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Show The Mountain Lion: A Secretive Animal Travels Alone The tawny-colored mountain lion is often called a cougar or puma and, in some places, a panther. A very secretive animal, it travels alone, ranging through remote areas of Bryce Canyon National Park and to other areas of Garfield Gar-field County. A full-grown animal may be four or five feet long or even more, not counting its heavy tail which adds another two or three feet Its body is slender and graceful, but very powerful and muscular. Its legs are long and its head is round and quite small. Hunting mostly at night, it preys on everything from rodents and hares to much larger animals. Its chief prey is deer and mountain lions play an important part by feeding on old and . diseased 'deer. It will also feed on elk stalking quietly under cover. Suddenly it will leap on its prey, breaking its neck or dragging the large animal to the ground for the kill. The mountain lion makes its den in sheltered spots in rocky and mountainous terrain. It will usually retreat when encountered by man. j 1 i - i; ' ' ; '' -.S.VrtwV ..... ?, ' . -V , ..." . jffe :'if- s .--A --V-A j--J v. : . h ; ? 1 f .ut V.y ,y. 9w,:. 4 Who could resist a trip over Hell's Backbone? CtO. cn6ftinf'& If' ,' fe'V ))' ) ACCESS ROUTES f ,T 5 ' TO THE , 5lf ' -A c"? ESCALAHTE RIVER " " " . . tts ti&Zno" raiMITIVE AREA OV y i i in ctiHteo o.T wao js' r 5 uASW Oft M'Sf VftSfi-N Access Routes to Escalante River Escalante, a Scenic Trip It's all happening at Dixie College.. WHi Sunn ! .L3SJ. y-ffe. ; L is y c2y Let it happen to you! 1 ESCALANTE Largely isolated for many years by its location, Escalante's early residents ' were unusually self-sufficient. Each famliy produced its own wool, shearing its sheep, and then washing, carding, spinning and dying the wool which was then made into the family's garments. They also made their own candles, soap, lye, yeast, dyes, and rennet for making their cheese. Dairy farming was the chief industry in the town which was first settled in 1876 and it took weeks to make the trip to Salt Lake City with their butter and cheese. Early settlers included carpenters, stonemasons, cabinetmakers, boot and shoemakers, blacksmiths, and lime and brick makers causing the young town to grow rapidly according to "Golden Nuggets of Pioneer Days" a history of Garfield County compiled by the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. Some food and clothing were freighted in from Panguitch with transportation tran-sportation largely by ox and horse teams and mail came in semi-weekly by pack horse in better weather, with mid-winter trips on snow shoes. , .- Escalante may be reached by traveling Utah Highway 12 or, in good weather from the ghost town intersection of Wirtts'K' nn Utah Highway eastward over Escalante Mountain, a very scenic trip also, but not recommended for vehicles pulling trailers over the improved dirt road. Today Escalante is very much in touch with the rest of the world. Horse racing is a much loved-sport and some of the finest horses in the county are raised here. It is also the site of Uie annual Endurance Ride, featuring rides of 60 and 30 miles and drawing participants par-ticipants from many western states. With restaurants, motels and full service gas stations and some of the friendliest people around, Escalante welcomes the visitor to Garfield County. |