Rendezvous: Late summer gathering regarding beavers. Men could trade, swap stories and gather information before fall lead to future beaver endeavors. The first in 1825 was a small affair designed to move these shaggy rough men away from civilized company. After that the hosts realized they’d make more money on the event from whiskey sales than they ever got from beaver. From FadedGlory Blogspot “Mountain man James Beckworth described the festivities as a scene of ‘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.‘ An easterner gave his view: ‘mountain companies are all assembled on this season and make as crazy as set of men I ever saw.’ There were horse races, running races, target shooting and gambling. Whiskey drinking accompanied all of them.
Hmm. I prefer ours but I guess it’s good to have historical roots.
1825 Henry’s Fork of the Green River, Wyoming 1826 Cache Valley (near present Hyrum), Utah 1827 Bear Lake, Utah 1828 Bear Lake, Utah 1829 Upper Popo Agie, near Lander, Wyoming 1830 Wind River headwaters near Riverton, Wyoming. 1831 Supply train did not reach the rendezvous area in time, so no rendezvous was held. 1832 Pierre’s Hole, Idaho 1833 Green River near Horse Creek, Wyoming 1834 Ham’s Fork, Wyoming 1835 Green River near Horse Creek, Wyoming 1836 Green River near Horse Creek, Wyoming 1837 Green River near Horse Creek, Wyoming 1838 Wind River at the mouth of Popo Agie Wyoming 1839 Green River near Horse Creek, Wyoming 1840 Green River near Horse Creek, Wyoming.2011 Alhambra Creek near Amtrak, California.
Not sure this rendezvous is worth the journey? Wait until you see the beaver tail fashion show at 1:30.