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OODJ15 II. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT Rocky Mountain National Park was set aside in 1915 by Congressional Act to provide recreation and preserve an outstanding example of the cen- tral Rocky Mountains and the associated ecosystems. Today it is the primitive core of a vast mountain recreation zone serving the rapidly expanding front range megalopolis as well as cross-country travelers. The population concentration stretches along the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado from Fort Collins and Greeley on the north to Pueblo on the south. In the center and only l~ hours from the park is the Denver metropolitan area with 1.2 million inhabitants. The area east of the mountains is one of the fastest growing population centers in the nation. The economy is rapidly shifting from agriculture to manufacturing in Colorado, with tourism also playing an important part, Over two million visitors to the park are recorded each year. The amount of high quality primitive areas still unaltered by human intru- sion is rapidly disappearing in this part of Colorado. So far, the backcountry of the park has maintained its primitive character. Providing modern facilities and a strategic base for visitors to the park are park-oriented resort villages with tourist-dependent economies. Estes Park, Allenspark, and Glen Haven on the east and Grand Lake on the west are resort villages whose economies depend on tourism, most of which is attracted by the national park. They provide a wide range of services including accommodations, restaurants, grocery stores, specialty and curio shops, and many amusement and sporting activities. Within the park a concession ski area, consisting of four tows and a chairlift with a restaurant-gift shop-rental shop complex at the base, is located in Hidden Valley along Trail Ridge Road. This area is also open in the summer to provide food and curio services. At Fall River Pass on Trail Ridge Road the concessioner runs another restaurant and curio shop in close proximity to the National Park Alpine Visitor Center. Six campgrounds within the park provide 650 vehicle-accessible, family- size sites, with several more reserved for larger groups. These along with the trailhead parking areas provide the threshold bases to serve the primitive interior. Trail Ridge Road, climbing to 12,183 feet ele- vation, proviges a readily accessible, unique, viewing platfo~ for the motorized public through the core of the park. Two horse concessions and several stables located near the boundaries also provide less stren- uous access to the proposed wilderness area. An annual park total of 44,481 horse trips were estimated for 1970. Most of the visitors walk in to the proposed wilderness area, using the 300 miles of designated trails. Backcountry use is increasing rapidly, with 27,129 overnight trips recorded in 1971. This was an increase of 29% over 1970. About 94% of this use comes in June, July, August and 12