I'm still churning-out the Yellowstone posts, even though we've since blazed through Wyoming, and are now in South Dakota. I miss posting on a daily basis and in chronological order, as I have on past trips. There is something very satisfying and comforting for me when I do. Oh well...
One of our Yellowstone excursions, as a traveling family of ten, was a morning of horseback riding. No, I haven't posted those pics yet, but I will soon. I figure we've all seen pictures of people riding horses through meadows and forests, but have you even seen the inside of a Mountain Man Rendezvous?!?
We just happened to drive by this on the way to the stables, and while the tiny white tents from the roadside didn't spark too much curiosity, the big tee-pees we've been seeing all over these parts did. I wanted so badly to check it out and see what it might hold.
What we discovered was just incredible! It was a tiny celebration of 19th century fur trapping and trading, run by die hard enthusiasts, all eager to share their knowledge and know-how. Turns out the name *Mountain Man Rendezvous* is "trapper jargon" for the annual gatherings of fur trappers and mountain men, between 1825–1840. It was at these rendezvous' that participants could trade goods, replenish supplies, and socialize.
The kids each picked out a memento. The 9yo desperately wanted a coonskin hat (which he's worn everyday since), Frijoles picked a beaded necklace and rabbit fur pouch to wear around her neck, and Tiny Buns picked a leather pouch which he filled with some hand selected beads and stones. You can see all the items here:
As if horseback riding and the Mountain Man Redezvous wasn't enough thrill for one day, we also managed to check-out the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center on our way back into the park.
Now we can say that we actually got to see a real live grizzly while at Yellowstone!
And Frijoles can say she actually go to pet one too! ;-)
Meet three of my all-time favorite people: Mr. Noodle, Miss Frijoles and The 8 year old.
