User:Cheesesticks432!/sandbox

= North American Mountain Folklore= North American Mountain folklore is defined as the traditions, beliefs, and customs passed down through generations of families and inhabitants of specific regions of North American mountain ranges. Each particular mountain range has its own history and unique folklore as a result of the native people and those who immigrated and settled in the region. Mountain ranges such as, The Rocky Mountains, The Appalachian Mountains, The Alaskan Mountain range, and the Sierra Nevada Mountains all possess vastly different populations, wildlife, and ecosystems, which all influence the folklore and traditional beliefs in each respected area. Folklore is not just limited to stories, it can also include cultural customs, styles of dress, and forms of rituals and celebrations. Indigenous people of North America attribute many of the myths, legends, and stories of the land.

Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are the largest range of mountains in North America. They span 3,000 miles and reach from the north of western Canada to New Mexico in the United States. Mountaineers have been exploring these mountains since the introduction of the transcontinental railroad across Canada (Shibboleth Authentication Request). The length of the mountain range as well as the several different territories it is located in allow for an abundance of rich folklore and culture present in many areas of the United States and Canada. The Rocky Mountains are home to many well-known legends surrounding mythical creatures, such as, Big Foot, also known as Sasquatch, and The Yeti. Many sightings of these creatures have been reported, as well as many documentaries dedicated to the legend. After several expeditions over the duration of three years into the northern regions of the Rocky Mountains, Standing claims to have seen the creature and claims to have the evidence to support these claims. (Nanaimo, 2007). Standing claims to have found and analyzed a "bigfoot domicile", an area in the forest he claims creatures inhabit (Nanaimo, 2007).

Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian Mountain range spans from parts of northern Canada to the south-east United States. The region of Appalachia is marked by significant cultural traditions and identities due to European settlers. Settlers who originated from the Anglo-Scottish border as well as many Germanic settlers that developed the culture in the region. Healers and witches are popular in folklore within the Appalachian regions. Many small towns and villages share stories of these powerful women. Folklorist Gerald Milnes, describes stories of his great-grandmother who was described as a healer and a powwow doctor. This name was given by the Pennsylvania Germans, and their healing practices. (Milnes, 2007). Many of these folk healers could stop bleeding and heal wounds by reciting chants that faith in God and his great power was essential to this practice, as well as faith in the magical properties of the spell itself.

Alaskan Mountain Range
The Alaskan Mountain range is made up of the Northwestern mountain groups, and includes the highest peak in the United States. The indigenous people of Alaska are responsible for the cultural history and beliefs of the land. Tribes like Aluets, Yuits, Inupait, and Tlingit and Haida each contribute to the vast cultural landscape and legends. Stories of animal spirits are very common. The Inuit people associate these spirits with amulets and medicine pouches. In most cases, the spirits are the ghosts of different animals that serve specific purposes (Merkur, 1987). The Alaskan Mountain range consists of multiple different volcanoes. A Nushigak story told by a native of Karluk details a folktale involving a young man who is able to survive a difficult trip upstream with the advice and tools he was given by his mother. (Golder, 1909).

Sierra Nevada
The Sierra Nevada Mountains are located in the Western United States, between the Great Basin and the central valley of California. At the beginning of the 19th century, Spanish settlers made several expeditions into the central valley of California to further explore the land they inhabited (Farquhar, 1925). The California Gold rush was an event that brought thousands of individuals to the regions of the mountains to attempt to make a living off of its resources. This has led to many legends of many ghost towns and abandoned structures. During the gold rush, the afflux of people created a unique culture and way of speaking. A deck of cards was referred to as "a California prayer book" and gambling houses and saloons were very commonly inhabited by the residents of the region (Hamilton, 1932).