I was certain I’d written about this in the past — the profile of the sleeping Indian visible from Highway 7 near Allenspark, Colo. I was equally certain I’d included a photo of my own, annotated to point out the relevant features. But if I did, I can’t find it now. So here we go again, for the benefit of tourists traveling through the area (about 15 miles south of Estes Park).
Looking for an image that showed the Indian, I came across the old postcard above. It’s the only image I could find that included Estes Cone as the chief’s feet. I don’t know how old the postcard is, but “Chief Mt.” is known today as Chiefs Head and the “South St. Vrain Highway” is Highway 7. Allenspark has been spelled as one word for as long as I can remember.
I’ve annotated the photo below, in case the sleeping figure isn’t obvious otherwise. It doesn’t include the chief’s feet, but it was the best I could do. In the summer, when almost all the snow melts, there’s a single patch that usually persists, exactly where the chief’s eye should be.
NOTE, Aug. 31, 2022: Looking at these pictures for the first time in several years, I’ve a new point of view. That out-of-proportion belly the chief has — I now see that he has his hands folded over his belly.
How interesting that a bit of snow remains for his eye. (Never realized Estes Cone made the feet – that’s one of my favorite hikes) Old postcards are the best.
I’m just glad I found this one. Couldn’t find anything else that included Estes Cone.
That is a,amazing, it is perfect hits you right in the eye as soon as you look at it.
Looks more like a death statue on a coffin in an old English cathedral the way he is just lying there on his back.
It’s intrigued me since I was a kid. Once you see it, you never un-see it.
Or maybe it could be the top of an Egyptian sarcophagus. But this is Colorado, after all.
This is so cool
For the first half of my life, my summer vacations were spent with the chief on the horizon.
I love some of the old legends that come with different geologic formations. Utah has one: http://www.enjoyutah.org/2011/09/utahs-mysteries-and-legends-mount.html I lived in Provo for awhile, looking out at the Indian maiden daily. Another hard one to ‘unsee’.
Yes it is. And there’s a beautiful story behind it. If there’s a legend behind our chief, I’ve never heard it.
Seems as though there are quite a few legends based on geological formations created by Native Americans. Just depends on whether they’ve been recorded or not.
I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a legend here. I just haven’t come across it. (Or maybe somebody told me decades ago and I’ve forgotten.)
You sent your cool annotated picture to me after i couldn’t figure it out on my own — a couple of years ago, i think. Glad you did, because now I see it, too! Heck, i did good seeing The Beaver climbing up Longs without help 🙂 Hmmm, he has laid there more than 7 hours, too– wonder if he will be achy when he sits up!!
Oh thank goodness; I’m not losing my mind.