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.
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