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OOiJ~Li~ CLOUD PEAK PRIMITIVE AREA BIGHORN NATIONAL FOREST The Cloud Peak Primitive Area of 94,000 acres was established on the Bighorn National Forest in Wyoming on March 5, 1932. It encompasses the scenic climax of the Bighorn Mountain Range, and is named for the Range's highest summit, Cloud Peak, which exceeds 13,000 feet in elevation. Primitive Area status for the lake.studded region was recommended by Forest Supervisor Fred B. Agee on March 31, 1930. His report and management plan were revised on January 8, 1932, and approved by Allen S. Peck, Regional Forester, on February 19, 1932. Approval was given by Chief Forester R. Y. Stuart on March 5, 1932, and the area formally established as a Primitive Area under Regulation L.20. Supervisor Agee stated that the purpose of the Primitive Area designation would be to maintain the "natural primitive condition," and provide permanently". . .for camping, pack trips, and other forms of outdoor recreation away from civilization." He added, "In its local application, it is intended to provide a place for camping, and horseback and pack trips, for the numerous guests of the nearby 'Dude Ranches: and in that way provide permanently for the Dude Ranch industry in the region." Regulation L.20 permitted the utilization of timber within Primitive Areas, but Agee noted that only 7,500 acres supported tree growth that might "have some future commercial value." He emphasized that none of the timber was "commercially accessible" at the present time. Grazing domestic livestock under Forest Service permit was also authorized under L.20, as it is today under the 1964 Wilderness Act, and Agee reported 20,000 head of sheep using the Primitive Area during the summer months. Discussing the importance of grazing, he said, "Because of the intensive demand for livestock grazing and its economic relation to agriculture in the surrounding plains country, existing grazing. . .should not be curtailed:' adding, "But. . .should not be further extended into the area. . . ." The problem of finding sufficient horse feed in the more popular camping spots was mentioned, as was the possibility of future conflict between livestock and recreation stock if ". . .pack travel through the region becomes heavier. . ..... On August 10, 1938, John W. Spencer, Assistant Regional Forester, issued instructions to Forest Supervisors for reports on potential Wilderness and Wild Areas. "It is highly desirable," he said, "in line with the Chief's expressed policy, that Region 2 revamp its present series of Primitive Areas to conform to the most recent terminology and revised principles of management. The use of the term(s) 'Primitive Area'. . .has been discontinued. All our present 'Primitive Areas' will be redesigned as either 'Wilderness' or 'Wild' areas, the distinction being purely one of size." (Wilderness Areas would be over 100,000 acres, Wild Areas less than 100,000 acres.) This action was taken during the evolution of the new "U" regulations, later issued by the Secretary of Agriculture on September 19, 1939.