At the dawn of history, nomadic Ute crisscrossed this land and roamed over these mountain passes, gathering to hunt buffalo and returning to the lower country as winter approached. Their travels throughout Colorado were guided by an intimate knowledge of when and where nature's resources could be harvested. The Ute revered the mountains as the source of all life, and for centuries they hunted deer, elk, buffalo, and rabbits, while gathering plants that included berries, wild onions, and the edible root of yampa.