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<br />01).1731 <br /> <br />January 1990 <br /> <br />SANGRE DE CRISTO <br /> <br />ACREAGE: 222,742 in a wilderness study Area <br /> <br />DESIGNATION RECOMMENDATIONS: <br /> <br />FOREST SERVICE <br />190,500 <br /> <br />ARMSTRONG <br />195,100 <br /> <br />WIRTH <br />252,080 <br /> <br />FOREST: San Isabel and Rio Grande Forests <br /> <br />COUNTY: FremontjCusterjHuerfanojAlamosajSaguache <br />Fremont <br />Land Area <br />sq. miles <br />1,538 <br />Custer <br />Land Area <br />sq. miles <br />740 <br />Huerfano <br />Land Area <br />sq. miles <br />1,584 <br />Alamosa <br />Land Area <br />sq. miles <br />719 <br />Saguache <br />Land Area <br />sq. miles <br />3,167 <br /> <br />Public Land <br />% of total <br />44 <br /> <br />Forest <br />land <br />2 <br /> <br />service <br />% <br /> <br />PUblic Land <br />% of total <br />38 <br /> <br />Forest <br />land <br />33 <br /> <br />Service <br />% <br /> <br />Public Land <br />% of total <br />21 <br /> <br />Forest <br />land <br />14 <br /> <br />service <br />% <br /> <br />Public Land <br />% of total <br />18 <br /> <br />Forest <br />land <br />6 <br /> <br />service <br />% <br /> <br />PUblic Land <br />% of total <br />65 <br /> <br />Forest <br />land <br />47 <br /> <br />Service <br />% <br /> <br />LOCATION: It is in the south-central part of the state, 120 miles <br />southwest of Denver, 40 miles west of Walsenburg, and 10 miles <br />south of Salida. <br /> <br />RECOMMENDATION: Most of the study area is proposed for wilderness <br />designation. The boundary is carefully drawn to avoid most of the <br />known existing private rights. The boundary protects the beauty of <br />this majestic mountain range while allowing for appropriate and <br />adequate management. The Rainbow Trail provides a manageable <br />boundary on the eastern side. The trail will remain open for its <br />historic and agreed upon motorized recreational use. The road to <br />South Colony Lake and the surrounding area will not be included in <br />the designation. This area contains three 14,000 foot peaks and is <br />heavily used. If the area were designated wilderness a permit <br />system would have to be developed to ensure solitude. Such a <br />system would unfairly limit access to the area, which is very <br />popular with mountain climbers. Two passes through the 70-mile <br />Sangre de Cristo range are excluded from the wilderness -- Hayden <br />Pass and Medano Pass. In addition, the Cloverdale Basin is also <br />excluded to the continental Divide because of the large' <br />concentration of mining claims and 4WD roads. The south end of the <br />study area around Blanca Peak has also been excluded because of a <br />large number of conflicts, including inholdings, water rights, <br />mining claims and the nationally known 4WD road to the summit of <br />