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<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 />