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<br />000718 <br /> <br />The early day wagon roads leading out of Ashcroft, one over Taylor Pass and the other to the. <br />Montezuma Mine, were mentioned in the plan. "They are gradually washing out, and. . .will <br />probably soon be impassible," iI predicted, adding, "It is not anticipated that they will ever <br />be anything but wagon roads." <br /> <br />Today, Taylor Pass and Pearl Pass (via the Montezuma Mill) are popular and well known <br />four-wheel drive vehicle trips. I n fact, it was the growing popularity of these roads for <br />"jeep" travel following World War II, and the increased mineral interest in Castle Creek, that <br />led to the declassification - withdrawal from Primitive Area status - of that portion of the <br />area in 1956. <br /> <br />. The Forest Service, as part of its program of reviewing the eXlstmg Primitive Areas <br />(established under. Regulation l-201 for reclassification under the more restrictive Wild <br />Areas (Regulation U-2, under 100,000 acres) and Wilderness Areas (Regulation U-l, over <br />100,000 acres), established the Maroon Bells - Snowmass Wild Area. Castle Creek above <br />Ashcroft was not included in the Wild Area, but the Avalanche Creek drainage and Geneva <br />lake area were added resulting in an overall increase in size to 71,239 acres. The acreage of <br />patented mining claims within the area dropped to 269 acres since most of the privately <br />owned land was in upper Castle Creek. Forest Service Chief Richard E. McCardle approved <br />the reclassification on May 3, 1956, after it was recommended by Forest Supervisor J. V. <br />leighou on March 28, 1952. <br /> <br />In 1964, the Wilderness Act was passed by Congress. All existing National Forest Wild and <br />Wilderness Areas, including the Maroon Bells - Snowmass, were included in the National <br />Wilderness Preservation System, confirming the Forest Service management set in motion <br />over forty years ago when the Primitive Area was first established. Supervisor Borden's <br />expectation that the tax delinquent lands would be easily acquired in the future was never <br />realized, for the Aspen area boomed following the war as skiing became a major industry <br />and the economic base of the area. land values have climbed steadily and mining is a major <br />activity in Castle Creek, but the Maroon Bells - Snowmass Wilderness, in spite of heavy use <br />in some areas, remains essentially untrammeled by man_ <br /> <br />I <br />I <br />