The best became legendary, like John Colter, Kit Carson, and Jim Bridger. Mountain men roamed the wilds alone or in small groups, becoming skilled in survival, exploration, and trading furs with ...

In 1857, Mormons disguised as Paiutes did massacre a group of settlers in a tragedy known as the Mountain Meadows Massacre. Jim Bridger and Fort Bridger did exist — and both ran afoul of Brigham ...