Journal 21: Bears, Bullets, and Backbone on Raspberry Mountain

At first glance, Pinehaven might seem like just another peaceful mountain retreat, tucked away among the evergreens with the hum of hummingbirds and the scent of pine drifting through the air. But look a little closer, and you’ll find that this quiet cabin community is perched on a slope that once echoed with the sounds of rifle shots, bear growls, and frontier grit. 

Geologically and topographically, Pinehaven sits on the western flank of Raspberry Mountain, a peak steeped in more than just natural beauty. Life in the shadow of Raspberry Mountain was never quiet for long. The land was as wild as it was beautiful. Bears were common, uncomfortably so. Every summer, drawn by the rich thickets of wild raspberries, they would descend from the higher slopes and into the forest and meadows below.

Long before weekend hikers and cabin decks with hot tubs, Raspberry Mountain was the stage for some of the most daring and downright entertaining tales in Huerfano County’s history. From bear-hunting legends and fearless teens to live bear parades that turned Main Street into a frontier sideshow, this mountain has seen it all. What follows are some of the wildest, boldest, and most unforgettable true stories from the slopes Pinehaven calls home. These tales that remind us that before this was a getaway, it was a battleground of survival, spirit, and occasionally, a well-timed bear joke.

Daddy” James Lea – Bear Hunter

“Daddy” James Lea – Bear Hunter

In the early 1900s, Raspberry Mountain was known for its plentiful black bears, which sometimes preyed on livestock. James “Daddy” Lea, a legendary old-time bear hunter who lived four miles north from Pinehaven’s entrance at the foot of a craggy formation called the Devil’s Stairsteps, frequented Raspberry Mountain on his hunts. He was reputed to have “got some of his bears on Raspberry” during his decades-long crusade against local predators. By one account, Lea killed so many bears ravaging area ranches that by the late 1920s the local newspaper joked he had nearly eliminated all the bears around La Veta. Lea’s exploits – including finally bagging a notorious marauding bear called “Old Club Foot” in 1929 – made him a folk hero in Huerfano County. Raspberry Mountain’s forests were part of his hunting ground, illustrating the frontier character of the area.

Twelve-year-old Loyd Powell

  The Feats of Young Loyd Powell

In 1916, Raspberry Mountain served as the backdrop for one of the area’s most legendary coming-of-age stories. Twelve-year-old Loyd Powell, the only son of rancher Charles Powell, managed to shoot and kill not one, but two black bears, in just two days.(1) The town buzzed with pride, and the local newspaper even ran the story, proof that bear encounters weren’t just common back then. They were a rite of passage proving how common and significant bear encounters were in that era.(2) Loyd came from tough stock: his grandfather, John L. Powell, crossed the Continental Divide in a covered wagon and was the original homesteader on the property that is now Pinehaven.(3) Loyd’s father Charles ran the well-known Cuchara Camps resort. Clearly, courage ran in the family. The tale became part of Powell family lore, and let’s be honest, it puts today’s 12-year-olds to shame. Loyd was taking on wild bears; most kids today can’t take on a dishwasher without tech support.

Homesteader Morgan Patterson

Morgan Patterson, the Bear Whisperer

In 1913, homesteader Morgan Patterson and his son turned Raspberry Mountain into their own personal wildlife park when they managed to capture a live bear cub. Their plan? Sell it to a zoo—because apparently, Facebook Marketplace wasn’t a thing yet. Until then, they kept the cub in La Veta, where it became the talk of the town. According to a local newspaper, the little furball caused quite a stir because nothing says “frontier excitement” like showing up to Main Street with a wild bear on a leash.

The La Veta Bear Show

In 1917, long before Netflix and TikTok, one man brought La Veta its own live-action entertainment, literally. According to local historian Nancy Christofferson, he trapped a bear on Raspberry Mountain and paraded it through town like a four-legged celebrity. With few amusements available back then, a roaming bear on display was probably the most exciting thing to hit Main Street that year. It was equal parts wild west and traveling circus. One can only imagine the gossip: “Did you see the bear today?” “Which one, the banker or the real one?”(4) 

Martha “Agnes” Mack

17 Year-Old Girl Hunts Bloodthirsty Bear

In 1903, seventeen-year-old Martha “Agnes” Mack proved herself a force to be reckoned with. When a large bear began preying on local sheep, she bravely tracked it through the rugged terrain north of Raspberry Mountain and brought it down herself.(5) Her fearless act wasn’t just a remarkable feat, it captured the raw courage and determination required to survive in the unforgiving wilderness early settlers called home.

Unforgiving Land and Gritty Legends

These stories, rooted in Raspberry Mountain’s rugged slopes, reveal more than just tall tales, they offer a glimpse into the untamed frontier culture that shaped Pinehaven’s surrounding landscape. Whether it was “Daddy” Lea tracking predators, young Loyd Powell proving his mettle, or Martha Mack taking on a bear at seventeen, the mountain forged resilient people who met danger with courage and conviction. 

Raspberry Mountain wasn’t just a scenic backdrop; it was a proving ground. Today, as modern life hums quietly in Pinehaven’s forested cabins, these echoes of bravery and wild encounters still whisper through the trees, reminding us of the grit and spirit that once roamed these hills.(6)

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Footnotes

Parenthetical numbers in the text (e.g., 5) correspond to the sequentially numbered citations listed below.

1. Regional History: Bear-ing Up,” World Journal, accessed July 15, 2025, https://worldjournalnewspaper.com/regional-history-bear-ing-up/#:~:text=In%201913%20Morgan%20Patterson%20and,it%20around%20town%20in%201917. 

2. World Journal, "Regional History: Bear-ing Up," accessed July 15, 2025, https://worldjournalnewspaper.com/regional-history-bear-ing-up/.

3. Hazel E. Cross and Josephine C. Jochem, River of Friendship (Chicago: Adams Press, 1970), page 13.

4. Christofferson, Nancy. "Regional History Bear-ing Up." The World Journal, June 11, 2020. https://worldjournalnewspaper.com/regional-history-bear-ing-up/.

5. Meat and Potatoes." World Journal. Accessed July 17, 2025. https://worldjournalnewspaper.com/meat-and-potatoes/.  

6. Author’s note: In preparing this article, the author used AI-assisted tools for research support, proofreading, fact-checking, and stylistic refinement. The narrative, analysis, and historical interpretations are the author’s own, and responsibility for accuracy rests solely with the author. The blog’s research methodology statement is available at:

https://cabininthepinescuchara.blogspot.com/2019/03/methodology-sources-and-use-of-research.html