In this episode we’re going to explore Estes Park’s indigenous history. The town as we know it may have been founded in the 1800s by Joel Estes, Griff Evans and others, but its roots go back far longer. For thousands of years the Ute, Arapaho, Cheyenne and other Native American tribes traversed this valley and the high country of Rocky Mountain National Park for seasonal hunting and plant gathering. For them, this land is more than just beautiful views, it is part of who they are.

In 1914, while lobbying for the formation of Rocky Mountain National Park, a group of Arapaho elders joined a very special pack trip in order to record the indigenous names of local landmarks – the mountains, rivers and valleys. 

Now, more than 100 years later, the spirit of that trip is being expanded with a new project, called indigenous connections, which seeks to improve visitor education about native history and present day uses of the area. And that project has far reaching implications for tribal peoples across the country as we reshape our understanding of what national parks are and should be.

Estes Park was founded more than 100 years ago, and of course it was inhabited for thousands of years before then by the Ute and Arapaho Native American tribes. You don’t get that kind of history without a few tall tales building up along the way; legends and ghost stories retold through generations. 

But myths are more than just tales. They are a part of living history, part of the fabric of a place passed from campfire to campfire, woven through the land in the invisible threads of our imagination. And by following those threads, we’ll not only have some fun, but we’ll also see a side to these Rocky Mountains that most people don’t even know exists. Let's explore the myths and mysteries of Estes Park.

This episode we are going to get our boots on and do some hiking. There are 124 named peaks in Rocky Mountain National Park with 118 over 10,000-feet. When you stand on the summit of one and look out, a sea of peaks surrounds you on all sides. There are few things more exhilarating in life. And for many of us, it’s why we come here.

But it hasn’t always been that way. For thousands of years mountains were the abode of Gods and monsters, places to be feared and avoided. They became challenges, a piece of indomitable nature that the bravest of us would dare to tame. Now, perhaps, they are transforming again, from something to subdue to somewhere to escape from the confines of our modern world. 

Today, we’re going to climb a mountain that very few visitors ever do. It’s called Estes Cone. It’s 11,006 feet tall. But this story is about more than just getting our boots in the dirt. It’s about learning to see these Rocky summits with fresh eyes, whether you’re climbing to the top or enjoying the view from afar. John Muir famously said “The Mountains are calling and I must go.” We’re going to heed those words, reach for that summit, and listen for the Call of the Mountains.