BLM Gunnison Field Office celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act with nature walk
Organization
Media Contact:
GUNNISON, Colo. – The public is invited to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act by joining a BLM employee for a walking trip to an alpine lake in the Powderhorn Wilderness Area near Lake City, Colorado, on July 12.
The Wilderness Act was signed into law on September 3, 1964 by President Johnson to set aside portions of our public lands for the use and benefit of the American people. This system of wilderness lands has grown in 50 years from its original nine million acres to more than 100 million acres. According to the Wilderness Act, these lands were preserved to retain their original characteristics, “where the earth and its communities of life are left unchanged by people, where the primary forces of nature are in control, and where people themselves are visitors who do not remain.”
In Colorado, the BLM manages five designated wilderness areas and 48 wilderness study areas. The Gunnison Field Office has two wilderness areas and four wilderness study areas within its management area, including the 62,250-acre Powderhorn Wilderness. The BLM manages 47,980 of these acres.
Participants should plan to meet at 9 a.m. at the Powderhorn Lakes trailhead. To get there from Gunnison, travel nine miles west of town on U.S. Hwy 50 and turn south on Hwy 149. Follow this highway for 20 miles to the Indian Creek Road (County Road 58) and travel south on this road for 10 miles. This road is passable for two-wheel drive vehicles, but can be rough.
The hike is 4.5 miles (one-way) to the Upper Powderhorn Lake. The trail climbs about 750 feet through a spruce and fir forest for the first couple of miles to a large meadow where wildflowers should be in full bloom. From there, it traverses generally south for two miles across several drainages to the lower lake, and then over the next half mile climbs another couple hundred feet to the upper lake at 11,859 feet. Wildlife that may be encountered includes deer, elk and moose as well as birds and small mammals.
Bring a sack lunch, plenty of water, sunscreen, insect repellent and clothing appropriate for adverse weather. After lunch at the lake, participants can explore on their own and return to the trailhead at their own leisure. The number of participants is limited to 15 people, so please call (970) 642-4964 or (970) 642-4942 for reservations.
To learn more about the Wilderness Act, go to http://www.wilderness.net.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.