Jackson — Decode the Trapper's Lost Cache

The Jackson Hole valley, nestled at the foot of the imposing Tetons, was discovered by American explorers in the early 19th century. The first Westerner to set foot there was John Colter in 1807-1808, a former member of the Lewis and Clark expedition, who traversed the region during his solitary exploration. The valley quickly became a hub for the fur trade, attracting "mountain men" like David Jackson, who gave his name to the area in 1829. These trappers, iconic figures of the American West, spent months, even years, in the solitude of the mountains, hunting beaver and trading their furs at large annual rendezvous.

These rugged and independent men blazed the first trails and established the first camps in a hostile yet magnificent environment. Their stories, often unwritten, are filled with adventures, discoveries, and survival against wild nature and indigenous tribes. The heyday of the fur trade ended around the 1840s, as beaver became scarce and silk hats replaced beaver felt hats. However, the legacy of these pioneers endures, embodied by place names, the trails they trod, and the untamed spirit that continues to define Wyoming.