WSP11312 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

'i'll , n ,) r"\.~l ~ ,.;. 4 V _..-J CONCLUSIONS Areas Suitable for Wilderness Designation The boundary of the proposed F1at Tops Wilderness, as delineated on Map A, Page vi of this report, and described in the boundary description, Appendix A, to the fullest extent feasible follows mountain peaks, prominent cliffs or rimrock outcrops and well- defined ridges and drainages. The detailed boundary is also drawn on a set of aerial photographs, which are on me in the office of the Regional Forester, Rocky Mountain Region, Building 85, Denver, Colorado. Steep, abrupt, and rugged topographic features and other kinds of natural barriers were chosen to allow easy recognition of the bound- ary. About 99,489 acres within this proposed Wilderness have been managed and used as the F1at Tops Primitive Area since 1932. The studies by the Forest Service, the com- ments submitted by other agencies of the Government, and the vast majority of the comments made at the public hearing on October 10, 1966, and submitted for the record in the weeks following the hearing show that there is no reason to discontinue wilder- ness management and use of the area. Rather, these studies and comments show that the area should be enlarged to include areas having the character of topography, vege- tative cover, and remoteness which would serve the greatest public good if managed as part of this proposed Wilderness. The Forest Service has concluded, as a result of studying the area and considering the statements made during and after the hearing, that areas labeled "A", "B", "C", !to", HE", ~~F", HG", nH", ~~I", UJ", !tK", !!L", anduM" on Map B, Page 14, should be included in the Wilderness proposal. Area A. East Fork Williams Fork River. 21,451 acres. This proposed area will extend northward from the north boundary of the existing Primitive Area. This area has remained essentially primitive through the years and has little evi- dence of human activities. The Devil's Causeway is the most spectacular scenic attrac- tion. Numerous lakes and streams provide excellent fishing. The area has a good resident herd of elk. The great variety of physiography within the area is of wilderness quality. The lower reaches are covered by dense aspen stands on the south-facing slopes and benches. North slopes are forested with a dead spruce-fir overstory with a reproduction understory of the same species. Higher south-facing slopes are covered by park-like stands of dead spruce and fir. Rolling "flat tops" are characteristic of the above-timber- line area. Orno Peak, with an elevation of 12,110 feet, is the highest point. Trails exist for riding and hiking. The main access to this area wUl be from Forest Highway 16 (The Marvine-Phippsburg Road) at Pyramid Guard Station. Area B. Deer lake. 1.361 acres. This area was included by dropping the existing Primitive Area boundary to a lower natural rim and by including other natural features to cover the high basin which contains Deer Lake (10 acres). The proposed boundary will start from a point on the main rim which is approximately 1 mile southwest of Derby Peak and run southerly along a series of recognizable rims and ridges to a point on the main rim which is about 1 mile west of Island Lakes and on the northwest end of Sheep Mountain. This basin has remained in natural condition and has excellent fishing in the lake. The surrounding rims, which hold snowbanks most of the year, have spectacular scenery and form an interesting access to the higher country which is accessible by the trail from Middle Fork Derby Creek to Island Lake. 19