For many years, Lemmon local LaQuita Shockley felt the history created in the town’s own backyard was highly overlooked.
“Since Hugh Glass was the ultimate frontiersman and ‘mountain man,’ it seemed like the Mountain Man Rendezvous setting was the ideal tie-in to share his story of survival and educate our modern world on the lifestyles, work hazards, and conditions that our early frontiersman faced here on the Dakota plains 200 years ago,” explained Shockley.
A Mountain Man Rendezvous is a historical event and reenactment that celebrates the fur trade era, typically of the American West. The annual gathering of people, often dressed in period clothing, recreates the social and commercial activities of mountain men, traders, and Native Americans.
These rendezvous are held in various locations, and include activities like trading, crafting demonstrations, and socializing.
Sharing this concept with others, Shockley says it took some years of sharing until “the spark ignited like a prairie fire.”
“Other like-minded individuals got on board and worked to make this event become a reality,” she said.
Two of those like-minded individuals were Pete and Sherry Gusenius who had the only Mountain Man Rendezvous experience.
“The event would have never gotten off the ground (or out of my imagination) had it not been for them, their knowledge and experience, and willingness to participate and lead the camp,” recalled Shockley.
“Most importantly, these campers return year after year and join the others in a reunion of a special sense of ‘family.’ Fellow rendezvous campers create a truly unique familial formation of friendship, fellowship, and kinship.”
-LAquita Shockley
The inaugural Hugh Glass Rendezvous took place in 2015 the third week of August. Every year the event occurs around August 23, which is the anniversary of when frontiersman Hugh Glass was mauled by a sow grizzly bear near the forks of the Grand River and left for dead by companions in 1823.
The two men also stole his knife, rifle, and other accoutrements on his person, which left him unarmed. He famously survived and crawled for six weeks to a settlement where he sought revenge.
But unlike how Hollywood portrayed it in the Academy Award-winning film The Revenant, Glass did not finish his plan, which Shockley admires.
“When he recovered and tracked down these men, he did not take their lives, but only took what was rightfully his—his weaponry,” she said. “Justice prevailed, and Hugh gained a name for himself for being a survivalist, tougher than nails, and respectful of life, traits that most South Dakotans would be proud to possess.”
The Hugh Glass Rendezvous is celebrating its 11th year August 19-24 on the south shores of the Shadehill Reservoir at the Hugh Glass Campground. Campers arrive and get settled August 19-21 and organized activities are held on the 22, 23, and 24.
“Earlier in the week typically involves the campers coming in, setting up, and non-public activity,” said Shockley.
HUGH GLASS DAY
On August 23, 2023, the Hugh Glass Rendezvous celebrated the 200th anniversary of the mauling of Hugh Glass and had a re-dedication ceremony at his monument placed atop a hill overlooking the Hugh Glass Campground.
A proclamation was read, marking August 23 as Hugh Glass Day in South Dakota.
Rendezvous campers come prepared with a wide assortment of primitive gear. Tents and shelter components follow what mountain men would have used in the 1880s—wooden supports and exterior coverings of canvas or animal hides. Beds are covered with woolen blankets and handmade cotton quilts. Meals are cooked on an open fire, most often in a cast-iron pan or Dutch oven.
Campers also come dressed in primitive clothing inspired from the 18th and 19th century frontier.
“Typically, menswear varies from cotton shirts and drop-front pants to buckskins and a wool capote when the weather is chilly,” described Shockley. “Women wear simple calico dresses with aprons and bonnets, and some also wear buckskin dresses inspired by the Plains Indians. Moccasins are common footwear for men and women alike.”
Attendees strive to be as authentic as they can to the time period.
“We have some very dedicated supporters,” said Shockley. “Our rendezvous attracts those people who have an admiration for true history. Being on the very soil and location that Hugh Glass, along with the rest of the Ashley Expedition, trod upon is a very unique opportunity.”
This doesn’t mean attendees are not welcome if they aren’t dressed in the Hugh Glass era clothing. The primitive camp is open to the public to visit during the day, but anyone remaining at the primitive camp area after 5 p.m. must be in historical attire.
The south campsite’s amenities are scarce, limiting the use of modern RVs and campers. There are no electrical hookups or water connections, which Shockley says is perfect for an event that thrives upon maintaining a primitive lifestyle as they reenact frontier life in the 1800s.
“This is the modern day site of the Hugh Glass Campground, which adds the extraordinary opportunity to experience what Hugh experienced (minus the grizzly).”-Laquita Shockley
For those wanting full hookups for campers or RVs or other modern camping, guests must drive around to the north shore where South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks maintains campground sites.
“Newcomers are certainly welcome,” said Shockley. “They are just best friends and brothers that we haven’t met yet!”
The event also encourages young people to join in on the rendezvous experience. One of the bigger themes is Youth Day, where the camp creates various stations set up with speakers and demonstrations.
Examples of activities include presenting a variety of skins, furs, and skulls from animals on the Dakota Plains, a demonstration on how to spin yarn from raw wool, and how to make pie on the prairie (and taste test it, too).
“Oftentimes we have flintknappers present demonstrating the art of making arrowheads and a primitive blacksmithing station,” said Shockley. “We have had primitive candle making demonstrations and a variety of hands-on activities, such as making primitive bird feeders or learning the basics of throwing a tomahawk.”
Every year varies, and history speakers revolve, whether it be about the fur trade, the history of the Plains Native Americans, or meeting grizzly bear-attack survivors.
“If we wish to keep our history alive, it’s imperative to draw in our youth and make it exciting for them to become involved,” said Shockley.
“Some of the visiting campers like to get involved and host a shoot and bring in something completely new and different, so no two years are exactly alike.”– LaQuita Shockley
For the adults, each day has a variety of black powder shoots that are unique to the Hugh Glass Rendezvous. Shockley says the public may come in and take part if they wish, or just safely watch from behind the shooting lines.
“The shoots are determined by your type of weaponry and the target,” said Shockley. “It’s never the same each year.”
Now being the chairperson for the Hugh Glass Rendezvous for over a decade, Shockley says the best part is soaking in all of the hard work.
“It’s truly heartwarming to watch the interactions of everyone,” she said. “We look out for each other, aid others wherever we can, and marvel in the ‘trade negotiations’ that take place each year.”
Shockley continued, “When the sun begins its descent, everyone comes together to share in a prairie-style potluck meal, followed by some moonlight prairie serenading and passing the jug with a sampling of this year’s finest ‘brew.’ It makes it all so worth it.”
