Final Count

During this time, Bonneville figured out that the trappers were more interested in injuring their rivals than actually doing any trapping.  Nevertheless, the final count of the 1832 fur trapping season was 62 packs of fur for the Rocky Mountain Fur Company, 51 packs for the American Fur Company, and 30 for the free trappers.  

Bonneville's men cashed in 22 1/2 packs with $15,000 which was quite respectable for 40 men in the early 1800s west.

By the time Bonneville got to the rendezvous, Walker had already been there a month before.  The Snake chief had provided Walker with an escort of 200 men for protection and Walker had dug up the stored furs at Fort Nonsense and begun trading.  Once that task was done, Walker took 6 men and hit the trail again.
 
Walker's conduct and success in the 1832 fur trapping season indicates that he was already an experienced furman.  The ease and assurance with which he moved and maneuvered in the central Rockies in 1832-33 suggests that he may have been there before - maybe with the Tais trappers as a younger man?

Next time...Tourists and Trappers