Two Events to Help You Find Your Inner Mountain Man

Mountain men made a good living trapping and fur trading in the 1800s. Explorers living in the wilderness, they also through their trade helped open up various trails (widened into wagon roads) allowing Americans in the east to settle the new territories of the west.

So, put on your best buckskin and your beaver cap for these two events that celebrate a time and lifestyle of living off the land in the Wild West.

Calico Rock holds its 3rd annual Mountain Man Rendezvous/Native American Day on Friday, Sept. 12 and Saturday, Sept. 13. Activities take place at the Calico Rock Museum, Rand Park and on Main Street. You can see how trappers and Native Americans worked together in the wild. The free event includes a Walk of Remembrance down Main Street to honor those that walked the Trail of Tears, Native American dancers, music, food, crafts and more. For more information, call 870-297-6100, email [email protected] or visit www.calicorockmuseum.com.

The 3rd annual Mountain Man Rendezvous in Leslie is set for 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 10 and Saturday, Oct. 11 by Cove and Begley creeks and the intersection of U.S. 65 and Ark. 66. This free event showcases how hearty pioneer forefathers survived as they blazed new frontiers across the West and settled among the native peoples of Arkansas, living the life of a trapper in the early 1880s. Re-enactors will camp in tents wearing pre-1840 period clothing. Expect tomahawk throwing and shooting demonstrations. Private, public, and home-school students are encouraged to attend on Friday to see history come alive. For more information, contact Darryl Treat at 501-941-4828 or by email at [email protected].