Shelters

The trappers of the fur trade era most commonly, and readily, slept under the stars. Rufus B Sage describes the bed of a mountain man as "...an article neither complex in its nature nor difficult in its adjustment. A single buffalo robe folded double and spread upon the ground, with a rock, or knoll, or some like substitute for a pillow, furnishes the sole base-work upon which the sleeper reclines, and enveloped in an additional blanket or robe, contentedly enjoys his rest."

Russell also writes on another occasion after a disastrous river crossing in which all of the parties equipment was lost on a raft which was swept down-stream “We were now on the side (of the stream) from whence we started, without a single article of bedding except an old cloth tent whilst the rain poured incessantly.” The tent was probably made of canvass. Russell doesn’t describe the tent in any way, but it may well have been one of the types described below.

The one important fact of period shelters, is that while the "Companies" and some of the military may have had tents sewn specifically as a Wedge-Tent, or a Wall-Tent, and later Pyramid Tents, the average "free trapper" of the Rocky Mountains would have had only one type of material to make his shelter: a square or rectangular piece of canvas, oil-cloth, or blanket.

One of the more common tents shown in Alfred Jacob Miller's paintings of the rendezvous, is a type of Wedge Tent. Trapper's could have easily made one of these shelters by simply tossing their blanket over a ridge pole, or rope tied between two trees, and staking down the corners.

Diamond Shelter: Another variation of the lean-to, where the same piece of cloth was attached at a corner to a single point, with the opposite corner staked to the ground. The other corners were then staked out to form a "plow-" or "diamond-" shaped shelter.

Lean-tos: This is one of the simplest and most basic forms of shelter. It is a variation where an entire edge of the trapper's cloth is attached to the ridgepole or rope, while the opposite side is staked to the ground. This arrangment provides more sheltered space, but does not provide very good protection from the weather. There is no doubt that the mountain men sheltered under lean-tos because a canvas sheet had so many other uses in addition to being used as a shelter.

This set-up allowed for close quarters of its inhabitants, but also provided a greater amount of protection from the elements.

Wicki-up: This type of shelter is reminiscent of the tipi, and may have been created when a party of trappers had choosen to trap together, or if they anticipated a lengthy stay. It is constructed with a simple tripod foundation and additional poles set in place. The frame-work is covered with pieces of canvas or blankets, and the loose ends secured. Ropes were sometimes wound around the top of the framework and staked down inside the shelter to provide stability in the wind.

The "Half Dome." Constructed by planting fresh cut willows firmy in the ground in a half, or full circle and bending them over and securing them at the top. Horizontal saplings were often lashed to the vertical ones and the frame covered with canvas, oil-cloth, blankets or even buffalo hides. Even more so than the tipi, this type of shelter may have had the most Native influence on the fur trade trappers. It is thought that the framework of these shelters were derived from either the Native's earth-covered mound houses, or the simple sweat-lodges seen placed around a Native encampment. Either way, the "Half-Dome" provided the most protective shelter, and could have been easily assembled within an hour. In extreme, or inclement weather, creating a 3/4 or full-dome shelter would have provided a very warm and welcoming shelter.

Of course, any type of shelter than could have been made, probably was. And while there isn't any known documentaion of free trappers living in tipis year-round, in the end, it is up to you to decide how authentic you wish to portray history.