In US history were mountain men vagrants, and were the first ones, French fur trappers, in the Rockies in the 16th century?

French fur trappers were the first. Most of them were seen as harmless by the Native Americans.

We have no real record of their beginnings or the dates. We do know that by 1810, more and more trappers of both French and European descent, went to the mountains to cash in. By 1834, it was getting crowded.

In the 16th century, I dont think the French had even reached any part of the new world, being too busy massacring Huguenots & whatnot

French Fur Trappers. We’re traders and certainly not vagrants