In January the Hoosier was host to a group of “American Mountain Men” who recreated a nostalgic time in our country’s history in a remote area of the Hoosier National Forest. A dozen men, clad in leather and furs, known as the Beaver Track Party practice skills used in this area 250 years ago. They are part of a national group of about 700 mountain men throughout the United States.
The mountain men have regular outdoor gatherings to practice woodcraft, marksmanship, horsemanship, hunting, and trapping skills and learn to live off the land. All of their equipment, clothing, and food was from the period 1800-1840. The men speak of preserving a way of life that has all but disappeared from the American culture. Bruce Plowman, fur biologist with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, was initially contacted by the group looking for a place to trap beaver. Bruce suggested the Hoosier National Forest and specifically areas along the Lost River where he knew of some beaver dens. He referred them to Pat Merchant, Soil Scientist on the Hoosier.
	Merchant suggested the restored Roland Wetland area for their camp. The men were pleased with the setting which offered wetlands, open area, and forests. Parker Moore, whose title is Party Chief of the Beaver Track Party, had coordinated the site with Merchant. Once Moore saw the Roland site he did not want to scout out any additional areas. Moore remarked that the wetlands area reminded him of alpine mountain meadow areas in the Rocky Mountains.
The first morning, when Merchant and Frank Lewis, Public Affairs Officer visited them, two were already out scouting out the beaver den area. Lewis noted, “I don’t think they really cared if they caught a beaver, it was just about the experience of using the traps and learning the skill.” The weekend was bitterly cold with sleeting rain, and while Merchant and Lewis shivered and took pictures, the mountain men gamely showed them how to set a trap and demonstrated their weapons. Their venison stew was a frozen block of ice next to the fire, but the men were just happy to be in the outdoors and comfortable in their beaver hats and furs.
	Moore had invited an expert mountain man from New England to spend the weekend with them honing their beaver trapping skills. They were excited to be able to learn more about how to trap beaver using the techniques and traps of the 1800 -1840 period.

The men provided Merchant with a packet of information including a list of their medical resources. The list noted symptoms and what remedy was recommended. For a fever, the men could brew a tea from the inner bark of dogwood or willow. A tea made from dandelions was said to cure heartburn, boiled blackberry root or tea from the inner bark of white oak was said to cure diarrhea. The men attempt to step back in time and prefer not to use 21st century science while living in the wild.

The men explained that within their organization, they receive status based on their competencies. Beginners are required to have an authentic set of clothing (pre-1840), a weapon, and all “necessary possibles.” A sponsor works with them to teach them skills. Later as they advance through the ranks they’re required to demonstrate more advanced skills such as tracking, making and setting their own traps, tanning hides, and knowing at least 50 words in Indian sign language.

Their 4 days on the Hoosier provided a premier environment to allow the men to work on their skills. Merchant anticipates the group may be back, and said they were a fascinating group he felt privileged to have worked with.

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