Fort Bridger Mountain Man Rendevouze

August 30, 2014 -- Fort Bridger, Wyoming.  The first weekend in September a small town in Wyoming explodes with a re-creation of the fur trading rendezvous of the 1800's in the historic Fort Bridger State Landmark. It just happens to be one of the largest mountain man gatherings in the nation. 

 It was cool to see a lecture on American Indian sign language.

 We watched a blacksmith work.

Of course, the historic Fort Bridger site itself was an important protection for early settlers and a gathering place for frontiersman and pioneers.

We had a blast learning how to start fires from flint, trading with others and eating fantastic food.  This was a great weekend and a great day trip into Wyoming.  For more information on the Fort Bridger Annual Mountain Man Rendezvous visit fortbridgerrendezvous.net

Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park -- Phoenix, Arizona

August 29, 2014 -- Phoenix, Arizona. Just east of the Sky Harbor International Airport is the amazing archaeological site today known as Pueblo Grande.  

Its sometimes hard to fathom that the Phoenix area was once a lush area filled with canals and irrigated Hohokam villages.

At the archaeological park there is a small but fantastic museum with some incredible artifacts excavated from the site.

The village was pretty large and this artist rendering helped me picture what the ruins looked like before they were well... ruins.

Today it's strange to see this incredible site in the midst of a sprawling city.

Pueblo Grande village consists of a partially excavated platform mound, ballcourt and replicated prehistoric houses and is a great little diversion in the heart of Phoenix, Arizona