The Rendezvous

The great gatherings of the fur trappers

Unique to the American trapping industry was the rendezvous system, dreamed and schemed by William Ashley in 1825. The procedure was simple; a trader bought supplies in St. Louis and transported them out to the trappers in some pre-arranged location. It was convenient for the trappers and very profitable for the merchants. The prices they charged were exorbitant.

The trappers gathered at the rendezvous and proceeded to barter and sell. In exchange for pelts, necessities for the coming year were obtained, plus various gewgaws which they purchased for their Indian wives or significant others.

When the trading was finished, the trappers drank, held shooting matches, fought, wrestled, ran races, made love to the Indian girls and more until it was time to head back to the mountains for the fall hunt.