Behind grizzly adams' beard

If you had to pick the most badass beardsman of them all, it would have to be Grizzly Adams. Not only was his life one big, wild adventure, but his legacy is still part of pop culture nearly two centuries after he passed. The Grizzly Adams beard brings a pretty specific image to mind of an unruly and unkempt mane. This man was so much more than a beard, though.

Grizzly was born John in 1812. He started life in Massachusetts and didn’t have much access to education. As a teenager, he learned the shoemaking trade, picking up leatherworking and cobbler skills that would come in handy later. By early adulthood, however, this line of work bored him, and he set out into the woods of Massachusetts to hone his survival skills. For the next few years, he trapped and hunted wildlife until an injury put him out of commission for nearly a year. This was the beginning of a run of bad luck for Mr. Adams, including losing his entire life savings in a fire and the suicide of his father. Eventually, John had nothing left to lose and set out for the wilds of California.

In California, Adams attempted to live like everyone else, trying to fit into various trades and businesses. He tried mining, ranching, trading, and farming, but none of it truly suited him. No matter what he did, he always seemed to end up with empty pockets. Tired of his failures in “modern” society, Adams disappeared into California’s untamed wilderness.

The Legend of Grizzly Adams Begins

Adams built a cabin with a stable in the middle of nowhere. He used his leatherworking skills to make his own clothes and shoes. His earlier experience hunting and surviving in the forests of Massachusetts proved valuable as he hunted and trapped wild animals for meat and hides—and, most famously, for taming.

Grizzly earned his nickname by trapping and taming several bears. This wasn’t simply to prove he could; he genuinely seemed to love bears. The cubs he tamed became like family. They protected him, saving his life on several occasions, and kept him warm through cold winter nights by sharing their body heat. Eventually, Adams used his taming skills to bring the wonder of wild animals to museums and shows like P.T. Barnum’s. When Adams died as a result of injuries from a grizzly attack, P.T. Barnum was reportedly overcome with grief and paid for his headstone.

This enchanting mountain man had no need to shave, and his beard grew into a wild, unruly mane. It feels fitting that Grizzly Adams’ beard eventually made him look right at home alongside the animals he loved. Today, if someone compares your beard to Grizzly’s, you might want to consider a quick trim—but we won’t judge if you don’t.

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