About this episode

The episode explores John Colter's journey with the Corps of Discovery and his transition to a fur trapper in the West.

John Colter, a young Kentucky frontiersman, joins the Corps of Discovery to explore the continent with Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Colter initially bristles at the military structure of the expedition but he soon becomes one of its most trusted members. The Corps of Discovery completes the journey of a lifetime by traveling to the Pacific Ocean and back, but John Colter decides to stay in the West and become one of the earliest American fur trappers. Join Black Barrel+ for ad-free episodes and bingeable seasons: blackbarrel.supportingcast.fm/join Apple users join Black Barrel+ for ad-free episodes, bingeable seasons and bonus episodes. Click the Black Barrel+ banner on Apple to get started with a 3-day free trial. On YouTube, subscribe to LEGENDS+ for ad-free episodes and bingeable seasons: hit “Join” on the Legends YouTube homepage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: Black Barrel Media

Topics covered

• exploration
• frontiersmen
• fur trapping
• American history
• Corps of Discovery

Keywords

• John Colter
• Meriwether Lewis
• William Clark
• Corps of Discovery
• fur trapping
• exploration
• American history

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Corps of Discovery

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• MOUNTAIN MEN Ep. 4 | “Jim Bridger: Into The Wild” · September 2, 2026 · 34 min
• MOUNTAIN MEN Ep. 3 | “John Colter: Colter’s Run” · August 26, 2026 · 34 min
• MOUNTAIN MEN Ep. 2 | “John Colter: Colter’s Hell” · August 19, 2026 · 33 min
• Introducing “Government That Doesn’t Suck” from Rewind Studios · July 22, 2026 · 8 min

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