Mountain Men in Creede, CO? – Rendezvous Revisited!

Written by Kyle

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At the end of the last post I said I may need to get the proper gear together so I could attend during the event proper where pre-1840s attire was required…..I had been thinking about next year…

I went back into the Rocky Mountain National Rendezvous last Sunday and managed to score a period correct shirt from “Bullfrog”, a good trade as they say. I picked up some other accessories but pants proved to be a challenge. Bee got back into town Monday from a motorcycle adventure of her own, and we headed into Creede to the Wild Beaver Mountain Man Emporium to see if Romona or Jay could help. Unfortunately no luck on pants in my size, although I found a hand woven sash and Bee was able to get a moccasin kit to help complete her outfit.

Later that week we got dressed and headed to the Rendezvous, nervous and hoping our clothing would pass muster. We arrived and walked into camp, talking to vendors and other people, asking questions and learning more about the event. My boots and canvas hiking pants were not period correct, but there were no issues and everyone seemed happy to welcome us to our first official Mountain Man Rendezvous!

I was excited to check out the black powder muzzleloaders, all pre-1840s flintlocks and percussion rifles and pistols, so we headed to the range. They had a fantastic outdoor range with reactive targets set up, and we chatted with a bunch of the shooters about their weapons and the event. As we prepared to leave a gentleman asked if I would like to give it a shot, and of course I said yes immediately! 

He gave me a short introduction to loading the rifle, and let me step up to the line. I was nervous, but a rifle is still a rifle, and I hit my target at 50 yards first shot, and everyone gave a yell! They asked if I was going to get a muzzleloader and of course the answer was… Yes I will.

It was a fun experience for both of us, and we hope to make the 200th anniversary National Rendezvous next summer in Wyoming!