Manzinita High Mountain Rendezvous Takes a Step Back in Time

The boom of flintlocks and the smell of gunsmoke fill the air during the "Stake Shoot" event at the Mountain Man Rendezvous. Photos from Julian Journal Archive

By Amber Ward

The annual Manzinita High Mountain Rendezvous is the place to discover living history with a step back in time for a visit to a North American fur trade encampment. It will be taking place from May 2 to 8 in Santa Ysabel. History comes alive with tepees, period clothing, music, old firearms and more. Meet a cast of colorful characters dressed in authentic costume, surrounded by historic artifacts, who will be eager to share what life was like pre-1840.

The mountainmen and women represent those who traveled in large parties and trapped various game in the Rocky Mountains. Traditionally, the mountainmen gathered once a year in a rendezvous where they would sell and trade their wares.

Fun for the whole family, there will be drawings for prizes, children's games and other competitive activities. There will be rifle, pistol, shotgun, smoothbore, tomahawk, knife, primitive bow and fire starting competitions, along with demonstrations of primitive skills, archery techniques, target shooting and storytelling.

One of the most exciting competitions is the "Stake Shoot." The cost is $5 to enter the competition, and each participant is assigned to a team and a stake. The object of the game is for the three-shooter team to cut a stake in half by firing at it. The first team to cut the stake completely in half, where it falls to the ground, wins the pot.

Participants line-up as they prepare to fire at their stakes. First, contestants will hear "Prime your weapons." This means to cap your weapon, step up to the line and wait for the command to "Fire!" All shooters fire at the same time, and reload and fire as fast as possible. Each team member usually fires between 10 and 20 rounds before the stake falls to the ground. Other competitions include the "Tomahawk Walk" which entails 40 throws at assorted targets, and an archery competition where participants get 24 shots at three-dimensional animal targets.

There also will be usual and unusual goods for sale. Visitors are welcome to dress in period costumes. Look for the "Red Buffalo" signs at Mesa Grande and State Route 79 in Santa Ysabel. The rendezvous is 2.5 miles west on Mesa Grande Road. For more information, log on to www.homestead.com/manzinita.