tell about the Mountain men?

Answer 1

I agree with your other respondent. The Hugh Glass story is very interesting. I can recommend a book called Mountain Man, by Vardis Fisher. This is a story of a man who Fisher never names, though in the movie version he was called Jeremiah Johnson. The movie is excellent too. I believe the story I heard was that this was the movie Robert Redford made because he wanted to, and had to make movies he didn't want to (Way We Were or maybe Great Gatsby) to get the funding.

They were a hardy bunch indeed. They were there after "bear, beaver and other such critters worth cash money when skinned" and the pelts are thicker in the winter, so these old boys were laying beaver traps in icy cold streams.

They'd be trapping and hunting all winter, go to the rendezvous in the spring and trade and sell off their furs for supplies, too much whiskey sometimes, and sometimes money. The word was that if someone failed to show up at a rendezvous, they were probably dead.

A few particular names that would produce some interesting google searches are
Kit Carson
Jim Bridger
Hugh Glass
Joseph Lafayette Meek
John Colter (a member of Lewis & Clark's expedition got permission to return to the mountains from the captains while on the return trip, may have been the first white man to see the Yellowstone plateau)

Here's a few links that might help "fill up the canvas".

Answer 2

The Mountain men! read "Hugh Glass" these were rough and tumble men that left society for one or more reasons to seek their fortunes in the Western plains and hills of the Great American west.
We can't go into specific detail here, it's to consuming but, they trapped all kinds of wild life and shot the Bison, the bear etc for profit.
For companies like the "Rocky Mountain Fur Company" and others paid them to come into a "roundups every year and trade their wares for new equipment, they then go back after partying their leftovers.
It only last a few years though, the settlers move in and the Indians became evil to all. Most mountain had crippling arthritis from the cold streams and rivers, were shot or scalped, etc.

Answer 3

As an amateur historian and re-enactor, I have to say that William has it down. Hee hee - William's gotta be a history teacher to be that knowledgeable. Don't ya wish he was your teacher?