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<br />, <br />, <br /> <br />r '"' ...,~) ; <br />'- - "" '- ~ <br /> <br />Distinguishing Characteristics <br />The dominant geologic feature of the propo~ed \\'i1derne~s is the White River Plateau. <br />It is a Oattened dome compo!:'ed of geologic strata capped with la....a. The formation <br />reaches its greatest prominence on top of the "Chinese \\'all" and at the HDeviJ's <br />Causeway" divide between the F.ast Fork of the Williams Fork Rh'er and the Xorth <br />Fork of the \\bite River. This great la....a cap and suh-strata have eroded to form <br />ri\"er canyons and lake beds on the plateau itseU. <br />An abrupt. irregular border of lanl rock distinctly outline:" the portion named "Flat <br />Tops." The plateau':, perimeter is sharply delineated by sheer volcanic escarpments. <br />The proposed boundary follow1" along these cliffs but cuts acro~.-; at variou!:' point~ to <br />include intruding 'Valley~ which shelter ~cenic lake!:'. streams, and spruce forests, <br />The proposed Wilderness b mo~tly this high-ele\'ation plateau and offers a 'Variety of <br />wilderness characteri8tics in a setting of naturally wild 'Vastness. It features exquisite <br />scenery. solitude. tranquil lakes. rushing stream~, abundant wildlife. and virtually no <br />evidence of man'~ intrusion, <br /> <br /> <br />Trappers Cr..\.. runs through rugged ~oJle)'s inlide the propaled wildernen. <br /> <br />Alpine peah and open g-ras~ park:-- creatL' an oUhtanding land~capL' that feature;; <br />dbtant horizons. The main acce~s traiJ~ lead into tht:' propo~ed \\"ilderness through the <br />sharp drainages and deep drque~. ThL' :\orth and South Fork:- of the White River. the <br />East Fork of the \\'ilIiams Fork Rin~r. the Bear~ Yampa River. Derby Creek. and Sweet- <br />water Creek (all tributarie~ of the Colofildo l{in,~r) oriJ..>inate in the propo~ed Wilderness, <br /> <br />The physical profile of thi.-< n~tn.'al mo\'C's from thl' ~lontane up through thC' Subal- <br />pine to the Alpine life zonc~. Trail:-- climb. ,..omdimc:-- predpitously. from oS.OOO to <br />12.000 feet. On'rall an'rage elc\'atioll b about 10.000 feet. Temperature:-- rarely ex- <br />ceed 85 degre~:-;. :-lumml'r1- are ~hort. and fnJ~t (:an o(:cur any da:.' uf the year, \\'inter <br />tempcrature~ may drop III -HI dcgret',. below. <br />Di~tinctive fcatun> of the propo~ed \\"i1dernc,.,. includ~: <br />I. .-\n extensin' ~il\"('r Jorc,.t of bectle-killed Engl'lmann ~pnlCl' that proddes a <br />natural laboratory lor an t.'clllo~>icaJ ,.tud:.' on a ma.s.si\"(~ -"('ale. Ht:'re nature is <br />reclaiming a "l.U (If gaunt l.'l-y~(\r-nld ~nags with an undpr,..lOry of young ...pruce <br />and fir. prodng again that f(lf('~t:' :--e1dom "die" pt~rmallE'ntly <br />2. Trappers Lake, a ~:.-mbol of the serl'nity that i:- \\,i1denk"'", It I,. a grand body <br />of watt;'r that hl\"itl'~ l'onllnUllioll. <br />