Friday, May 22, 2026. At 0630 I was packed up and on the road to the Forest Hills Black Powder Brigade‘s Spring Rendezvous in the mountains above Mill City.
I arrived a little after 10:00 in the morning. A few tipis and wall tents were already scattered about the primitive camp. I hurriedly set up my camp and drove my truck back down to the parking area. I was walking back to camp when Shotrod invited me to join him on the Tradegun Trail. I grabbed my gun and powder-horn and out we went. He hit 15 out of 21 targets and was disappointed. I hit one and was overjoyed. My first time out and a personal best! I appreciated having someone to show me how this game is played and I envy his skill. Thanks, Andy!
Robert showed up while we were shooting. We ended up back at camp fortifying ourselves with a beer.
Relaxing around the fire, Robert squeezes out a tune.
As the day wound down, the shadows began to lengthen
The mountain men gathered around their cook fires to swap lies as they prepared the evening meal.
Beans in the pot and a rabbit roasting on a spit.
Roast rabbit, hard tack and beans.
We attacked our dinner with period correct appetites.
Gordon’s lodge glowing under the waxing half moon.
The flickering light of campfires and candles lent a festive air to the gathering dark.
Gradually the brigade’s camp grew dark as one by one the fires went out and the first night of rendezvous drew to a close.
Saturday morning the sun rose in a clear blue sky.
Camp came to life, fires were lit, the morning meals were prepared.
We kindled our fire and hung the kettle over the flames. Robert brought out some homemade bread and peach jam.
Gordon shared his Dutch oven mountain man breakfast with us.
The meadow was filled with flag iris.
After breakfast people shouldered their arms and filtered out of camp, heading for the trails.
We went down to see what was happening on the Archery Trail.
Shotrod, who I’d walked the Tradegun Trail with the day before, was racking up more points on the Archery Trail. c2026 G.Ferlitsch
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c2026 G.Ferlitsch
While we were there, we took a stab at the Hawk and Knife Trail.
Robert certainly looked dangerous.
And in point of fact, he was. Me? Not so much so.
We followed the Rifle Trail back up the hill to camp.
The Kelly clan were blowing it up.
Enjoying a convenient bench along the trail. It was blazing hot Saturday and a sit down was a welcome respite.
A log redoubt had been constructed just north of camp at the end of the Rifle Trail. c2026 G. Ferlitsch
The Fort Event required a team of four to race the clock, reloading and shooting as many targets as possible in a set amount of time.
No room for misfires or fat fingered loading in this event. Since it takes me about five minutes to reload, I didn’t attempt this one, but it was big fun to watch.
c2026 G. Ferlitsch
I was roasting with a wool cap, vest, and trousers. I couldn’t do anything about the trousers, but I took off my vest and swapped my cap for a silk bandana.
Nick De Santis was making chicken for dinner at the next camp over.
I was making plum duff, which required boiling for four hours.
We picked the meat off the left-over carcass and added morels, turnips, parsnips and onions with a splash of sweet apple cider to make rabbit stew.
The stew was pretty not bad.
Of course, everything tastes better when you are camping.
I’d never had plum duff before. It is sort of a big, sweet, raisin dumpling, sliced and served with a dollop of molasses and a splash of rum.
Robert was kind enough to do the dishes.
Dusk fell across the camp. The moon, waxing gibbous, cast its shimmering light across the brigade.
The moon set on rendezvous, leaving us enveloped by the indigo night.
Sunday morning was warm, but cloudy and windier than it had been.
Stoking the morning fire.
Robert made Sunday breakfast.
Grits and beans, bacon and eggs.
Robert Jedediah Booth, every inch the mountain man.
I spent most of Sunday in camp, so I missed the frying pan toss. For this amusing event, the husbands stand in a marked off box and taunt the wives, who stand behind the mark and hurl a skillet at the menfolk. c2026 G.Ferlitsch
The winning toss this year was sixty-four feet and change. c2026 G.Ferlitsch
There were games for the kids, including a PeeWee Trail for young shooters. c2026 G.Ferlitsch
We watched more target shooting
Hot shoe, titanium frizzen repair.
The Pistol Trail went right by our lodge, so we could watch that without leaving camp. c2026 G.Ferlitsch
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Robert took the opportunity to sling a few rocks.
Robert left for home Sunday afternoon. I spent the rest of the day hanging around camp.
I rearranged the lodge, moving my bunk to the back, making more room for the fire inside.
I moved the tripod inside so I could cook out of the wind. I kept it simple – leftover rabbit stew and some bread with jam.
The moon rose over Rendezvous.
Monday morning dawned with color in the sky and dire warnings of a storm front moving in.
The camp was a bustle, everyone rushing to get the canvas packed while it was still dry.
I made a simple breakfast and set to work striking camp.
I caught Gordon red handed before I took the lodge down.
Adding his hand print to the cover.
Gordon striking camp
Pulling my canvas down.
cover stowed
I skipped the awards ceremony to finish packing and get on the road.
It’s a jigsaw puzzle to get everything on the truck. For some reason it is always harder going home.
It seemed like just a blink and rendezvous was over and I was on my way home. Thanks to the Forest Hills Black Powder Brigade for another wonderful event. I can’t say enough good things.
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