Friday, April 12, 2013

Let's Talk Hermits...!

Many of us dream of being in a place of solitude, far from the noise and the maddening crowd. Few of us actually take action toward making this happen, and then someone like this guy shows us just how it's done!


Noah John Rondeau
1883—1967



The Hermit of the Adirondack Mountains was able to mix it up with the wilderness due to his past life as a guide of the vary same region (some contrast to his final job before his death, as Santa Claus in a New York state mall). Rondeau walked away from what he believed was the ‘Big Business and Industry Slavery’ of 20th century America. He lived alone in the Cold River area from 1929 and was considered a real man of nature—climbers frequently visiting the region nicknamed one of his huts (Rondeau built several wigwams and tepees throughout the area) the ‘town hall.’ An amateur of astronomy, and a consummate violinist (his music could sometimes be heard by hikers in the river valley), Rondeau was above all else a superb woodsman displaying brilliant bush craft skills, which he’d learned as a young man from a member of the Abenaki Indian tribe. Perhaps the most bizarre part of Rondeau’s story is his fame. Throughout the 1940s and 50s he appeared at numerous sportsmen’s shows across Northeast America to talk about his success in big game hunting and trapping. On one occasion he was even airlifted to an event by helicopter. Regardless of his brief stint in the spotlight, throughout his life, Rondeau was an incredibly secretive person. All of his journals were written in a cipher, which wasn’t cracked until some 25 years after his death in 1967.

You have to give this type of individual plenty of credit for walking the walk! They did what many of us only talk about doing! I wonder if many of us really have what it takes to do this, and especially to do it this well!


Coffee out on the patio this morning. Temps should warm up to the 80s, I think!

13 comments:

Chickenmom said...

Smart man. He loved the most beautiful spot in the world. The Adirondack Mountains are just pure heaven. Many, many years ago we almost bought 20 acres there. How different our life would have been!
Just imagine - fishing EVERY day!
It's 35 five here, so your patio would be lovely. I'll bring peach pie for all!

Phyllis(N/W Jersey)

Momlady said...

We got your rain last night and boy howdy! did it rain. It rained so hard I thought it was going to come through the roof.

Sixbears said...

There was an old Vietnam Vet who lived out in the woods. I stumbled across one of his camps in my travels. Every now and then he'd hike into town to read the newspapers in the library. Don't know what eventually happened to him.

Trailshome said...

My first wonder was how he lived like that and kept his violin tuned! What a life he lived!.

Baby Sis said...

Bubba -
Maybe you don't want to go quite to this extreme, but I know you'd like to try the real hermit life. Who knows what waits around the corner? I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you to have at least a small taste of it.
Any baby kitties yet?

Bug hugs -

linda m said...

Don't know as I could give up some of my "luxuries". I would like to move out of the city and into the country tho. I am tired of all the city lights and noise that goes with it. Still raining here until next Thurs. Have a great weekend.

Anonymous said...

There are lots of interesting people who decided they would rather live in the secluded woods then the urban environs. I'm sure the surroundings contributed to their talents.

I've never heard of this man before, thanks for posting about him.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for linking to my blog. :)

Although I seldom comment, I DO read your blog. Keep up the good work.:)

MamaHen said...

No, I don't think many of us do have what it takes to do like this guy, sadly. Too many generations removed from the land. Sounds like he was also an incredibly intelligent guy.

JO said...

Great story. I doubt that I could ever come close to this kind of living. Unless of course I had no choice.

Coffee on the patio sounds great as always.

Dizzy-Dick said...

Sometimes I feel like a hermit. Have only had one person visit us this year. We go days without seeing anyone else but the two of us. I guess that is why I like to go to the flea market on weekends. I get to see people and talk to them.

HermitJim said...

Hey Phyllis...
Never been there, but I'd like to visit someday!

Peach pie sounds great!

Thanks for coming iover this morning!



Hey Momlady...
Glad you got a little moisture. Sorry it all came at once!

Thanks for the visit today!



Hey Sixbears...
So many times folks like that vet just die and no one seems to find out. Kinda sad!

I hope he found the peace he was looking for!

Thanks for coming by this morning!



Hey Trailshome...
I guess he just had what it took! Pretty amazing stuff!

Thanks for coming over today!



Hey Sis...
No babies yet, but it should be anytime soon!

Mother Nature works on her own time frame!

Glad you could make it over today!



Hey Linda...
Believe me, I know exactly what you are talking about!

Hope the sun shows up for you soon!

Hey Anon 7:41...
I know what the search for peace and quiet can feel like. Right you are about the surrounding having a lot to do with it.

Many thanks for the visit today!



Hey Wolfdancer...
Certainly my pleasure!

Thanks for reading here and for stopping by today!



Hey Anne...
Guess it takes a lot of smarts to survive that long by yourself!

The main thing is that he was happy! That counts for a lot!

Thanks so much for dropping by today!



Hey Jo...
Maybe if you had Fred for company, you could do it!

Thanks, sweetie, for coming over this morning!



Hey Dizzy...
Sometimes having company is good...other times, not so much!

At least you have the wife and the pups for company!

I think you meet some interesting types at the flea market, though.

Thanks for coming over!

Unknown said...

Wow.just finding out this is a relative of my wifes.what an interesting man.