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The legend of Mt. Silverheels, is a legend of sacrifice, compassion and tragedy. It is yet another tale of Colorado that gives us insight into how the Land Goddess tells us how to live and die. During the days of the Colorado gold rush a small camp was born called Buckskin Joe. The camp was named after Joseph Higganbottom who was often seen wearing deer buckskin for clothing, a rather unusual thing for a "white man" to wear back then. Buckskin Joe discovered a vein of ore nearby and a mining camp was born. Eventually the camp grew to house many miners. Lonely miners. One day a beautiful young woman came to the camps to entertain. The rumor of her astounding beauty spread fast and she was soon giving dance performances in many of the high mountain mining camps. She was especially popular in Buckskin Joe. Because of her silver shoes she was called "Silverheels". Not long after she arrived the mountains of Colorado were struck with a smallpox epidemic. The epidemic was said to have been started by a couple of sheepherders who made their way through South Park that summer. As people began to succomb to the disease most of the women and children left the mountains for Denver. Many of the miners stayed on, however, fearing claim jumpers. Many did not live to see the next summer. 
Silverheels, however, stayed behind. She took care of the sick, and the dying bringing as much comfort as she could to the miners who had given her such a generous welcome. Eventually the pox caught up with her as well. She was placed in the infirmary with the miners, but unlike others did NOT die. But her beauty was marred permanently by the scarring of smallpox. When she was recovered she left the infirmary and shut herself away in a small cabin near the base of Mount Silverheels. After the epidemic had passed many of the miners took up a collection of money for Silverheels. They went up to her cabin to give the money but found the place empty, apparently abandoned. The only thing left was her pair of silver shoes lying on a table. In her honor the miners named the mountain she had lived on Mount Silverheels. Silverheels never really left. She is occasionally seen today among the aspens of Buckskin cemetery still watching over the miners she gave so much for. She is veiled and walks among the grave stones singing. The Sídhe live.
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