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<br />000885
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<br />UNCOMPAHGRE AND WILSON MOUNTAINS PRIMITIVE AREAS
<br />SAN JUAN AND UNCOMPAHGRE NATIONAL FORESTS
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<br />The 69,253 acre Uncompahgre Primitive Area, within the National Forest of the same name,
<br />is composed of two units separated by U, S, Highway 550 and the Town of Ouray,
<br />Colorado, Containing perhaps the most beautiful alpine scenery in the State, the Primitive
<br />Area also has the distinction of containing more privately-owned land-16,001 acres-than
<br />any other Primitive Area or Wilderness in the National Forest System,
<br />
<br />These private inholdings consist of hundreds of patented (deeded) mining claims, acquired
<br />during the late 1800's and early 1900's when mining activity was extensive and towns like
<br />Telluride, Ouray, and Silverton were booming, In later years, with higher-grade ore
<br />diminished and the country in an economic depression, many of the properties were
<br />abandoned or held in an inactive status by owners hoping for the day "when mining would
<br />come back,"
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<br />Recognizing that extensive private inholdings tend to complicate National Forest
<br />administration, Forest Supervisor J. S, Veeder nevertheless recommended establishment of
<br />the Uncompahgre Primitive Area under Regulation L-20, H is report, dated October 29,
<br />1931, noted, "Although this primitive area includes a considerable number of patented
<br />mining claims, it is not believed that the patented land will be detrimental to the primitive
<br />order designation, Certainly, the rough character of the country will preclude the use of
<br />these old mining claims for purposes incompatible to the order," adding, "The primitive
<br />designation will not, of course, prevent further mining development,"
<br />
<br />Supervisor Veeder's report and management plan were approved by Regional Forester Allen
<br />S, Peck on May 16, 1932, and by Chief of the Forest Service R, y, Stuart on March 28,
<br />1932, creating the two-unit Primitive Area,
<br />
<br />A short distance southwest of the Uncompahgre Primitive Area are the Wilson Mountains, a
<br />comparatively small range forming the boundary of the Uncompahgre and San Juan
<br />National Forests, Although not extensive, the peaks are usually rugged and beautiful, with
<br />some over 14,000 feet in elevation, The Wilsons were once entirely within the Montezuma
<br />National Forest, but that administrative unit was eliminated and the affected lands added to
<br />the San Juan and Uncompahgre National Forests,
<br />
<br />A, F, Hoffman, Montezuma National Forest Supervisor, recommended establishment of the
<br />Wilson Mountains Primitive Area on March 22,1930, His report and management plan were
<br />revised and resubmitted on January 29, 1932, and approved by Regional Forester Allen S,
<br />Peck on April 11, 1932, Chief Forester R, y, Stuart gave final approval on October 1, 1932,
<br />and the 27,347" acre Primitive Area was established under Regulation L-20, Hoffman
<br />reported no private inholdings, although 771 acres of private land exist in the Primitive Area
<br />in 1974, The gross acreage of the area is now 30,875 acres, the slight increase over the
<br />original being due to improvements in the base maps used to calculate acreage,
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