Colter’s Creek, the small river that flows past our vines, was named by Lewis and Clark to honor John Colter, a reliable tracker and trusted member of their expedition. Colter went on to become a true mountain man and an enduring American legend.

His is most renowned for a single epic story of survival. While trapping along the Missouri River, John Colter was met by a band of Blackfeet warriors, stripped naked, and forced to flee for his life. After seeking refuge from his trackers under a beaver dam, surviving on breadroot alone, and spending 7 days naked in the blistering sun, Colter arrived at Lisa’s Fort some 300 miles later. He had endured the unimaginable, and his legend lives on today.