<br />.,
<br />
<br />OiHl9G6
<br />
<br />WASHAKIE WILDERNESS
<br />SHOSHONE NATIONAL FOREST
<br />
<br />Take places like Five Pockets, Ramshorn Mountain, Secret Basin, Cougar Pass, the
<br />Coalchute, Ishwooa Mesa, Wapiti Ridge, South Fork and Plentycoos Peak; consider the
<br />sprawling Thoroughfare country at the head of the Yellowstone on the far side of the
<br />Absaroka Range; and the result is one of the larger Wilderness regions in the National Forest
<br />System. The Washakie Wilderness of 691,678 acres is located on the eastern and southern
<br />slopes of the Absarokas within the Shoshone National Forest, while contiguous to it on the
<br />west are the 557,311 acre Teton Wilderness and Yellowstone Park. Within the entire
<br />expanse of the 1 J4 million acre region of National Forest Wilderness are only 548 acres of
<br />privately-owned land-all within the Washakie.
<br />
<br />Named in memory of the famed and highly respected Chief Washakie of the Shoshones, the
<br />Wilderness was established by Congress on October 9, 1972 from the existing South
<br />Absaroka Wilderness and the Stratified Primitive Area.
<br />
<br />~
<br />
<br />Wallace J. Pearce, Supervisor of the Washakie National Forest (now part of the Shoshone
<br />National Forest) recommended establishment of the 147,000 acre Stratified Primitive Area
<br />on December 12, 1929. He revised the report and management plan on February 5, 1932,
<br />and it was approved by Allen S. Peck, Regional Forester, on February 26. Chief Forester
<br />R. y, Stuart gave final approval on March 25, 1932.
<br />
<br />Supervisor Pearce undoubtedly named the Primitive Area after the prominent rock strata
<br />visible in much of the area. He said, "This area. . .is a country characterized by deep narrow
<br />valleys, some of them true canyons in character, and broad flat topped mountains and
<br />plateaus. It has been built up of eruptive material.. .Iaid down almost horizontally in
<br />numerous strata. . .cemented by water action. The formations are extremely unstable and
<br />break down irregularly, resulting in. . .step-Iike cliffs and buttes."
<br />
<br />~
<br />
<br />II
<br />
<br />"The many narrow valleys:' continued Pearce, "with the close association of narrow strips
<br />of timber in the bottoms with adjacent precipitous cliffs, the feeling of seclusion. . " make it
<br />an area of unusual charm, well worth keepin9. . _ . The abundance and tameness of wildlife
<br />is no mean contribution to the charm. . . . The unit is also rich in the petrified remains of
<br />forests.. .and, at the head of Frontier Creek standing petrified tree trunks may be seen." (In
<br />1958, 7500 acres containing the "Frontier Creek Petrified Forest" were withdrawn from
<br />mineral entry as added protection on this unique area,)
<br />
<br />,I
<br />,I
<br />,
<br />
<br />'I
<br />
<br />Shoshone National Forest Supervisor J. N, Langworthy proposed the South Absaroka
<br />Primitive Area on March 7, 1930; revised his report, and resubmitted it on March 25,1932.
<br />The region-totaling 614,216 acres with 508 acres of private land included-should be a
<br />Primitive Area, he felt, because, "Within this area are glaciers, a natural bridge said to be
<br />higher than the Rainbow Bridge, standing petrified trees, every species of big game and fur
<br />bearing animal native to Wyoming with the exception of the buffalo, excellent fishing
<br />waters, exceptionally good camping facilities and unsurpassed mountain grandeur and scenic
<br />attractions, including rugged mountains, extensive virgin forests, beautiful lakes, streams,
<br />and mountain meadows."
<br />
|