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RENDEZVOUS
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RENDEZVOUS IN POWAY Mountain Men & Women, Cowboys, and Buckaroos Rendezvous in Poway The City of Poway, along with the living history groups of the Shadow River Regulators, Cimarron Ridge Old West Productions, and the Apache Canyon Gang, present the annual Rendezvous in Poway on Saturday, September 20, 2008 from 10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. and Sunday, September 21, 2008 from 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. This historical fair brings the 1820-1890s to life and will include: Interactive historical encampments A chance to meet Mountain Men, Cowboys, Buckaroos, and more Gun fighting reenactments and mock train robberies Train rides (available for a nominal fee) Arts and crafts market and demonstrations BBQ lunch (available for a nominal fee) PLUS A Campfire Sing-Along: Friday, September 19, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. in the Green Park A Barn Dance: Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. in Templars Hall. Join us to experience history first-hand during this one of a kind, FREE event. Call (858) 668-4576 for information. |
We are pleased to announce that the Tour Program portion of the Rendezvous in Poway will return again this year for two special days: Thursday & Friday, September 18 & 19. Teachers are encouraged to sign up for the Program, which provides an opportunity for students to take part in interpretive tours of the encampments. They will learn history in an interactive way, as they ask questions and participate in daily activities that were once so necessary to a rural existence. In past years the Rendezvous tours have been a great success, with more than 900 participants from elementary and middle school groups in attendance. This is a unique opportunity for teachers to have their classes experience at first hand the lifestyles of a bygone era. Advance reservations are required and are now being accepted. Space and time slots are limited and bookings are made on a first come, first served basis, so call TODAY! (858) 668-4576 |
Mark your calendars -
Friday, Sept 19, 2008
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* Schoolteachers please note: Educational tours of the event site, plus a train ride, are being offered on Thursday, September 18 & Friday, September 19. See notice above. Call (858) 668-4576 for details and booking information. |
# See photographs of the 2001 event. |
 THE MOUNTAIN MEN The legends and feats of the mountain men have persisted largely because there was a lot of truth to the tales that were told. The life of the mountain man was rough, and one that brought him face to face with death on a regular basis - sometimes through the slow agony of starvation, dehydration, burning heat, or freezing cold andsometimes by the surprise attack of animal or Indian. The mountain man's life was ruled not by the calendar or the clock but by the climate and seasons. In fall and spring, the men would trap. The start of the season and its length were dictated by the weather. The spring hunt was usually the most profitable, with the pelts still having their winter thickness. Spring season would last until the pelt quality became low. In July, the groups of mountain men and the company suppliers would gather at the summer rendezvous. There, the furs were sold, supplies were bought and company trappers were divided into parties and delegated to various hunting grounds. The tradition of the rendezvous was started by General William Ashley's men of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company in 1825. What began as a practical gathering to exchange pelts for supplies and reorganize trapping units evolved into a month long carnival in the middle of the wilderness. The gathering was not confined to trappers, and attracted women and children, Indians, French Canadians, and travelers. 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 a set of men I ever saw." There were horse races, running races, target shooting and gambling. Whiskey drinking accompanied all of them. After rendezvous, the men headed off to their fall trapping grounds. Contrary to the common image of the lonely trapper, the mountain men usually traveled in brigades of 40 to 60, including camp tenders and meat hunters. From the brigade base camps, they would fan out to trap in parties of two or three. It was then that the trappers were most vulnerable to Indian attack. Indians were a constant threat to the trappers, and confrontation was common. The Blackfeet were by far the most feared, but the Arikaras and Comaches were also to be avoided. The Shoshone, Crows and Mandans were usually friendly, however, trust between trapper and native was always tenuous. Once the beaver were trapped, they were skinned immediately, allowed to dry, and then folded in half, fur to the inside. Beaver pelts, unlike buffalo robes, were compact, light and very portable. This was essential, as the pelts had to be hauled to rendezvous for trade. It is estimated that 1,000 trappers roamed the American West in this manner from 1820 to 1830, the heyday of the Rocky Mountain fur trade. 
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