Did any of these deaths surprise you the most? 🤯
Hollywood made them look invincible—but reality was brutal.

👉 Which story shocked you the most?
👉 Should I make Part 2 with even darker frontier stories?

👇 Comment below!

As a kid growing up in Oregon during the 50's I read about most of these men.  I belonged to a Book of the Month club and couldn't wait for the next book.  Their stories definitely shaped my later life.  Today as a sick old man I live on a bluff in far northeast WA, no neighbors, only the wildlife, watching the Columbia River flow past.

I'm with Allan, can't believe you left out Bridger.  Short story, he died in his sleep  near Kansas City , MO.   I know because my Great Grandfather was a personal friend and fellow mountain man who spent time with Jim in the mountains. One of very few always welcome at his camp. In fact, it was Bridger that taught  Great Grand Dad how to hunt and survive the high mtns, when he first arrived at age 12; and in turn, he had taught me:)  Bridger passed a decrepit blind old man in his late 70's- while GGrandpa , well, he'd been up in the Uintah Mts alone raising sheep untill his 90's- He was still spry, clear eyed - Jim had taught him .well:)  I took G.Granpa to see "StarWars"  when he was 107 or so,  he hadn't seen a movie in 40-50 something years and after diving out of his seat onto the floor during that initial shot of the Empire's ship flying over head while chasing Leia. when I got him up and back in his seat, he sheepishly leaned towards me and asked " You ever fly in one of those?" LOL. I loved that old man, and smile when I think of him even now, when I'm approaching my own 'expiration date' :)

No matter how tough, Death waits for us all

Majority of the men made it past 60 years of age.  I call that a win,   especially in those conditions.  Hell I call it win these days.

Accurately done.  Kit Carson was 5'6" tall and traversed coast to coast multiple times on his own.  Amazing men.

Hugh glass was the baddest MOFO that ever lived in the Western Dakotas. We bring him up at pheasant camp every year. He crawled right past our camp.

Loved this story ❤❤❤

I also, always found the story of Truman Everts fascinating.

 People of those days were so much tougher and more resilient than anyone today.

Coulter was only allowed to run for his life out of respect!! They intended too eventually get him and the killer would gain his legendary WARRIOR SPIRIT!!

"Didn't put enough dirt down, saw it right off."

No good deed goes unpunished.

Jedidiah Smith has a connection to the area where I live. Apparently, he purchased a modest plot of land near where I live and asked his brother to manage it for the family. I was able to look at an old plat map of the area, and while much of it has been sold over the yrs, a small portion is still in the hands of someone named Smith.

I have always been drawn to the mountains. I have a lot of Southern blood, but have always been drawn to the mountains. The beauty, the remoteness, the solitude. I feel much at home in such a place. Many of my kin, way back, settled just on one side of the Appalachians or the other. Years ago, I (briefly) relocated to The Wind River mountains in the Upper Green Valley. I felt like it was a dream.
Loved it!! I get to the mountains when I can.
   I found out in more recent years that the man that rediscovered old South Pass, Jedediah Smith is my 4th cousin 5 times removed.

   I was near The Bridger Teton National Forest. Ol Gabe (Jim), had came back off the mountain and had a farm in a Missouri near present day State Line rd & 435. He was later reinturnded in a cemetery between 24 hwy & 23rd street, just a little west of Independence, Missouri.


*One of my all time favorite movies is Jeremiah Johnson. I reckon because it takes me back to a much simpler time. In that movie you can (if even briefly) get lost back in time and in those mountains. I love the part where Jeremiah and Bear Claw are guessing what month it is.
……That is living…. Not tied to a clock and a calendar.

Had a cousin back in the 50's.  True old mountain man. Had a mule named Jack.  His name, Travis Daniel Bowie Crockett.  Lived high up by himself in the mountains of Oregon

The grease on his clothes was waterproofing... Very efficient waterproofing

On Jedediah’s story you’re showing the Movie Jeremiah Johnson with Robert Redford.

It's the life most chose,civilization imposes rules that goes against true freedom of life

My name is Clinton James Beckworth I live in Texas. I love to hunt fish and trap and I love the Great outdoors. Love the stories.

Yeah the Spaniards lived in the US west since 1500’s. So much for Wild West. Also, Spanish were Rancheros (ranchers), Vaquero (Cowboys), Lazo (lasso), Wide-brimmed hats, chaparreras (chaps) and bandanas.