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<br />The early day wagon roads leading out of Ashcroft, one over Taylor Pass and the other to the
<br />Montezuma Mine, were mentioned in the pian, "They are gradually washing out, and, , ,will
<br />probably soon be impassible," it predicted, adding, "It is not anticipated that they will ever
<br />be anything but wagon roads,"
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<br />Today, Taylor Pass and Pearl Pass (via the Montezuma Milll are popular and well known
<br />four-wheel drive vehicle trips, I n fact, it was the growing popularity of these roads for
<br />"jeep" travel following World War II, and the increased mineral interest in Castle Creek, that
<br />led to the declassification - withdrawal from Primitive Area status - of that portion of the
<br />area in 1 956,
<br />
<br />The Forest Service, as part of its program of reviewing the eXisting Primitive Areas
<br />(established under Regulation L-201 for reclassification under the more restrictive Wild
<br />Areas I Regulation U-2, under 100,000 acres) and Wilderness Areas (Regulation U-1, over
<br />100,000 acres), established the Maroon Bells, Snowmass Wild Area, Castle Creek above
<br />Ashcroft was not included in the Wild Area, but the Avalanche Creek drainage and Geneva
<br />Lake area were added resulting in an overall increase in size to 71,239 acres, The acreage of
<br />patented mining ciaims within the area dropped to 269 acres since most of the privately
<br />owned land was in upper Castle Creek, Forest Service Chief Richard E, McCardle approved
<br />the reclassification on May 3, 1956, after it was recommended by Forest Supervisor J, V,
<br />Leighou on March 28, 1952,
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<br />In 1964, the Wilderness Act was passed by Congress, All existing National Forest Wild and
<br />Wilderness Areas, including the Maroon Bells - Snowmass, were included in the National
<br />Wilderness Preservation System, confirming the Forest Service management set in motion
<br />over forty years ago when the Primitive Area was first established, Supervisor Borden's
<br />expectation that the tax delinquent lands would be easily acquired in the future was never
<br />realized, for the Aspen area boomed following the war as skiing became a major industry
<br />and the economic base of the area, Land values have climbed steadily and mining is a major
<br />activity in Castle Creek, but the Maroon Bells - Snowmass Wilderness, in spite of heavy use
<br />in some areas, remains essentially untrammeled by man,
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