In 1824 , he followed the Santa Fe Trail to New Mexico and spent winters during the next decade trapping and trading beaver pelts in the southern Rocky Mountains .
In 1822 , Kirker joined a William Henry Ashley fur trapping expedition up the Missouri River .
In 1824 , Kirker followed the Santa Fe Trail to New Mexico and spent winters during the next decade trapping and trading beaver pelts in the southern Rocky Mountains .
In 1822 , Kirker joined a William Henry Ashley fur trapping expedition up the Missouri River .