Mountain Man Survival Story: Outlasting the Blizzard
James Clyman’s account of outlasting a Rocky Mountain blizzard is a mountain man survival story worth remembering.
The American frontier was home to some of the most remarkable men and women in our nation’s history. It was a land of true freedom, where a man could fairly well do what he wished given he was strong enough to protect himself. Most people realize that freedom and responsibility walk hand in hand. The more freedom you have, the more responsibility you accept for yourself. It is your choices, your actions, and your efforts that affect the outcome of your life. While some find this obligation overwhelming, for others it is the very breath of life. Of all the Anglos who lived on the frontier, mountain men perhaps experienced it at its most free.
One of the first mountain men to travel west was a man named James Clyman. In 1823, Clyman gained employment by the Rocky Mountain Fur Company for their first great expedition west. On the trip, Clyman rubbed shoulders with men like Jim Bridger, Thomas Fitzpatrick, and Jedediah Smith. Fortunately for us, Clyman went on to record the adventures he experienced as a mountain man. His story, along with others, gives us a sense of what life was really like in the wild and free west. As you may imagine, it wasn’t all roses. In some cases, it was a fight for life itself.
Clyman’s story of winter survival is set in the valley of the Wind River near present-day Lander, Wyoming. While wintering with some Crow people, Clyman and his companion William Sublette were forced to leave the village in order to find some meat. The late winter months were generally hard on people, and too often hunters would have to venture out to procure meat so the village could survive. While Clyman and Sublette were out hunting, a ferocious blizzard swooped down on them. Caught with little more than a few buffalo robes, their rifles, and possibles bag their survival skills were put to the test.
Rather than tell you what happens, I’d encourage you to read James Clyman’s account of what happened to the duo.
Teachers may find this PDF helpful when analyzing the primary source with their students.
“In traveling up the Popo Azia a tributary of Wind River we came to an oil springe neare the main Stream whose surface was completely covered over with oil resembling Brittish oil and not far from the same place ware stacks Petrolium of considerable bulk Buffaloe being scarce our supply of food was Quite scanty Mr Sublett and my self mounted our horses one morning and put in quest of game we rode on utill near sundown when we came in sight of three male bufalo in a verry open and exposed place our horses being too poor to run we made an effort to aproach them by crawling over the ice and snow but our game saw us and was about to brake when we arose and fired luckeyly we broke ones Shoulder had we had our horses at hand so as to mount and follow we would soon had meat but our horses ware narely a mile Distant so Sublett went back for our horses and I loaded my rifle and followed the wounded buffalo there being an uneven riadge about a mile distant in the direction the game went and (and) my hope was to head him there and git another shot I ran with all my speed and fortunately when I oame out of cover was in easy gun shot when all breathless mearly pointing my in the direction of the game to my surprise I gave him a dead Shot bifore I could reload he fell dead in a steep gutter whare I could not commence butcering untill Sublett came up to assist me night came on before we got our meat buchered we gatherd some dry sage and struck a light by which we got of a small Quantity of meat Shortly after the sun left us the North wind arose and grew stronger and stronger and a cold frosty snow commenced falling before finished our suppers there being no wood and sage being small and scarce and scattering what little fire we had in all directions we spread down our scanty bed and covered ourselves as close as possbele from the wind and snow which found its way through ever crevice
"Allthough the wind blew and the fine frosty snow crept in and around us this was not the worst for the cold hard frozen earth on which we lay was still more disagreeabi so that sleep was out of the Quetion by turning every method for rest day light at last apeared when we consulted what we had best do under the circumstances and it was agre that I should arise and gather some sage brush which was small and scarce and wold remain under the Buffaloe robe and keep his hands warm if posibi to strike fire But all our calculations failed for as soon our hands became exposed to the air they became so numb that we could not hold thee flint and Steel we then reourse to our guns with no better Success for the wind was So strong and for the want of some fine metireal to catch the fire in we or my comrade raped himslf in his robe and laid down after a great struggle I made out to saddle my hore and was about to leave the inhospitable not wishing to leave my friend I asked him if he Could ride if I saddled his horse but he thought not and was unwilling to try I then made several unsuccesful efforts to obtain fire Just as I was about to mount and leave I run my hand in the ashes to see if any warmth remained to my Joy found a small cole of fire alive not larger than a grain of Corn throwing it in to hand full of metirial I had gathered it starte a blaze in a minuit and in one minuit more I had a fine fire my friend got out and crawled up to my side drawing our robe around our backs we tried to warm ourselves but the wind being so strong the smoke and fire came into our faces by the back current I sadled the other hors packed up the meat while Sublet gathered sagebrush to keep up afire which was no little Job for carried away allmost a fast as he put it on at length we mounted and left I put my friend ahead and followed urging his horse along We had about four miles to timber I found I would be liable to freeze on hoseback so I got of and walked it being a north inclination the snow was about one foot deep I saw my friend was too numb to walk so I took the lead for the last half mile and struck a grove of timber whare there was an old Indian but one side of which was still standing I got fire allmost Immediately then ran back and whoped up my friends horse assisted him to dismount and get to the fire he seemed to no life to move as usual he laid down nearly assleep while I went Broiling meat on a stick after awile I roused him up and gave him his Breakfast when he (he) came to and was as active as usual.”
According to this account, William Sublette is about as close to death as a man can get. Wind, snow, and cold were all working against both of them as they struggled to stay alive in the unexpected blizzard. While the story is gripping, there are a few moments that really stand out.
First, if you have much experience with fire you can appreciate the challenge these men had of starting a fire after they had killed the buffalo. Not only were the elements bad (snow, wind, cold), but with nothing more than sagebrush surrounding them getting a fire going was certainly challenging. As Clyman noted, “ But all our calculations failed for as soon our hands became exposed to the air they became so numb that we could not hold thee flint and Steel…” Unable to hold a flint and steel, they turned to their flintlocks with no better success. If it hadn’t been for “a small cole of fire” Clyman found in the ashes, it sounds like Sublette would not have made it.
Secondly, after Clyman gets the horses saddled they still have a four-mile trip to timber for shelter. While four miles may not sound like a long way today, for these two it almost cost them their lives. As Clyman notes, “I found I would be liable to freeze on hoseback so I got of and walked…” In a foot of snow, with worn-out horses, one man half froze, and the wind howling all around, it may have taken well over an hour to cross the four-mile stretch. With little to do but soak up the punishment, the two push for the shelter of the trees.
By the time they made the timber, Clyman notes that Sublette “seemed to no life to move as usual he laid down nearly assleep while I went Broiling meat on a stick” Fortunately, Clyman is able to revive his companion and they live through the blizzard. Sublette would go on to become one of the most successful mountain men of the period, eventually becoming a partner in the Rocky Mountain Fur Company. After a life as a trapper, Clyman would go on to lead wagon trains across the Oregon Trail and eventually settled down in California.
This winter mountain man survival story can teach us a lot about the realities of mountain man life. These men were truly on their own with no one to save them. Their decisions and actions were what stood between them and eternity. While Clyman and Sublette made it out alive, one would have to wonder how many men never did.
If you enjoyed this story of mountain man survival, click this link to learn more about the lives of mountain men through primary sources.
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