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Show The High Uintah Primitive Area ' ; ;; " f This is one of a series of articles to appear in this newspaper, sponsored by the Salt Lake Advertising Club, associated civic clubs of southern and central Utah, and chambers of commerce ; part of a program to point out Utah's resources so that local people will "Know Utah Better". By AMOS JENKINS Only a few years ago Secretary of War George H. Dern, then governor gov-ernor of Utah, headed an exploring party through the Haydes canyon trail out of the canyon of the north fork of the Duchesne river into the lofty, unknown region east of the junction of the Wasatch range with the Uintah mountains. Last year in late July, Mirror lake, now gateway to this region, resembled Liberty park on a holiday. In the meantime, by presidential proclamation, the area, beyond the last cow or sheep trail, has forever been set apart as "The High Uintah Primitive Area," early domain of the kind in the state. Every year the trails penetrate deeper and deeper into this region. To begin with the forest service a decade ago built a forest development develop-ment road to tap the ripe lodge pole pine that blankets the mountains. Later recreation funds, a new appropriation for the forest service, became be-came available and the road was made a high gear automobile highway high-way to the lakes at the head of the Provo river. Finally came the New Deal and with it the big and beautiful CCC camp on the Soapstone, upper Provo. From this camp sub-camps were established on both sides of the Bald mountain pass. New switch backs were made to lift the highway around the shoulder of Bald mountain. The road offers now only a wonderful trip of a few hours from Salt Lake to Mirror Lake, tributary to the Duchesne river. The CCC boys also dug foot paths and built camp sites on trails leading into the wilderness from Mirror lake. The trail, first blazed by the Salt Lake council of Boy Scouts from Mirror Lake to the Grand-daddy Grand-daddy lake group, was improved and graded. The Boy Scout council acquired as a permanent summer home another lake two miles up the Bald mountain morain from Mirror lake, now known as Scout lake. From Kamas the highway to Mirror lake proceeds up Beaver creek, a Weber tributary, then over the Shingle creek divide and onto the north fork of the Provo near the junction of the fork with the main river. Crossing the north fork bridge, the highway soon meets the main stream of the upper Provo, with its alternate rapids, falls and deep gorges, and proceeds on an easy grade to near Lake Tryol. From this lake with long, easy switch backs, the highway climbs to the Bald mountain pass. Here, if ever, comes the feeling that one is residing on top of the world for the world appears far below. At the summit on the divide between the Provo and Duchesne which is also the Great Basin divide, a trail is marked which leads to the forest fire look-out station on top of the Bald mountain. From this station on a clear day most of the Wasatch range and Uintah mountain system may be seen. The road then quickly drops down to the shores of Mirror lake, almost a summer town now. This lake at the "feet" of the Bald mountain moun-tain occupies the same relative position as Jenney's lake under the Grand Tetons. The mountain is reflected under the crystal water. Eastward for over 25 miles the giant peaks of the Uintahs mark the northern boundary of the primitive area. Geologists say that the entire region was once much higher, possibly thousands of feet higher than the loftiest peak. Erosion that has carved out the Uintah basin has left the peaks. Precipitation is greatest at the west end where the mountains have the first chance to condense moisture from westerly winds. From this end water erosion has been a little greater through the ages and this probably accounts for the difference in elevation of over 1,500 feet between the Bald mountain, a western towner of the area, and Gilbert peak, northeastern corner which is 13,422 feet above . sea level. Reid peak, Hayden peak, with its pass to the Weber river, Mt. Agassiz, La Mott peak and lofty Tokewahna are the land marks on the north of this primitive area of about 225 square miles. Those who have soared over the region in planes report that the lake basins of the northeast corner under Gilbert peak, Red Castle and Mt. Wilson are much larger than the Granddaddy group. Farther south on the east side, probably 50 small tributaries to Lake fork of the Duchesne as well as streams that flow to the Uintah river, have their noses in mountain lake groups, large and small. The western and southern boundaries of the area- are Known to many who go beyond the automobile highways. The north fork of the Duchesne is roughly the western boundary. The Brown Duck lakes are in the middle of the southern boundary. For many years fishermen, starting start-ing from the end of the road at Moon lake, Duchesne county, have packed to the Brown Duck lakes. A forest highway is now approaching year by year, from the trans-, continental highway at Evanston, Wyoming, eventually to arrive at Mirror lake, giving a mid-summer entrance to Salt Lake City through the tops of the "American Alps". Last year the first appropriation was made for a cooperative project pro-ject of the forest service and the bureau of fisheries and survey begun to determine the life adapted to these high lakes and the kind of game fish that will naturally increase in them. Also it is proposed to join the barren lakes to those with outlets and eventually to stock the lake groups of the entire area. Some trout fry were packed In last year. This year large appropriations seem certain for development of the recreational use of the forest. The program of trail building and survey sur-vey and of fish and game culture will no doubt be greatly enlarged. "Don't be surprised," said one government official, "if landing fields are built in the Ottoson basin, on the Dead Horse pass and Anderson's pass." "Then as the trails push farther into the primitive area, Salt Lake fishermen may angle for the big fellows that made their first Journey to the high lakes by airplane." There are now no trails to hundreds of the lakes and over most of the vast region no human foot has ever pressed the mountain loam. Forest rangers have followed the tributaries of every stream and mapped the location of lake groups and estimated the timber stands. This primitive area will eventually have at least two gateways from the Utah side. In addition to the Mirror lake entrance, there is little doubt that a highway will be built from Moon lake to the Brown Duck lakes in the middle of the southern boundary. The road to Moon lake is now being improved as it must be used in construction of the million mil-lion dollar dam and canal system, now under way. The route from Moon lake to the primitive area would be rather easy in comparison with the road built to surmount the Bald mountain pass. This would give Uintah basin counties, particularly Duchesne, now known by the rather desolate stretches of the transcontinental highway, a chance to show the world the matchless grandeur and the recreational facilities of the high Uintahs. Mr. Reader: Do your part to advertise Utah. Please send this article U some friend or relative or business associate out of the State. |