Ridge Runners' Rendezvous

Ridge Runner's Spring Rendezvous - The annual Ridge Runner's Spring Rendezvous began on Friday April 29, 2011. Over six area schools came to the Rendezvous to get a glimpse into the past through living history. "Rendezvous" was the name used for the annual meeting of mountain men and fur buyers during the Western fur - trade era, and it is now used for many gatherings in the buck-skinning historical re-enactment hobby. The Ridge Runner's Spring Rendezvous is held at the Little Sioux Wildlife Area, located southwest of Cherokee.

Rope making Judy "Dynamite" Miller and her husband, Captain C.W. Miller, are pictured here showing students from Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn the finer points of rope making.

Meeting the Blacksmith - Aaron "Bullwhip" Jaminet is pictured giving a blacksmithing demonstration to a group of youngsters who were fascinated from all the demonstrations that were held at the Ridge Runner's Spring Rendezvous.

Muzzle loading - Kurt Stamp of Washta was on hand at the Ridge Runner's Spring Rendezvous to demonstrate his expertise in muzzle loading at the Rendezvous shooting range.

Knowing your tools - Dan Hurt of Alton is pictured demonstrating how to make and use stone tools to a group of students from Gehlen Catholic of Le Mars, who attended the Ridge Runner's Spring Rendezvous.

Some good eating - One of the more popular tents that were giving demonstrations of earlier life was the cooking tent. Students from several area schools made the tent a must stop to see just how a turkey was being cooked.

Plenty to see and do - Visitors to the Ridge Runner's Spring Rendezvous had plenty to see and do. Their were over 12 demonstrators on hand to show visitors a variety of skills that were needed to live in earlier times and how people came together to trade many of the items that were made or hunted.

Inside the tent - Inside the cooking tent at the Ridge Runner's Spring Rendezvous doing all the fabulous cooking were, left to right, Joe Wildeman, Gayle Scott and Dale Scott. The trio showed area students how to slow cook a turkey by using a campfire.