Thoughts of a Modern-Day Mountain Man: A Field Guide to Leadership in the Great Outdoors Chapter 21

This is the twenty-first of a weekly blog series that will focus on leadership in the outdoors and how to get the most from the least. Even though the title is called, “Thoughts of a Modern-Day Mountain Man”, it will hopefully cover topics that are useful to everyone.

Chapter 21: A mountain man goes to the hills to trap and trade.

In the mountain man’s time of yesteryear, the trapping and trading expeditions went far into the Rocky Mountains in an attempt to acquire as much fur wealth as was possible in a very short season. There were certainly by-products of this single-minded purpose; such as adventure, camaraderie, exploration, scientific knowledge and a livelihood filled with exciting challenges and obstacles, but the main purpose was to accumulate wealth. There have been other times in history when much risk was taken for a possibly very minuscule reward, but the mountain men of the 19th century were near the top of the list when considering the non-stop and ever-present risk associated with their profession. There were no guarantees; the trapping and trading could be very profitable or it could be very bad depending on conditions and how many animals were able to be trapped. The beauty was in the simplicity of the endeavor- catch things, make money. They knew what needed to be done and never lost sight of what they set out to do. Even though some of the men that headed into the mountains for the first time had never trapped or traded, they were very focused and went out with reckless abandon to get a job done.

It is very easy to forget our purpose or mission as we go about our careers in the outdoor world. The camping and conference industry, in particular, can be a finicky, ever-evolving world with goals, objectives and business plans changing from season-to-season and sometimes day-to-day.

It is very important that the modern-day mountain man never forgets where he is going and what he is doing. At times it would seem to be an excellent proposition to have such a single-minded purpose as the mountain men of yesteryear and know exactly what the job is at hand and what you need to accomplish it. Not having clear, visible goals or a concise way to measure success as you move along on your career path can be a very daunting, frustrating task. To the mountain man of yesteryear, there was a clear goal and plan to implement, trap and trade for as much as possible in the given trapping season. In many respects this is why game shows on television have done well with simple plots, accomplishing a set goal in a given time limit. Pass or fail, it is very clear. Rarely is the education or outdoor career field so transparent and defined. This is the reason why the modern-day mountain man must have his own goals and hopeful end results to focus on. Many times I have set out on what I thought was a clear-cut job or assignment only to find out in short order that things had abruptly and suddenly changed to meet an ever-changing need of the business. Several times I have even been overly exuberant and enthusiastic about accepting a new job or position or agreed to help design and implement a new program only to find out in the end that that is not what was needed or wanted. My purpose is to serve God, and it is very important to remember that fact when I have come up against a wall or an insurmountable obstacle that I cannot change or alter. As long as we are serving God and doing what He has called us to do, His plan will fall into place. We must be patient at times, and other times we must sign on to trap and trade with another outfit. This takes careful discussion with family, prayer and planning to have the best possible outcome to move towards our goals. Don’t forget your purpose. I know it is a romantic notion to think that life should be as simple and straight-forward as the mountain men of yesteryear had it, but we also shouldn’t over complicate matters on our own. Everything comes with risk, and we must regularly evaluate the risk-to-reward ratio and make decisions based on what is best for our families and careers.

An Ancient Story About Hunters.

To help with this process of understanding what your goals and objectives should be, it is imperative that the modern-day mountain man ask the right questions and do the right amount of research about your new employer, and most importantly be ready to adapt and change directions mid-stream if conditions call for it. I have read many of the advertisements and postings from the golden age of the trapper and trader time period and they were always short and straight to the point. The one included at the beginning of this post is one of the most famous from William Henry Ashley’s Rocky Mountain Fur Company. The newsprint advertisements always had one thing in common, a call for enterprising, brave young men to go in harm's way high into the Rocky Mountains in search of pelts. Nothing more needed to be said, the job called the men and the men were called into the mountains. In today’s complex and often overly cautious society, rarely do job postings give justice to the actual job at hand. Companies and employers tend to be more focused on making sure the prospective employee knows that the job is available to anyone, instead of simply outlining the job and what is needed for an applicant to be successful. It is easy to lose your purpose and forget your mission when you never knew exactly what it was to start with. This is why it is important to ask the right questions before setting out on your journey. In the advertisement calling for mountain men at the beginning of this chapter, it states “For particulars, enquire of Major Andrew Henry, near the Lead Mines in the County of Washington, (who will ascend with and command the party) or to the subscriber at St. Louis.” Not only was this posting simple and to the point, but the person who was setting the goals and objectives for the prospective employee was leading from the front. The purpose was clear, and the mountain men did not have to question that the other men with them were all-in on this years-long endeavor.

Work in the outdoor industry can be a very rewarding career if the modern-day mountain man knows fully and clearly what he is getting himself into. Just like the mountain men of yesteryear that were called into a life of adventure, possible daily peril and an opportunity for great wealth, it is important for the modern-day mountain man to remember he also has a direct and simple calling. While the modern-day mountain man will rarely gain monetary wealth in his chosen profession, it is still a very valuable and rewarding job that serves a higher purpose and cause. Mountain men of yesteryear were made to trap and trade, that is what they needed to do. Modern-day mountain men are made to serve, no matter where that adventure takes them or which outfit they are employed by. Don’t ever forget your purpose working for the Creator of the very mountains we choose to work in.