Brief

The life of a mountain man was hard and most failed to last more than a few years in the wilderness. They faced many hazards including biting insects, wolves, wolverines, notwithstanding bad weather, injuries and hostile Indian tribes. Grizzly bears were one of the mountain man’s greatest enemies.

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Winters were brutal with heavy snowstorms and sub-zero temperatures. In order to stay alive, the men needed keen senses, and an ability to improvise.  Mountain men dressed in animal skins and trapped fur animals in addition to trading with Indian tribes. Mountain men were prevalent in North American Rockies from about 1810 to 1890. Approximately 3,000 mountain men ranged the mountains between 1820 and 1840, the peak beaver-harvesting period. Although many were free lancing trappers, most mountain men were employed by major fur companies.