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<br />for big game; Le., elk and deer; but only fair hunting for small game. It is summer <br />range for the noted White River deer and elk herds. <br /> <br />Horseback trail riders, back packers, and canoeists have access to numerous well- <br />distributed wilderness campsites. <br /> <br />The area is ecologically stable. For the most part, it can absorb considerable human <br />and other use without causing deterioration of vegetation or soils. <br /> <br />The estimated recreation visits for 1964 are shown below. This represents an in- <br />crease of 15% over 1963 and 57% over 1960. <br /> <br />1964 <br />By mode of travel: <br /> <br />On Foot ........ ................... ......................................... <br />Horseback....... ..... .................................................... <br />Total <br /> <br />Visits <br /> <br />Visitor Days * <br /> <br />2,840 <br />1,460 <br />4,300 <br /> <br />22,720 <br />11,680 <br />34,400 <br /> <br />By season of use: <br /> <br />Summer Season <br />April thru September ......................................... <br /> <br />Hunting Season <br />October thru December ..................................... <br />Total <br /> <br />3,570 <br /> <br />28,560 <br /> <br />730 <br />4,300 <br /> <br />5,840 <br />34,400 <br /> <br />Average length of visit is 4 calendar days. * A visitor day is 12 patron hours. <br /> <br />The majority of the recreationists who visit the Flat Tops are from the Colorado <br />Springs-Denver area. Over 2,000,000 people are within 250 miles driving distance. <br />While many forms of recreation attract visitors, 40 percent come to the Flat Tops for <br />fishing. Consequently, the pattern-of-use has centered around the lakes and streams <br />that have better fishing. <br />Interest and participation in primitive and unconfined types of recreation are grow- <br />ing. Use of the Flat Tops is expected to increase substantially as the area becomes <br />more accessible and better known. Major improvements are presently being made to <br />State, county, and forest development roads. Camping facilities at the ends of roads <br />near the proposed Wilderness boundary are being improved. <br />Use may double by the year 1975. It will cause considerable impact on the sites <br />presently available for camping and other uses. Adjustments in camp locations, travel <br />routes, and use regulations will have to be made as necessary to prevent deterioration <br />which might result from this increased use. <br />If the area is not designated as Wilderness, it could become available for public <br />recreation, accessible by automobile. Road access for this purpose would be extremely <br />expensive because of the escarpment which borders the Flat Tops. Hunting and fishing <br />would be the major attraction. Camping at the higher elevations would not be popular <br />because of low nightly temperatures. <br /> <br />Wildlife <br /> <br />The area has elk, mule deer, and black bear. Occasionally a bighorn sheep may be <br />encountered. The major part of the famous White River big-game herd of several thou- <br />sand deer and elk use this area during the summer and fall. The size of this herd is <br /> <br />8 <br /> <br />'.f', <br /> <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />I' <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />