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• East Salt Creek forms a deep, wide canyon which could have been <br />used prehistorically as an access route from the Grand Valley region <br />(to the south) to the eastern portion of the Uintah Basin (via West <br />Douglas Creek north of Douglas Pass). Numerous trails leading north <br />from the Salt Creeks into Uinta Ute country were reported by Ute <br />informants to Gunnison, an early railroad surveyor (Hibbets et al, 1979). <br />The presence of Fremont and Ute rock art along the Salt Creek drain- <br />ages substantiates the presence of these trails. <br />Sandstone outcrops in the canyon are frequent and could have <br />provided temporary shelter for aboriginal occupants or travelers. <br />An overhang containing two possible juniper bedding mats, recorded <br />as site 5GF741 during the present survey, may represent a temporary <br />shelter. Low ridges above the canyon bottom exhibit some flat areas <br />which could have been utilized as campsites; most of the slopes rising <br />above East Salt Creek, however, are too steep for habitation and may <br />• have been traversed only during the pursuit of game. <br />Today, much of the study area exhibits natural plant growth. <br />Some grazing of the slopes occurs, associated with the cattle ranch- <br />ing activities along the East Salt Creek drainage. Two coal mines are <br />located in tributary canyons and more are projected for the area. <br /> <br />11 <br />