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<br />0009d7
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<br />Allen S. Peck, Regional Forester, approved the report and enthusiastic description, and on
<br />October 1, 1932, the South Absaroka Primitive Area was established by Chief Forester
<br />R. Y. Stuart.
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<br />Both the Stratified and South Absaroka Primitive Areas were designated under "Regulation
<br />L-20." which provided for utilization of resources such as timber, water, grazing, and
<br />minerals. In 1939, ten years after the promulgation of Regulation L-20, the Secretary of
<br />Agriculture issued Regulations U-l for Wilderness Areas and U-2 for Wild Areas, further
<br />refining the concept of wilderness management. U-l and U-2 were identical insofar as
<br />management was concerned-both eliminated commercial timber harvest, prohibited motor
<br />vehicle use, etc.-with the distinction being that Wilderness Areas would be larger than
<br />100,000 acres and Wild Areas smaller than 100,000 acres.
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<br />The Forest Service began the process of reviewing the existing Primitive Areas for
<br />reclassification, but World War II delayed the process. Steady progress was made following
<br />the War, and on March 9,1951, Shoshone National Forest Supervisor E. S. Miller submitted
<br />a reclassification proposal for the South Absaroka. Re9ional Forester Edward P. Cliff, later
<br />to become Chief of the Forest Service, recommended approval on March 13, and C. M.
<br />Granger, Acting Chief Forester recommended approval on March 28, of the same year.
<br />Under Secretary of Agriculture C. J. McCormick gave final approval on April 6, 1951,
<br />establishing the South Absaroka Wilderness Area.
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<br />Part of the Primitive Area, consisting of 55,000 acres in the Middle and South Forkof the
<br />Wood River, was not reclassified but was added to the Stratified Primitive Area, increasing
<br />its size to 202,000 acres. The size of the new Wilderness Area, due to the transfer of the
<br />55,000 acres and some boundary adjustments, was 506,300 acres, with 748 acres of state,
<br />county and private inholdings.
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<br />Enacted by Congress on September 3, 1964, the Wilderness Act automatically incorporated
<br />all existing Wilderness and Wild Areas in the Wilderness System, confirming the
<br />administrative actions of the Forest Service to date. All remaining Primitive Areas were to
<br />be studied in the following ten year period for possible addition to the System by Congress.
<br />The Stratified Primitive Area was then reviewed and on October 9, 1972, legislation was
<br />passed which combined the Stratified Primitive Area and South Absaroka Wilderness, with
<br />some boundary adjustment, as the present Washakie Wilderness.
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<br />In 1974, the Wilderness remains untrammeled by man. Known for its spectacular scenery,
<br />vastness, big game herds, it remains, as Washakie National Forest Supervisor Pearce said,
<br />". . .an area of unusual charm, well worth keeping. . . ."
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