of many ethnic, social and religious
backgrounds. These men were primarily motivated by profit, trapping beaver and
selling the skins, although some were more interested in exploring the West.
An approximate 3,000 men ranged the mountains in the window between
1820 and 1840, the peak beaver harvesting period. While there were many free
trappers, most mountain men were employed by fur companies. The life of a
company man was almost militarized. The men had mess groups, hunted and trapped
in brigades and always reported to the head of the trapping party.
The mountain men were pioneers in charting the unknown territory west of the frontier. They found passes across the mountains and were familiar with the perils that could be found along the trails. After the decline in the fur trade, many mountain men became guides for those making the journey across the Plains to California or joined the army as scouts and guides. By the mid 1840s most of the routes to the west were well traveled and
the guides' main role was to help travelers to survive the harsh conditions and handle encounters with the Indians.
Mountain men were trappers and explorers who roamed the North American Rocky
Mountains from about 1810 to the early 1840s. Although primarily of Canadian or
American origin, mountain men were of many ethnic, social and religious
backgrounds. These men were primarily motivated by profit, trapping beaver and
selling the skins, although some were more interested in exploring the West.
An approximate 3,000 men ranged the mountains in the window between
1820 and 1840, the peak beaver harvesting period. While there were many free
trappers, most mountain men were employed by fur companies. The life of a
company man was almost militarized. The men had mess groups, hunted and trapped
in brigades and always reported to the head of the trapping party.
The mountain men were pioneers in charting the unknown territory west of the frontier. They found passes across the mountains and were familiar with the perils that could be found along the trails. After the decline in the fur trade, many mountain men became guides for those making the journey across the Plains to California or joined the army as scouts and guides. By the mid 1840s most of the routes to the west were well traveled and
the guides' main role was to help travelers to survive the harsh conditions and handle encounters with the Indians.