Another Name for Paradise: A Journey Through The History and Nature of Northern Colorado, Third Edition

By James Hess

For more than 10,000 years the foothills and mountains of Northern Colorado have been home to many people. Despite floods and fire, drought and disease, people continue to call this place home. Through a first-person narrative, writer James C. Hess comes to understand his place in this place.

“I cannot say with certainty when I came to love the place that I call ‘home’,” notes writer James C. Hess, in the introduction to an effort that spans time and space, history and nature. “I can, however, cite reasons for why: It is a wonderful and wondrous place of light and sound at once mysterious and magnificent, savage and pastoral, defined by and recognized for the landscapes and the land, the geological and the geographical, the people, the legends, the myths, and the mysteries manifested as History and Nature.”

So begins a journey that starts in the cold of winter on New Year’s Day and ends the last day of fall among the forgotten dead, with one pursuit in hand: To know the place called Home, and why it is so.

Along the way he comes to an understanding about his place in this place, which involves snowshoeing with bison, starring contests with mountain lions, moments of joy with curious bobcats, and the acceptance of the truth of mortality we must all face as we are watched over by the sentinels of time made of sandstone and granite, that rise to meet the sky and the heavens beyond.

ANOTHER NAME FOR PARADISE: A Journey Through The History and Nature of Northern Colorado has inspired many, and the third edition contains information and tips on how to make the most of the adventures and experiences through personal safety and well-being.

• Language: English
• Publisher: James Hess
• Release date: Feb 21, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463259702

James Hess

James C. Hess graduated from the University of Colorado, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature, with additional studies in Editorial Journalism and Cinema Studies. He divides his time between his home in Colorado and all points west.https://www.instagram.com/j.c.hess/

Book preview

Another Name for Paradise:

A Journey Through The History and Nature

of Northern Colorado,

Third Edition

By

James C. Hess

SMASHWORDS EDITION

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PUBLISHED BY:

James C. Hess on SMASHWORDS

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Another Name for Paradise:

A Journey Through The History and Nature

of Northern Colorado,

Third Edition

Copyright 2020 James C. Hess

All Rights Reserved

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Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only, and may not be re-sold or given away. If you would like to share this book, please purchase an additional copy for each intended recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the work of the writer.

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Table of Contents

Introduction to the Third Edition

Introduction to the Second Edition

Introduction

Foreword

Essays

Mitakuye Oyasin

Niinowoohut: Bobcat Ridge Natural Area, City of Fort Collins, Larimer County

Paa: Horsetooth Mountain Park, Larimer County

Ho’e (ni): Devil’s Backbone Open Space, Larimer County

Tiienoyiyikwinut: Lory State Park, Larimer County

Peta: Bingham Hill Cemetery

Afterword

References

Historical Notes

The Colorado Territory

The State of Colorado

The Homestead Act of 1862

Animal and Bird Notes

Butterfly Notes

Flower Notes

Grass Notes

Indigenous People Notes

Reptile Notes

Shrub and Tree Notes

Personal Notes

Biography

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For my father and mother,

Daniel and Jane

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Another Name for Paradise:

A Journey Through The History and Nature

of Northern Colorado, Third Edition

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Introduction to the Third Edition

Shortly after ANOTHER NAME FOR PARADISE, Second Edition, was published the decision was made to take a break from research and writing, and undertake field work: Go for a hike to get physical exercise and fresh air, and ensure that information included was current, accurate, and correct.

Because one of the properties included in ANOTHER NAME FOR PARADISE is located minutes from my home it was chosen for the inaugural hike of the sabbatical. The property selected is owned by a local governmental agency - which has limited financial resources for patrolling and maintaining the property. In other words, the property is categorized as day use - only opened from dawn until dusk - due to budgetary constraints.

Eager to get on the trail, my arrival coincided with the park ranger/caretaker of the property unlocking the access gate as the sun rose. Polite greetings were exchanged and, following a rule of outdoor pursuits, mention was made of my intention and the trail that would be hiked. The ranger nodded his thanks for the information, and then paused, as if to preface something.

An interesting thing, he said after a moment. We don’t get a lot of visitors, but lately, though, there have been a few more than usual, and almost all of them have mentioned a book that motivated them to visit.

The mention of a book provided reason for a pause in my journey. As I paused, I realized that I was pausing, and I paused more. My behavior was not noticed by the ranger, who was securing the access gate into the open position.

I asked for the title of the book, and the ranger thought for a moment before shaking his head. I’d know it if I heard it, he said. But right now, it eludes me.

I decided not to offer the title of a specific book, and instead undertook my hike. He waved me on my way, and began his daily routine.

The hike was a homecoming of sorts. Along the trail I stopped to enjoy the view and the scenery, and to take photographs and make notes. By the time I returned to the trailhead the notebook was filled, the batteries on my camera were depleted, the memory card was at capacity with stills and videos, and the decision to pursue another edition of ANOTHER NAME FOR PARADISE was under serious consideration.

As I put my equipment into my vehicle the park ranger/caretaker came by and inquired about my hike, specifically asking about the trail conditions. I reported that the trail was dry and without issue. I mentioned subtle changes I had noticed since my last visit, but offset them by remarking that Nature is dynamic, always changing.

My remark about Nature resonated with the ranger, who nodded, and then paused again, once more prefacing something.

A couple just went out, he said. They have been here before, and wanted to see something they had read about.

In a book, I asked.

The ranger looked at me, and grinned. In a book. The name of which I can’t remember.

We went our separate ways, and I gave no more thought to the matter. Specifically, the inability to remember the name of a book that provides motivation to get out and experience the outdoors; the title of such a tome should be easy to recall, it seems.

A few weeks later a friend, who had read ANOTHER NAME FOR PARADISE, Second Edition, and offered unsolicited praise for it, suggested that we go for a hike on another property included in the latest edition. Plans were made, but at the last minute my friend had to cancel, owing to a family matter.

Because the outing had been planned, I decided to pursue it by myself. Like the other property this particular property offered several trails, and the one selected was an easy one, and not heavily traveled: On my way to the summit I encountered no one, and on my way back to the trailhead I met a couple, who enthusiastically told me that they were hiking the trail because they had read about it.

On the web, I asked.

In a book.

I asked for the title, provoking an awkward moment.

The couple looked at one another, and admitted that they could not recall the title. But it had something to do with ‘Paradise’.

I wished them well on their excursion and made my way back to my vehicle, more than satisfied with my experience, and gave no more thought to a referenced book, the name of which no one could remember.

A few months later the friend who had to cancel the previously hike suggested another. Plans were made, but it would be my turn to cancel, due to a family concern. As I had done, my friend decided to pursue the hike alone, and reported that the outing was fantastic. He also noted minor changes that might merit edits to a new edition of ANOTHER NAME FOR PARADISE.

I mentioned that I was considering another edition of ANOTHER NAME FOR PARADISE, but was having reservations about pursuing the project because although it seemed to have found an audience no one could remember the title.

The remark led to my friend noting that he had encountered several people on his hike, and one had mentioned that they had read about the trail traveled in a book. When he asked for the title, they confessed that they could not recall it.

My response to the anecdote: A quiet sigh.

Over the next year hikes were planned and pursued, and more than once when other hikers were encountered confessions and exclamations of joy were offered as response to the adventure: They had read about this place, that locale in a book, and were inspired or motivated to seek it out, to see for themselves what had been written about with passion and ‘unabashed curiosity’. Without exception, when asked for the title of the book that had been the source of their subsequent delight, no one could provide it, although several attempted to do so.

Almost every time I was present for these confessions of sorts, I declined to offer a complete title to fill in the blanks regarding the name of the book no one could recall. My reasoning for doing so involved a well-intended acquaintance who had encountered enthusiastic hikers, and when he started talking with them, learned that they had undertaken their hike because of a book that they had read. When he offered a title - Another Name for Paradise - the response reportedly was: No, I don’t think that was it.

Since the publication of ANOTHER NAME FOR PARADISE, Second Edition, the inexplicable regarding the title and the elusiveness of it when it comes to memory have been accepted, and with that a motivation to make the third edition more. . . memorable, and useful.

An example is the utilization of technology to enhance the content provided. As technology has become commonplace it is appropriate to make use of it when interacting with Nature and exploring History. Links have been provided to enhance the content, and recommendations for searches have been included should the links be broken.

Another example of making ANOTHER NAME FOR PARADISE, Third Edition, more useful and memorable is the inclusion of information regarding personal safety and well-being, to ensure that the journey through the History and Nature of Northern Colorado is truly enjoyed because, Colorado is ‘Another Name for Paradise’. The information is prefaced by Note [SWB].

Back to top.

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Introduction to the Second Edition

As almost anyone who has attempted to write anything of substance will likely attest the process of writing is at once challenging and frustrating.

The basic challenge comes of finding the right words to communicate information successfully. (It is an undertaking which some compare to giving birth because it is a demanding, labor-intensive pursuit known to involve crying, screaming, and the use of language not appropriate in most circumstances and settings. As anyone who has given birth and attempted to write anything of substance will counter, however, there tends to be more emotional outbursts involved in the process of writing, and there is no sedative appropriate or strong enough for the often-painful nature of the writing process.)

The frustration where the process of writing is concerned comes when the carefully selected words are carved into stone (figuratively-speaking, that is), and the final product is sent into the world; the humble scribe then awaits praise and accolades for a job - presumably - well done.

Of course, this is the ideal, and rarely the result. Instead of honor and award heaped upon the ink-stained wretch, who gave almost everything they had to offer to their work, an unpleasant discovery is made (more often than not by a perceptive individual who believes themselves helpful in identifying such concerns): An omission, a deficiency, a glaring error, or a very embarrassing mistake which somehow eluded the writer as they painstakingly examined their work prior to publication for the very thing revealed with ease.

The response to such revelations by the writer may take one of several forms:

The first is to strike a noticeably defensive posture and mutter something about being rushed to meet an otherwise arbitrary deadline, and that such demands caused the aforementioned issues to result.

The second response is the admitting to evidence of shortcoming and failure in these matters - thereby implicitly suggesting a lack of ability, skill, and talent on the part of the writer.

The third is to make light of the perceived incompetence on the part of the writer by congratulating the astute reader on their discovery: Oh! You found that, did you? Good for you, nice to know - thanks much for bringing that to my attention. (Then, before any more can be said about the matter, the writer makes a hasty exit, to lick their wounds - presumably figuratively, and not literally.)

The fourth response to such matters is a sublime means of providing justification for a subsequent edition of the work produced because the writer - rather seasoned by this time - knows, that despite efforts otherwise, there will be omissions, deficiencies, errors, and mistakes that slip through the otherwise exacting review process. Sometimes, when such a revision is decreed, an element of honesty is included in the declaration of purpose: Revised edition.

The reason for this edition is two-fold: To address the aforementioned omissions, deficiencies, errors, and mistakes (which were identified by well-intended readers, whose perceptive efforts remain appreciated despite grumblings on the part of this humble scribe as response), and to improve content where appropriate to make the information current and relevant.

One more thing regarding the previous edition and this edition: Shorty after the first edition was published the State of Colorado was ravaged by a flood. Roughly one-third of the state was directly affected by the damage inflicted by several days of rain, and the rest of the state was also substantially impacted by the destruction and ruin which occurred because of the demand put on emergency services that included fire, police, and medical, along with the needs of those displaced when their properties were heavily damaged or destroyed.

When it was decided that another edition should result consideration was given