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(1' .).) ", '\ ,j I ~. "'- ~.. -' .. ~ ~~,l . ~ .'. . ~ ~~:.' UNDEVELOPED LANDS Allor part of four inventoried road less and undeveloped tracts are within the Encampment Unit. Three of the areas, Coon Creek, Encampment River, and Huston Park, are on the- Medicine Bow N.F. The fourth, Davis Peak, is on the Routt. The latter, contiguous to the Mt. Zirkel Wilderness, was selected by the Chief of the Forest Service in October, 1973, as a New Study Area, and will be evaluated for wilderness potential at a later date. The fo))owing table illustrates the size of the inventoried road less and undeveloped areas, and the acreage of each within the Encampment Unit. Area Coon Creek Encampment River Huston Park Davis Peak Gross Acreage , 11,290 6,000 29,510 94,500 Acreage in Encampment Unit All 11 ,290 All 6,000 Part 5,940 Part 1 a,500 Total 141,300 41,730 Since the compilation of the undevelop.ed and road less area inventory, some locations believed at the time to meet the inventory criteria have been found to contain instrusions. Converseiy, some locations meeting the criteria were inadvertently omitted. In light of this, as well as the fact that the definition of an area as either "developed" or "undeveloped" is subjective in borderline situations, the inventory boundaries should not be construed as exact. The Mt. Zirkel Wilderness was originally established as a Forest Service "Primitive Area" in 1931. Reclassified as a 'Wilderness Area" in 1949 under more restrictive regulations, and enlarged in 1964, the Wilderness now contains 72,472 acres. With passage of the Wilderness Act later in 1964, this outstanding area was automatically included in the National Wilderness System and given statutory protection. All of the Wilderness is within the Routt National Forest, but only 7,490 acres are drained by the Upper Encampment River, and hence within the Encampment Unit. The Coon Creek area, some five miles square, possesses few unique features or characteristics. Wilderness values and potential are diminished by past tie-cutting and the remains of primitive roads and cabins built during that era. The land is rugged and forested, and offers good hiking and backcountry recreational experiences, as well as potential for timber management. The Encampment River Roadless and Undeveloped area is defined by the upper edge or rims of the scenic canyon. Included are the steep rock walls, a variety of vegetation covering the canyon slopes, and the rushing river - an excellent trout stream. A trail follows the river the full length of the Unit, and hiking and horseback riding are popular uses, with some big game hunting. Eleven miles of the trail are especially scenic, paralleling gushing white water, deep pools, and small waterfalls. The water is too rough for floating or canoeing. Three and three.fourths miles of the river below the National Forest boundary pass through small private tracts and National Resource Lands administered by the Bureau of land Management. Though still canyon country, the surroundings are less forested and the river less rapid. A delightful three-day backpacking trip may be taken from the I.O.O.F. Camp road south of Encampment to the Mt. Zirkel Wilderness, the full length of the unit. Primitive or narrow roads come near the river at several places in the undeveloped area, and main roads cross at Commissary Park. Huston Park is the largest inventoried road less and undeveloped area on the Medicine Bow National Forest (29,510l. It is one of the few areas on the Forest large enough for a backpacking or horseback outing of several days without gOing outside the area or encountering many other people. Iii ~- c---.o_ " f';~ I ). : . , " ~ ~ ~ , 4ib ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ::s