Romance

During the days of the fur trade, men, sometimes just barley; felt a need to remove themselves from society seeking the opportunity for self-sufficiency, some seeking adventure, some riches. They spent months to years away from basic comforts and interaction with others.

We watch television shows with survivalists who portray their version of modern survival in the outdoors while surrounded by forty plus producers off screen orchestrating every move. For the trapper every day of the year was survival. They may go a week or more without food if there were not any animals around, and definitely so if they couldn’t set a good trap or shoot straight. They didn’t spend a weekend overnighter sleeping as if on a dare in a competition to see who would hold out the longest in the snow.  There were no stores where they could go replace some piece of equipment. The mountain man had to do it for himself or die; no other options. They could be attacked at any moment by animals or an Indian brave. All they had was what they could carry on themselves and maybe a horse and that had to last.

That’s where the Rendezvous came in. Rendezvous were set up by fur companies so that they could collect furs the trappers had collected throughout the year. This was how the trapper got paid, and this gave them just enough money to buy supplies to last them through the next year. It was a time to catch up with old friends. Not necessarily the kind of friend you have because of lengthy time spent together, but friends you might only see once a year and the only thing you have in common is kindness and respect. It was about celebrating having lived through the dangers of the outdoors in the last year and seeing that others you know have too. Of course there was partying.

Reenacting is all about taking a step back into time. It’s an opportunity to advance ones talents, to learn new skills. It’s about taking a moment to contemplate those who went before providing the life we enjoy today.  It’s about being good neighbors, making friends. The true reenactor takes pride in doing things the way it was done in the period they are portraying.

Today true reenacting gets confused with role playing organizations who dress like characters out of a fantasy novel, or create makeshift armor outfits out of modern material made for a day at the park where untrained individuals pummel each other; or dance out in the desert burning effigies. There is absolutely nothing wrong with these events, they have their place, but in my opinion this is not reenacting. I know these statements will offend a few people, that’s ok. The reality of it is, todays rendezvous have their inherent inaccuracies. Large set ups like mine would only have belonged to the fur companies who had legions of horses and men to carry supplies. We eat food that has to be cooled in order to keep it safe. You’ll be hard pressed to find a rendezvouser sleeping on the hard ground with nothing but a blanket. But most of us take great care in coming as close as possible in creating an atmosphere of the past.

What makes a bunch of fully grown men and women want to spend a week, out in the weather?  Often in rain, snow, or intense heat, without the modern conveniences of modern life? Quoting from J.W “Doc” Carlson in his article in The Book of Buckskinning: “You must ‘feel’ buckskinning”,” there is a kinship with those that lived this type of life years ago, a kinship with the old values of our country and its greatness.”

I love it when I can walk through camp, seeing nothing from the modern world ruining the experience. I love watching the sun come up over the crest of the mountain after a cold night, warming the wet canvas with steam rising as it dries out. I love sitting by the fire warming up while making a friend. I love walking around on a dark night seeing the orange glow of tents lit by the fires inside. The scent of black powder smoke is almost as good as the smell of a fire cooked meal. Every time I get into my gear at home I spend a moment breathing in the scents of rendezvous which makes me yourn for the next one.