How This Mountain Man Survived 40 Years in the Ruthless Upper Missouri

In the heart of the untamed Upper Missouri, where danger lurked in every shadow, one man carved out a life few could imagine.

Charles Larpenteur didn’t just witness history, he lived it. Born in France and drawn to the wild frontier, he braved ruthless winters, deadly rivalries, and the ever-shifting alliances of the Native American tribes he traded with. For 40 years, he recorded every moment in a journal that would become one of the most vivid accounts of the 19th-century American West.

But survival in the fur trade wasn’t just about enduring the elements. It was about knowing when to fight, when to trade, and when to simply disappear. How did Larpenteur endure four decades in one of the most unforgiving landscapes in America? And what do his journals reveal about the true history of the fur trade?

Let’s step into the past and uncover the gripping story of Charles Larpenteur, one of the last true mountain men.

Their campfire is ready, so stay with me tonight the story is about to start. My name is Sam, and this is Wild America.

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CHAPTERS:
00:00:00 - Intro
00:01:13 - Chapter I
00:14:44 - Chapter II
00:26:18 - Chapter III
00:45:50 - Chapter IV
01:04:51 - Chapter V
01:24:41 - Chapter VI
01:47:15 - Chapter VII
02:16:48 - Chapter VIII
02:43:38 - Chapter IX
03:04:15 - Chapter X
03:47:03 - Chapter XI
03:59:07 - Chapter XII
04:20:04 - Chapter XIII
04:37:12 - Chapter XIV
05:12:48 - Chapter XV
05:33:28 - Chapter XVI
05:58:38 - Chapter XVII
06:23:26 - Chapter XVIII
06:44:56 - Chapter XIX
06:56:07 - Chapter XX
07:18:51 - Chapter XXI

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All materials in these videos are used for educational purposes and fall within the guidelines of fair use. No copyright infringement is intended. If you are or represent the copyright owner of materials used in this video and have a problem with the use of said material, please contact me via my email in the "about" page on my channel.

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As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Wild America sometimes utilizes similar historical images, AI representations and footage for dramatic effect. I do my best to keep it as visually accurate as possible. All content on Wild America is researched, produced, and presented in historical context for educational purposes. We are American history enthusiasts and are not always experts in some areas, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with corrections, additional information, or new ideas.
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