Gunsmoke

The early trappers and frontier men devised a unique way to advertise the location of the rendezvous point when selling and trading their animal pelts and other goods. The men would shoot their guns (sometimes a hundred in number) simultaneously into the air. This caused a cloud of smoke “gun smoke” that could be seen for miles and would indicate the location of the meeting place.

The trading of animal pelts, whiskey, tobacco and the companionship of ladies led to several days of merrymaking. At this time (circa 1850) it was said the buffalo was so plentiful in Colorado that a herd would take three full days to pass through the rendezvous point, but that gunfire usually encouraged them to move on.