22 MISC. PUBLICATION is, r. S* DEPT. of agriculture 



part c: ; : l^e summer hunting grounds of the warlike Utes. In the 

 southern part of the forest is the site of an old Indian agency and a 

 cabin home built by Chief Ouray. Cochetopa Pass, named^ by the 

 Indians and meaning i; Buffalo Gate," gave the forest its name. 



The northern part of the Cochetopa is characteristically moun- 

 tainous, but toward the south it becomes more rolling though the 

 altitude is still high. In the early summer remnants of snow on 

 Mount Shavano outline the figure of a woman known as the Angel 

 of Shavano. 



One railroad and two highways cross the forest over Marshall, 

 Monarch, and Cochetopa Passes, respectively. This with adminis- 

 trative and development roads makes travel in the forest easy. 

 - Grazing and recreational uses are about the same on the Cochetopa 

 as on the other Colorado forests. 



F-1S30O9 



Fig. 15. — Forest highway over Monarch Pass on the Cochetopa National Forest 



The cutting of telephone poles on the Cochetopa is a new activity 

 but one which promises to develop a substantial industry. Lodgepole 

 pine is used entirely and is treated against decay in a plant at Salida. 

 The treatment adds durability to a long list of natural qualifications 

 which experiments have shown lodgepole pine to have for this use. 

 Production of lodgepole-pine poles is getting under way also on the 

 Gunnison, Colorado, and Leadville Xational Forests. 



There is one especially interesting timber sale here, which at first 

 sight might seem to violate good forestry principles, for the cut is 

 very heavy and takes only small trees. But the fact is that there are 

 only small trees in this area, and their sparse crowns, dead tops, and 

 general appearance indicate that they are old and beginning to die. 

 The annual rings on any stump will be found to be very fine and 

 close together. Careful study has established the fact that the slow 

 growth is due to soil conditions and to too dense a stocking of trees. 

 Since all trees of merchantable size are mature or overmature thev 



