Paintings of mountain men

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Mountain men were fur trappers who worked in the Rocky Mountains from 1820 to 1880 with the peak in 1840. After the Lewis and Clark Expedition the mountain men moved west into the newly revealed wilderness. Their main occupation was the then lucrative beaver fur trade. Fur trapping was a difficult occupation. They worked, frequently alone although there were trapping companies, in the wilderness. 

They hunted for their food, and if injured had to provide their own medical self-care. The weather, particularly in the winters, could be severe. The wildlife, from the bears down to biting insects with their diseases, were dangerous. They also had to deal with the Indians, who weren't always happy to see the mountain men in their hunting grounds.  

They performed an important part in opening up the American west. Along with exploring the Rocky Mountains, they created trails for their mule trains to haul out furs. These trails were to become the routes for the migration from the east to the west.

Once the fur trade dried up a lot of mountain men settled down (they generally only lasted 2 or 3 years in the trade anyway), became guides for the wagon trains, or served as army scouts. To say they were manly men is to put it mildly, to this day they capture our imagination because of their toughness and self-sufficiency.