Indian Princess

My Father used to tell me the story of an Indian princess (I mean Native American, but in an attempt to revert to childhood Indian will suffice). Lady Timpanogos was her name. She was in love with a handsome Ute brave who valiantly went off to fight the enslaving Spanish. He was killed in battle, up against the black powder technology of the Spaniards. Deeply saddened by the news of her love's tragic death, Lady Timpanogos climbed to the highest peak above her home. Poised standing tall, with hands crossing her bossom, Lady Timp slowly fell backward off the top of the mountain to her eternal resting place.

Today, she can be seen laying where she fell, hands still crossed over her chest, peaceful and happy with her true love.

Today this story is still passed down to generations Utes and Ourays and even young Utahns. There are many different versions of the story as well, but I tend to like my childhood version.

The Ute Indians; of the Shoshone Indian linguistic stock, were originally divided into seven nomadic, and forest-dwelling tribes which lived on vast territory in Colorado and parts of Utah and northern New Mexico prior to he arrival of the European settlers; they were the Capote, the Mouache, the Parianucs, the Tabeguache, the Uintah, the Weeminuche, and the Yampa. Each tribe tells their own version of the story.

As a Utahn, we too have the duty to carry on the rich love for our heritage. Have you seen Lady Timpanogos as she lays in her slumber? I challenge you to climb her peaks, to breath in her crisp mountain air, to dwell with her local inhabitants of white fur and long scruffy beards (indigenous mountain goats), to swim in her cold cold glacier waters.

In the meantime, enjoy what Mt. Timpanogos has to offer here: http://www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/151365/mt-timpanogos-ut.html