Rendezvous!

If you never attended a Rendezvous event, you’re
in for a treat. More than any other group, the
Mountain Men of the American Fur Trade left big
footsteps on the land. Today, reenactors follow in
those footsteps, celebrating their lifestyle, and
that of earlier explorers and settlers, at
rendezvous - gatherings of the clan, as it were,
where only equipment, clothing, and foodstuffs of
the time are allowed. You can attend as a visitor. Or
really get into the spirit, and dress the part.

The hand-painted sign simply said “Rendezvous!” with an arrow pointing the way.

We were driving across South Dakota at the time. We’d no particular destination, and were in no rush to get there, so decided to check it out. It was, literally, one of those life-changing events.

Smoke rose from about 30 cookfires. The smell of frybread and venison stew wafted on the occasional breeze. A banjo and fiddle were warming up as the last of the gunshots echoed away in the distance. People of all ages were dressed in the garb typical of 200 years ago, living in tents, and using “primitive” weapons: flint- and caplock rifles; tomahawks, large butcher knives. Off in the corner a “buckskinner” was starting a fire with flint and steel, while a women laid out goods on a trade blanket.

What was going on? Turns out, these were all folks interested in living history. Their hobby, nay, their passion, was recreating the lifestyles of our forebears. This particular group were called “buckskinners,” because they concentrated on the fur trade era. As we came to find out, other groups, in other places, focused on other times and places.

We didn’t know how or when this sort of thing had gotten started, or how long it had been going on. But we had to become part of it. To the point where, for several years, we were often accused of living more in the 18th century than the current one.

Historically, a fur trade rendezvous was a time when mountain men, Indians, and such got together to resupply and socialize. Traditionally, these gatherings occurred once a year on the banks of a western river or stream. Fur buyers and merchants journeyed west with goods the mountain men needed. In return the mountain men and trappers brought their peltries to sell and trade.

A combination trade fair and party, “rondyvoo” was filled with music, dancing, yarning, contests of skill, and brawls. When it was all over, the flatlanders returned to their business and the trappers headed back into the mountains for another season.

Modern day rendezvous are, essentially, the same. Indeed, those who reenact the fur trade try to exactly emulate the mountain men. On the other hand, those who recreate the trans-Allegheny exploration and settlement period, as Friend Wife and I do, try to be as historically accurate to that time and place.

Even within any particular period, there are choices to be made. When we attend rendezvous encampments, for example, Friend Wife and I portray well-to-do farmer/merchants. Our clothing and living quarters reflect that. On the other hand, when I go out with a few buddies on a period-proper beaver trapping expedition, my dress and gear is more like that of the longhunters.

Overall, those involved in living history focus on particular eras, and subgroups within that era. Our period stretches from 1640 to 1840---essentially the exploration of North America. The period cuts off in 1840 because that’s the official end of the fur trade.

Reenactors live by a set of rules governing dress and behavior. Clothing and gear, for instance, that wasn’t available prior to 1840 is not allowed to show. Sure, you can have a cooler on a multi-day event. But you have to keep it out of sight, disguised as a wooden box, canvas storage bag, or something similar.

At any rendezvous, but particularly at the larger ones, you’ll likely find a variety of periods being portrayed. It’s not uncommon, for instance, for French & Indian War wedge tents to stand next to Plains Indian tipis, flanked by Revolutionary War marquis.

Sometimes the lines are drawn even tighter. Our club is 100% concerned with the trans-Allegheny settlement period. So for us, 1790 is the cut off date. Unlike a general rendezvous, you won’t find, among other things, caplock rifles at one of our events. Nor will you find tipis (they belong to the plains peoples).

There is, by the way, a technical difference between a rendezvous and a reenactment. Rendezvous is just a general gathering, with fellowship the major purpose. A reenactment, on the other hand, is a staged recreation of a specific, actual event.

Most rendezvous have a visitors day when the public can attend, walk around, and talk to people without having to dress the part. Thus, you can plan a visit to a rendezvous by doing a little research ahead of time. They are conducted by small, local muzzleloading clubs, and by national organizations such as the National Muzzleloading Rifle Association.

Anyone can participate at most rendezvous. Indeed, most of the larger events have a “tin tipi” campground, an area where RVers and modern campers can set up. Chances are you’ll have to make do without hookups, and might have to haul water from a central spot. But, as long as you have appropriate clothing, you can live in your modern camp, and spend days at the primitive site.

That’s exactly what we did once we’d decided to get involved with this fascinating hobby. It’s a great way to learn how things are done, and to start assembling your kit, because there is always a trader’s row, where everything from clothing, to iron pots, to a bowl of stew is available.

My recommendation is that you do not jump-in whole hog. Otherwise you could make some expensive errors in clothing and gear. Instead, buy or make one set of clothing, and attend several events. Once you have a fair idea of the specific era you want to recreate, and the persona you want to portray, you can start building your clothing, camping, and shooting equipment to support that decision.