Where Eagles Winter

Disappointment Valley is a land of unsurpassed beauty, as belies its name. Located on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains in Southwestern Colorado, it is also rugged and isolated. The name, no doubt, discouraged many and contributed to the strong-willed and self-sufficient character of the Valley's pioneers. The nearly boundless grazing, from high mountian summer pasture to low pinon and cedar (juniper) winter pasture, made it prime cattle ranching country.The ranching pioneers incluced Southerners displaced by the Civil War; Northerners seeking new frontiers; and immigrants from England, Canada, Ireland and Denmark. While their backgrounds were diverse, they shared a strong spirit of independence. They often flaunted tradition and defied outside authority, gaining them a reputation as "lawless". They weren't lawless, but they preferred to settle their own affairs. They chose to forgo the acceptance and ammenities of society for the sake of personal freedom.This is their story. It has been compiled from legends, records and photographs provided by descendents of the settlers, and by research of existing public records. It chronicles events as they were perceived by those who lived in the Disappointment Country during the turbulent era of 1879 to 1929.