By Tim Robison
Moapa Valley Progress
In the early 19th century when fortunes could be made in the fur trade in the Western United States, a much-romanticized group had its beginnings, Mountain Men. In 1824, William Henry Ashley a soldier and a businessman developed a method of supplying fur trappers by hauling needed supplies to somewhat remote locations in the spring, these were called Rendezvous. These Rendezvous became great social gatherings for the men who worked hard all year hunting furs in the American fur trade.
For the last 25-years, the Boy Scouts of America have honored the tradition of the Mountain Man by staging their own version of the Rendezvous. Starting in 1984 near Laughlin, Nevada the first Boy Scout Mountain Man Rendezvous was held.
Over the years, the Rendezvous has moved around the state for the last two years it has been held locally, on the Moapa Indian Reservation. As part of the camp set-up organizers build a primitive camp with tents and teepees identical to those used in the original gatherings. Throughout the camp there are activities for scouts to participate in from archery, knife throwing, playing horse shoes,and even an area that allows for the scouts to experience how to snap a bull whip. Competitions were held in many of these events. As is typical with scout camps there are locations where merit badges can be worked on.
The Rendezvous began on Friday, February 15 and ended on Sunday, February 17.
