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Pinedale Online > News > May 2006 > Getting “Real” with the American Mountain Men

Buffalo Fur Hat. Photo by Pinedale Online.
Buffalo Fur Hat
Mike Powell shows what you find under a buffalo tail.

The Flute Story. Photo by Pinedale Online.
The Flute Story
Roy "Crazy Cyot" Hansen tells his now famous Flute Story.

Beaver Trap. Photo by Pinedale Online.
Beaver Trap
Todd "Teton" Glover traps his own hand to show how a beaver trap won't hurt larger animals if they step in it.
Getting 'Real' with the American Mountain Men
Living History Days at the Museum of the Mountain Man
by Clint Gilchrist
May 21, 2006

The Rocky Mountain Fur Trade era ended more than 160 years ago. During that time, the Mountain Man became the first purely American iconic figure. Today, the Mountain Man is often just a character. Every May, the Museum of the Mountain Man and the American Mountain Men partner to put on "Living History Days", where students from all around western Wyoming come to learn about the "real" Mountain Man.

The demonstartions focused on the day-to-day life of the Mountain Men. Among other things, students learned that the Mountain Men were in the Rocky Mountains to make money trapping beaver. They set traps in the frigid beaver ponds during the cold fall and spring months when beaver fur was the thickest. Some Indians in the area were their friends, and some were enemies. Some married Indian women, and all the trappers learned techniques from the Indians for living in the harsh environment. Their clothes and tools were a combination of items traded from the Indians and supplies brought from St Louis each summer. It was a harsh life with many men losing their lives to grizzly bears, Indians and Mother Nature.

Members of the American Mountain Man Association giving demonstrations this year were Mike Powell, Todd "Teton" Glover and Roy "Cray Cyot" Hansen. The American Mountain Men organization was formed in 1973 by a group of mountain man enthusiasts who wanted to learn the life of mountain men by living it. They all have regular jobs, but live and learn the mountain man ways as a hobby, and for some, a life-long passion for the lifestyle.

The 6th annual Living History Days was held May 16-18 at the Museum of the Mountain Man. Over 700 students from Pinedale, Big Piney, Rock Springs, Green River, Kemmerer, and Jackson attended. Demonstrations covered fur identification, beaver trapping, weapons, clothes, sign language, tipis, Indian goods, and a few tall tales.

Photos and story by Clint Gilchrist



Related Links
  • Museum of the Mountain Man
  • American Mountain Men

  • Smelling Beaver Castor. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Smelling Beaver Castor
    Beaver castor scent was used as bait by trappers, but has a repulsive pungent smell to humans.

    Teton Todd. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Teton Todd
    Todd gave demonstrations on weapons used by the Mountain Men.

    Mike Powell. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Mike Powell
    Mike shows the sign for brother during a sign language lesson.

    Crazy Cyot. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Crazy Cyot
    Crazy shows an Indian quill worker's bag made out of elk feet.

    Buying an Arrowhead. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Buying an Arrowhead
    Arrowheads and rabbit furs were the most popular items at the gift shop.

    Mountain Man Coats. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Mountain Man Coats
    Volunteers help Mike model typical coats used by the Mountain Men.

    Buffalo Horn Cup. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Buffalo Horn Cup
    Crazy shows how Indians made cups out of buffalo horn.

    Guns. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Guns
    Todd demonstrates guns used by the Mountain Men.

    Powder Horn. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Powder Horn
    The American Mountain Men make and use all the equipment they bring for demonstations including this personalized powder horn.

    One Last Question. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    One Last Question
    Students often continued to ask questions after the presentations.

    Ta Tonka Tina Hat. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Ta Tonka Tina Hat
    Mike's does his Tina Turner impersonation to explain the name of his buffalo (Ta Tonka) hat which mountain men would not have worn.

    Buffalo Coat. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Buffalo Coat
    A volunteer disappears in Mike's Buffalo coat, which is used for the winter cold.

    Museum Tour. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Museum Tour
    Students ask Crazy more questions while they tour the Museum.

    Wet Hands Signing. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Wet Hands Signing
    Mike says its not polite to sign language with wet hands because you spit.

    Powder & Bullet Bag. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Powder & Bullet Bag
    Mountain Men used a special pouch to carry their powder, lead, flints and caps.

    Crazy Cyot Eyes. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Crazy Cyot Eyes
    Crazy gets animated during his flute story.

    Indian Goods. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Indian Goods

    Sign Language. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Sign Language
    Crazy takes his turn at teaching sign language

    Fox Fur. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Fox Fur
    Todd gives the students a fur quiz.

    Beaver Sign. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Beaver Sign
    Mike shows the sign for beaver, but says, "only slap once", or else you are stuttering.

    Gift shop line. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Gift shop line
    The gift shop was the last stop of the day.

    Indian Tipi. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Indian Tipi
    Crazy explains the construction and advantages of an Indian tipi.

    Beaver Trap. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Beaver Trap
    Todd explains trapping and how a beaver trap is set.

    Trapper Goods. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Trapper Goods
    Traps, furs, castor and bull boat. Bull boats were used to float beaver hide bales across rivers.

    Big Crowd. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Big Crowd
    Mike teaches sign language to a large group of students.

    Beaver Press. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Beaver Press
    A volunteer helps Todd show how a beaver press is used to create a beaver hide bale.

    Ready and Eager. Photo by Pinedale Online.
    Ready and Eager
    The latest group lines up waiting their turn to see the Mountain Men.
    Pinedale Online > News > May 2006 > Getting “Real” with the American Mountain Men

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