The American Mountain Men are traveling from throughout New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont to converge at the Adirondack Museum again for their annual Adirondack rendezvous, from 10 am to 5 pm on Friday, August 15, and Saturday, August 16.
During one of the museum’s most popular events, visitors have an opportunity to explore and discover how life was lived in the wilderness in the 1820s to 1840s. The mountain men camp out in their tents and tipis throughout the museum campus and, dressed in historically accurate clothing, talk about early 19th century survival skills.
Visitors will see demonstrations of firearm and bow shooting, tomahawk and knife throwing, fire starting, campfire cooking, and more. There will be displays of pelts and furs, clothing in eastern and western mountain styles, period firearms, and much more. All activities and demonstrations are included in general museum admission.
American Mountain Men is an organization, with chapters around the U.S., of people dedicated to “the preservation of the traditions and ways of our nation’s greatest, most daring explorers and pioneers, the mountain men; to the actual conservation of our nation’s remaining natural wilderness and wildlife; and to the ability of our members to survive alone, under any circumstances, using only what nature has to offer.”
The American Mountain Men group was founded in 1968. The association researches and studies the history, traditions, tools, and mode of living of the trappers, explorers, and traders known as the mountain men. Members continuously work for mastery of the primitive skills of both the original mountain men and Native Americans. The group prides itself on the accuracy and authenticity of its interpretation and shares the knowledge they have gained with all who are interested.
Mountain men are enduring – often iconic – symbols of America’s wild frontier days, having sparked legends, books, Hollywood movies, and more. True stories of their exploits are endlessly fascinating for their connection to American history, westward expansion, economic development through the fur trade, as well as the ever-present drama of adventure, exploration, risk, adversity, danger, survival, death, and triumph.
For additional information, call (518) 352-7311 or visit www.AdirondackMuseum.org.
Photo: One of the American Mountain Men answers visitors questions about ammunition, rifles, and firearm maintenance and repair in the wilderness (provided).