Before our story continues we need some background behind the Fur Trading Companies of the 1820s and 30s. The Rocky Mountain fur trade's heyday was from 1825-1835. The year that Walker's expedition camped at the Green River was the most violent and chaotic year in fur trading history.
Let's meet some of the major players:
The
Hudson Bay Fur Company monopolized the industry from the northern Great Plains to the Arctic Ocean. They were the known troublemakers to the Indians and laid waste to the beaver population.
The
Blackfoot Indians were the most ferocious tribe of the northern Rockies and anti-American. They were allies of the Hudson Bay Company when it served their purpose. They also could manipulate the
British as well as be terrorists to the other tribes and to the Americans. Basically they went against anyone who wasn't an ally at the time.
Some of the most famous trappers - Bridger, Smith, Fitzpatrick, Rose, Clyman, Glass and Subletter, were among some of the first men to try to venture into the Rockies area in 1832 and made up the
Rocky Mountain Fur Company, formed in 1826. Although they were the most knowledgeable of the companies, they were also deep in debt.
The
Astor American Fur Company on the other hand (John Jacob Astor's company) controlled 75% of the total trade in the Great Lakes and Mississippi Valley and moved into the Rocky Mountains as well. They had the monetary means to outbid their rivals for the services of the best trappers. It was this company that financed Walker and Bonneville's westward expedition.
Next Time...let's attend a "trapper's rendezvous"!
In the spring, Walker traveled south again for the spring hunt around Bear River Lake in Shoshoni territory. Shoshoni were also called "Snake Indians" The Shoshoni were constantly at war with the Blackfoot Indians.