The
Montana 1830's Encampment at
Howell's!
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"Howell's
Encampment" is an historic fur-trapper brigade camp that was used in 1836,1837 and 1838, by the Rocky
Mountain Fur Company. Osborne Russell, a Mountain Man
of
the early 1800's, wrote about Howell's Encampment in his famous book, "Journal of a Trapper"
--
still in print today. To the left is a closeup of a remarkable historic powderhorn, with Howell's Camp located clearly, along with virtually every other location significant to a trapper of that time. The site is, as the horn shows, at the confluence of the Clark's Fork (of the Yellowstone River), and the Rocky Fork (now known as Rock Creek) near Rockvale, Montana, midway between Red Lodge and Billings, Montana. To the right is another closeup of the same map horn, of the 1837 rendezvous site at Green River. Many thanks to Crosby "Wheelock" Brown for the opportunity to photograph this significant artifact.
This
campsite offers enough shade for every single camp. There is virtually
unlimited firewood on the ground, and bucksaws are a recommended item.
There is room for a huge camp, enough parking space for
everyone, tin-tipi parking that is also well-shaded, a
wonderful variety of areas from heavy cottonwood to open pastures,
thick
willows to tiny sheltered meadows, and it is all far away from
houses and highways, while still within quick and easy reach of US 212
and "civilization."
The
elevation is
3500 feet, the days in June are warm, the
nights mild to cool. Since this is private land, we are not subject to
closures by the Forest Service or the BLM because of drought
conditions,
although strict campfire regulations will be enforced. 
The
men at the right are participating in the fire starting contest for
the trappers run event, and you can see the first wisp of smoke from
tinder
carefully cupped in hands, and blown upon until it becomes flame.
