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0009~8 .'.1 GLACIER PRIMITIVE AREA and POPO AGIE PRIMITIVE AREA SHOSHONE NATIONAL FOREST WYOMING The Wind River Mountain Range of Wyomin9 echoes the names of Jim Bridger, Kit Carson, William Sublet, Captain Bonneville and Lt. John Fremont. I n the 1800's these men were the first explorers and trappers to enter the range that contains what we know today as the Glacier and Popo Agie Primitive Areas. In 1891, the Wind, River Range was included in the first Federal Forest Reserve established-the Yellowstone Timberland Reserve. In 1908 the Bonneville and Shoshone National Forests were established from this Reserve. n Name and boundary changes occurred in 1911 when the Washakie National Forest was created, and again in 1945 when parts of the Washakie became the Shoshone National Forest. I rr ~ II ~ " In 1926, Forest Ranger A. G. Clayton of Sheridan wrote of his horseback trip through what is now the Glacier Primitive area: "To one who has not camped alone amid the high peaks it is quite impossible to describe the feeling that comes over one. . .in such a land as this. . . .a feeling of utter loneliness and such loneliness as I had never felt before. . . . A feeling of smallness which is indescribable, and, yes, a feeling of reverence for the Creator, as though He alone had His eyes on me and that I was being judged close in His presence. I crawled into my blankets and slept." ~ Later in Clayton's report he said "The whole country is a spectacular one. It presents a sight that is at once grand and cruel, cold and magnificient, gorgeous in its very formidableness." :1 "Some call this the forest primeval-perhaps it is in more ways than one, irrespective of the changes that have taken place. True, trees have been cut, trails have been built, cattle and sheep have trodden it, and in places fire has scorched it. But the very bigness of jt dwarfs man's attempts to greatly change it. As a matter of fact, he doesn't try-his duty is to keep it and improve it where he can. "Trees, grass, flowers, alpine lakes and riotous mountain streams, and back of these the massive peaks capped with snow and ice forever reminding us of the dim long ago." ,I ~ , A May 1929 report by Washakie Forest Supervisor W. J. Pearce reads: "One of the large and increasing uses of the forest is that of human occupancy. Such an area on the Washakie .is the great glacier region and adjacent country. . , . Here, an area has been set aside, free from all development except essential trails, with the idea of keeping it perpetually in as near its natural condition as possible."