1980-07-11_REVISION - M1977493 (8)

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Water trucks are used for the suppression of fugitive dust from haul and camp roads. 7. 5 OUTDOOR RECREATION AND SCENIC RESOURCES Located virtually at timberline in an otherwise unin- habited location, the Climax Mine is in a relatively isolated subalpine/alpine location. Most scenic vistas are short range, within 3 miles to the horizon. An exception is the view down the East Fork of the Eagle River which extends more than 15 miles into the White River National Forest and the Sawatch Range . With the exception of the industrially developed areas, the topography open to viewing is characterized by rugged and rocky mountain summits adjoining glacial cirques. Valleys tend to be rather narrow and U-shaped with trellis drainage patterns . Several mountains in the area are climbed for recre- ation during the summer months , mostly by residents of the immediate area. There are no established hiking trails in the area and this type of recreational use is minimal in the Climax area at this time . While a ski area was once located on Chalk Mountain, it was abandoned in 1961 and reclaimed . At present there are no operating ski areas visible from Climax property. The Colorado Mountain Club has sponsored ski touring expeditions to Sheep Mountain ( near the former Kokomo townsite) and into Mayflower Gulch. Most recently the general public' s interest in ski tour- ing has increased , and the Climax properties have been used for this purpose and to obtain access to adjacent Forest Service property. Climax has been involved in a fish stocking program for its waters and adjacent stream areas. Climax employees are permitted to fish the property waters while the general public benefits from the off-property stocking program. During the summer of 1972 the Climax High Altitude Observatory, operated by the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado , was abandoned . The administra- 7-11