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IV General Observations and Predictions Regarding Resources in the Project Vicinity Experience to date indicates prehistoric sites are rare in the steep shrub oak covered bluffs on the north side of the North Fork Valley. When present they appear as small lithic scatters and isolated finds of stone tools (Baker 1977, Hibbets et al 1979, Reed and Scott 1980). Information from the 1977 baseline work (Baker 1977), however, suggests that prehistoric/aboriginal sites are indeed present near the streams and valleys which drain this high bluff area. Additionally, experience gained on Amax's massive Mount Emmons Project at Crested Butte (Baker 1980, 1981) suggests that far more evidence of prehistoric activity may be present in the high country than previously believed. This evidence may well be in the form of good, deeply buried sites. Experience has reaffirmed this author's earlier opinion (Baker 1977, 1978) that the largest cultural resource base in the project vicinity • does, however, derive from historic Euroamerican activity and that this in large part focuses on the valleys and streams draining the high bluffs and on the arable portions of the North fork Valley. In this regard there are similarities between the general aboriginal and Euroamerican settlement patterns. Generally speaking, the high, steep and dry bluffs have few sites on them except in flatter, well watered areas or where exposed coal seams have led to establishment of mines. Roads with varying amount of historical integrity, features. and importance also exist where originally needed. As an example, recent survey work on proposed coal transport corridors for the Orchard Valley Mine have revealed an exceptionally well preserved trace of the original Stevens Gulch Road with associated historical features. The homesteading tradition is evident in both the basic historical phases, which to reiterate are 1) primary settlement with extensive land exploitation, and 2) urbanization and intensive development of the area. The earliest component of these are focused in the North Fork Valley where the most extensive historical occupation of the urbanization and intensive exploitation phase took place. In this regard, once one reaches low enough elevation to support irrigation and arable lands, intensive occupation from fruit ranching is evident in the cultural resource base. The higher mountain vallies, • 20