Rendezvous, and the misunderstanding of "Mountain Men"

Rendezvous is an event unique to Wyoming. Experiencing it helps one understand what makes people tick in this state. The fierce pride in self-sufficiency for both men and women (remember, this is the Equality State) is evident in the different Rendezvous that occur this time of year around the state.

Rendezvous was a regular yearly event in the 1820s though 1850. Europeans and Indians all gathered in a valley "below the Green River"(near modern day Pinedale) and bartered, traded, sold, and swapped various items such as skins, pelts, guns, jewelry and whatever else they needed. 

Though it needs to be mentioned that this type of traders meet-up comes to us from Native American traditions. Meeting on neutral ground in order to benefit from the activities of tribes in the region had been happening for at least 500 years before European contact.

This year, it occurred to me, as I participated, that society has confused what "maniless", "macho", or whatever term you want to use means for the true behavior of the rugged Mountain Man. this happened as I listed to men talk to each other, and even to other women. The crude jokes, and implication that women waiting to be taken by "true men", had me explaining to whoever would listen that this was not the conversation of a "true" Mountain Man.

Men in the 19th century were raised to believe that women were delicate and in need of protection, except for the women in the West. Women living in the West were respected for their skills and toughness. Still, any man that people would associate with and regularly trade with would never have spoken about a woman that way. In general, men didn't speak about women at all, and then only in reverent tones. It was considered completely unacceptable to refer to a woman in terms of sexual conquest at all. Heck, men didn't talk about prostitutes that way.

Historical documents show us that how men spoke about women in general changes in the 1950s, most likely due to WWII and the changes that occurred in the power dynamic between the sexes, with a need to reassert male dominance.

As a side note to the image of the Western woman, I had a friend who was from the East. She had identified as a "tomboy" growing up. She moved out to Wyoming as an adult, and had an identity crises. "These girls make ME look girly!" she said, both horrified at the label and fascinated by difference in feminine expression. "These girls in the West are rough."

I think that's a pretty good indication of how the West was won.

Thought y'all would appreciate a picture....

Please leave a comment!

The Culture of The West - Or, an amazing list of all the things to see in this area

I've been asked recently about the culture of The West, Wyoming in particular. It came up in a conversation about the abundance of things to do in this area, or better yet, the seeming under-abundance of things to do, because they are "inconvenient" or lacking in practical value. Or, one could argue, lacking in "prestige value", meaning that those that have lived in the area for a long period of time don't think of going to these sites as worthwhile.

Sigh.

Though I would like to mention that I completely understand the situation of being without the resources or ability to drive to these locations. Gas costs money. Some people can't afford cars, even. But to be honest, those are not the reasons that most people I talk to have not seen some of the amazing things in their area. They just confess to not taking the time, or at best being ignorant of the existence of such places.

Maybe that's what this blog is for. Wyoming is so rich. I hate to see it go to waste. Or for people to leave, because they mistakenly think there is "no culture here". The culture is different than other places, that's for certain, but we do have culture. You have to be willing to explore it for yourself, it won't come to you.

And that's the culture of The West in a nutshell. It won't come to you.

So. A list of all the places I strongly urge you to visit in the next year, or at least make a strong effort. I will post more information about these locations as I get to them. This is your country. Enjoy it.

1. Fossil Butte National Monument
2. Seedskedee National Wildlife Refuge
3. Boar's Tusk
4. Killpecker Sand Dunes
5. The White Mountain Petrogyphs
6. Natural Horse Corrals
7. Medicine Wheel National Historic Site
8. Linwood, the Town that Drowned - at the Lucerne exit on the Flaming Gorge
9. Sinks Canyon
10. And Yellowstone. Because. :D

 This is hardly an exhaustive list. I'll post other lists at a later date. Let me know if you go to any of these, and what you thought about them!

Hubby and Sweetie at Scott's Bottom, Green River, WY