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Northward beyond the steep slopes of the Valley, one enters more <br />deeply into the mountains where elevations are maintained at about <br />8,200 feet for about four miles. Within about ten miles north of the <br />bluffs overlooking the Valley, the mountains rise to an elevation of <br />nearly 10,000 feet. This region is characterized by the Mountain or <br />Canadian Life Zone and once exhibited conspicuous stands of Aspen, with <br />lush grasses in the small parks, and spruce and fir obvious at various <br />points. Today the area is notable for its heavy growth of large shrub <br />oak which local informants indicate has replaced the original grassy <br />slopes of the small tributary valleys of the North Fork. <br />The study area includes both the ridge crests and the small parks about <br />its focus on Stevens Gulch which is a small intermittent stream flowing <br />southward out of the mountains and into the North Fork. Additionally, <br />the study area borders on Terror Creek which flows southwardly across <br />the north extreme and east edge of the study area. Roatcap Creek <br />generally borders the project area to the west. Stevens Gulch receives <br />its water from smaller intermittent streams and apparently from springs <br />about seven or eight miles north of its confluence with the North Fork. <br />The Gulch is generally quite narrow and is seldom more than two hundred <br />feet wide. At its extreme northern end the Gulch does evidence a <br />slightly larger Valley which is now the site of the Morrell family cow <br />camp just south of the West Fork of Terror Creek. This area has been <br />termed Morrell Park and is designated 5 DT 88 (Baker 1977). <br />• <br />4 <br />