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<br />9istinguishing Characteristics <br /> <br />The proposed Eagles Nest Wilderness embodies all of the characteristics of a Wilder- <br />ness. Evidences of man's intrusion into the area are few. There are areas of virgin <br />forest, cascading streams, deep clear lakes, abundant wildlife. in one of the more rugged <br />mountain ranges in Colorado. <br /> <br />The Gore Range, a mass of sharp-pointed peaks, crests, and ridges, dominates the <br />landscape. Mt. Powell, 13;354 feet, is the highest peak in the area. There are 17 peaks <br />over 13,000 feet, and 33 over 12.000 feet. Elevations are from 7,850 feet to 13,534 <br />feet, with a median of over 10,500 feet. <br /> <br />Temperatures from light, frosty conditions at night to highs of 80 degrees occur <br />during the normal summer use season. Precipitation falls mostly in the form of snow but <br />high intensity rain showers normally occur during July and August. The soils are de- <br />rived from granite, schist, and gneiss. They are rocky, highly acid, and have varying <br />depths. <br /> <br />Proximity to Population and to Other Wildernesses <br /> <br />A population of over 2,500,000 people has access to the area within 200 miles drive <br />by automobile. <br /> <br />There are five Wilderness units and five other Primitive Areas in Colorado. The <br /> <br />Wilderness units are: <br /> <br /> <br />Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, White River National Forest <br /> <br />Mt. Zirkel Wilderness. Routt National Forest <br /> <br /> <br />La Garita Wilderness, Gunnison and Rio Grande National Forests <br /> <br /> <br />Rawah Wilderness, Roosevelt National Forest <br /> <br /> <br />West Elk Wilderness, Gunnison National Forest <br /> <br />These five Wildernesses total 280,109 acres. The Primitive Areas are: <br />Bat Tops Primitive Area, Routt and White River National Forests <br />San Juan Primitive Area. San Juan National Forest <br />Uncompahgre Primitive Area, Uncompahgre National Forest <br />Upper Rio Grande Primitive Area, Rio Grande National Forest <br />Wilson Mountains Primitive Area. San Juan and Uncompahgre National Forests <br /> <br />These five Primitive Areas total 467,393 acres. <br /> <br />Of these ten areas, the closest Wilderness to the Eagles Nest is the Maroon Bells- <br />Snowmass, about 50 miles southwest, and the nearest Primitive Area is the Bat Tops, <br />about 50 miles northwest. <br /> <br />2 <br />