mountain men

In a fast-paced world filled with deadlines, deliveries, and digital devices, there are still a few who choose something different. They leave the city lights behind for silence, solitude, and self-reliance. These people are known as mountain men individuals who live off the grid, deep in nature, far from the comforts most people take for granted.

Who Is a Mountain Man?

A mountain man is someone who intentionally lives in the wild. He’s not lost, he’s exactly where he wants to be. These men depend on the land for food, shelter, and survival. Hunting, trapping, fishing, and building everything by hand is just part of their everyday life.

You won’t find them checking emails or ordering takeout. They’re chopping firewood, fixing tools, and finding ways to thrive when nature doesn’t make it easy. Their lives are filled with silence, hard work, and incredible skill.

Even today, people still talk about those who’ve lived this way. Just look at the legacy of Tom Oar. A simple search for a Tom Oar obituary reveals how deeply respected these lifestyles are. He wasn’t just a man in the woods, he was a symbol of something greater: freedom, grit, and wisdom passed down through generations.

A Life Rooted in Nature

Most mountain men live in isolated regions where roads end and nature begins. Think high in the Rocky Mountains, deep in Alaska’s forests, or in the remote wilds of Canada. To outsiders, this life might seem extreme. But for those who live it, it’s full of meaning.

Their days start with sunrise, not an alarm clock. They split logs to fuel the stove, hunt or fish to put food on the table, and repair what they own instead of buying new. No quick runs to the store. No scrolling through social media. Just honest work and quiet surroundings.

Living this way forces you to slow down and listen to the world around you. The wind. The birds. The creaking trees. In that silence, many mountain men say they find something most people have lost: peace.

The Roots: History of the Mountain Man

Mountain men aren’t a new idea. The first known mountain men appeared in the early 1800s. They were explorers, trappers, and fur traders. These were the days when much of America was still unknown territory.

Jedediah Smith, Jim Bridger, and Hugh Glass were just a few of the names that became legendary. They faced wild animals, harsh weather, and the unknown with nothing but courage and skill. They mapped routes, traded with Native Americans, and sometimes lived alone for months on end.

For them, it wasn’t a choice for adventure,it was survival. They didn’t have backup plans. Their knowledge of the land was their lifeline. And while modern mountain men may use better tools, they still carry the same spirit. They choose challenge over comfort and patience over speed.

What It Takes to Be a Mountain Man Today

Today’s mountain man may have a chainsaw instead of an axe, or a rifle instead of a flintlock. But the core of the lifestyle hasn’t changed much.

Here’s what it takes:

  • Hunting and Trapping
    They know how to track animals, set traps, field-dress game, and preserve meat through smoking or drying.
  • Bushcraft Skills
    This includes shelter building, fire making, knot tying, tool crafting, and using what’s around them to survive.
  • Self-Sufficiency
    They often grow vegetables, sew their own clothes, and fix anything that breaks. If something’s needed, they find a way to make it.
  • Mental and Physical Resilience
    Weather can be brutal. Injuries can be serious. They must be prepared to handle situations without outside help.

Some mountain men today also find small ways to earn income. They might sell handmade goods like knives or leather items, work part-time in nearby towns, or appear on TV shows like Mountain Men on the History Channel.

Why the Mountain Man Lifestyle Still Inspires Us

So why do stories of mountain men still grab our attention?

Because they remind us of something we’ve lost. In a world that’s always connected, they choose to disconnect. Where many feel overwhelmed by noise and chaos, they seek calm and purpose.

Mountain men don’t live for likes, clicks, or digital fame. They live to feel the earth under their boots, to hear the sound of wind in the trees, and to watch the stars without city lights.

For many of us, that kind of life sparks curiosity. What would it feel like to live that simply? To rely only on yourself and your surroundings? It’s not for everyone but even imagining it can feel freeing.

Modern-Day Mountain Men

Television shows like Mountain Men have made this lifestyle more visible. While some parts are dramatized, they give a glimpse into real people choosing to live in remote areas.

Some of the most common places where modern mountain men live include:

  • Montana
  • Alaska
  • North Carolina
  • Wyoming
  • Idaho

Each of them has their own story. Some are former military men. Others grew up off-grid and never left. What ties them together is a shared belief in simplicity, independence, and respect for nature.

Are Women Living This Life Too?

Absolutely. While the term “mountain man” may sound like it’s only for men, the reality is very different. Many women now live off-grid and embrace the same rugged lifestyle.

They chop firewood, fish, raise animals, and grow their own food. They build cabins, fix machinery, and thrive in the same wild conditions.

This lifestyle is not about being a man or a woman. It’s about spirit, toughness, and a desire for freedom. And many women are proving they have all of that and more.

Final Thoughts

The mountain man may not be seen often in crowded cities or busy towns, but he’s out there—living life on his own terms. He isn’t stuck in the past. He’s keeping a tradition alive.

Whether we meet him in a story, a documentary, or deep in the woods, he reminds us of something we shouldn’t forget:
You don’t need much to live a full life.
You need heart, hands, courage and a connection to the land.