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OG23.a2 the summit of Mesa Seco, Unique research on insect populations has been conducted here by the University of Illinois, Stanford University and the University of Kansas. The Cannibal Plateau WSA is also of historic interest because of the activities of Colorado's only convicted cannibal, Alferd Packer. Indeed, Cannibal Plateau receives its name from Packer's exploits, His five victims, eaten during the winter of 1874 in Deadman's Gulch, are now buried at an historical site just outside the boundary of the WSA. Resource Information The timber resources of the Cannibal Plateau could produce a sustained yield of 1.1 mmbf per year. In comparison, the proposed annual cut on the Grand Mesa/Uncompahgre/ Gunnison National Forests is 35 mmbf.13 Cannibal Plateau thus contains just three percent of the total for the region. The area is not attractive for timber cutting due to its remoteness from markets, lack of an existing road network and low site productivity. The Cannibal Plateau area consists of volcanics estimated to be 4000-5000 feet thick, making the likelihood of mineral discoveries extremely low, Any vein deposit within the crystalline rock is expected to be very deep and expensive'to recover. No unpatented mining claims exist in the powderhorn portion and no patented claims exist in the entire area.14 No jeeping is allowed, as all roads are presently closed. These roads are revegetating, but occasional trail bike use does occur. The terrain is suitable for snowmobiling in the winter, but BLM surveys reveal little use due to hazardous winter conditions resulting from cold, windy weather and frequent white-outs. Much better snowmobiling opportunities are found south of the area, across Highway 149, in Ramboullet Park and around Hill 71, where the town of Lake City grooms the trails. Boundary Issues The critical need for compatible Forest Service and BLM management actions is readily apparent upon examination of a map of the area. An arbitrary administrative boundary cuts through the Calf Creek and Cannibal Plateaus, placing half in BLM and half in Forest Service jurisdiction. There is no distinguishable topographic boundary; rather, the level, open tundra of the plateaus represents a continuum from one end to the other. 13Grand Mesa/Uncompahgre/Gunnison ~, September 1983, 14GMUG Draft Forest Plan and powderhorn ISA Final Wilderness Report, May 1984. National Forests Draft 9