Humans have taken advantage of this mountain setting and its abundant resources for about 11,000 years. Early residents occupied the valley during the short spring, summer, and fall seasons, moving to lower elevations and warmer winter climates for the other eight months of the year. Beginning in the late 1800's, homesteaders, ranchers, and (much later) dude ranchers moved into the valley, bringing the technologies of insulation to allow them to stay through the long, harsh winter.