Next month, the Rocky Mountain National Rendezvous (RMNR) will celebrate the bi-centennial of the very first recorded fur trading rendezvous camp set up by William Ashley in 1825. The event will be July 12-19. This year’s camp will be located for the first time on the Joe Hickey ranch in Lonetree, only 8 miles downstream from where the first Rocky Mountain Rendezvous took place. The event will be part re-creation and part living history, based on the fur trade rendezvous held in the Rocky Mountains.

At the first rendezvous in 1825, William Ashley brought supplies and tools to trade with the mountain men for their furs. Before that time, trappers had to take their furs all the way to St. Louis, Missouri. Traders like Ashley decided it would be more advantageous for him to take trade goods directly to the trappers.

Beaver furs were highly valued at that time for shipping to England to hatmakers. The fur trade lasted until the 1840s, when it ended due to the declining beaver population and changing fashions in hats.

Todd Erlandson from Cortez, Colorado, will share booshway duties with James McDonald from Rochester, Illinois, during the Lonetree rendezvous.

“Public days will be on July 12 and 13, when people can come visit the camp from 8 a.m. till 5 p.m. for a $5 entrance fee,” Erlandson said. “They don’t have to dress in period clothes. They can try their skill at shooting black powder (rifles), throwing tomahawks and visiting different demonstrations taking place. There will be traders and vendors and possibly one food vendor.”

Erlander said the rendezvous vendor products must be strictly period appropriate and no commercial products are allowed.

 After 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 13, anyone who stays, must be in pre-1840 attire. That evening, there will be an opening ceremony for members. Erlander said they usually have between 150 and 300 camps but, with this year being the bicentennial, they expect 400-500 camps.

“In our camp, we step back 200 years into the past, and everything we do and everything including … all the clothes are authentic pre-1840s,” Erlander said. “At this camp in July, the Shell River Indian Camp will join us, and the Sweetwater County Historical Museum is playing a big part in the festivities.”

During the rendezvous, the participants focus on skill with firearms and trading. People are there to learn, Erlander said, and they have many hands-on seminars offered including historic trade beads, brain tanning, quill work and blacksmithing.

During the week of the Rendezvous, the participants engage in cannon shooting, black powder shooting, knife and tomahawk throwing and archery competitions. They also organize children and adult/family games.

“Throughout the week, we are just having a good time hanging out,” Erlander said. “Friends usually set up camp together and sit around a fire and see who can start telling stories first.”