Appendix to Canyon Lands NP

Following a visit to the BLM field office at Montecello we went along a road just north of the town westward toward the Needles area of the park.  The road lead through a ranch that had been purchased by a conservation group and while still farmed the prime objective was for conservation.

An earlier steading area had long since been abandoned.  It did give a good example of earlier construction.  Most were standard type timber framed and wooden cladding.

One building was adobe construction more commonly found further south as we were to find out a couple of days later.

Remains of stock yards and loading ramp.  Minimal stock handling facilities were constructed beside a haybarn still in use nearby.  this area was not part of the current steading area location about 10 miles to the west in an area called beef valley.

Rough but seeding grasses in the formerly heavily grazed area about the old steading area.

Foundations of what appears to have been an earlier residence, some distance away,  with only the floor and foundations remaining.  It was a harsh environment and evidence of earlier settlement on small block is a few building remains.

Beef valley, the present centre of the farming operation.  While there was irrigation it appeared to not being used to its optimum compared with other areas seen.

Different land marks above the valley.

Polyographs nearby show bow hunting off horseback.  Present fencing and stock yard make the job easier.

Grain store.  Galvansied iron is an improvement.

Pinyon Pine (P. edulis) very common in the dry high altitude areas it produces an edible kernal which supports small animals and birds.

Cattle are still grazed in the high altitude National Forest areas under permit during summer at altitudes up to 8000 feet.  These were seen being driven down from summer grazing west of Montecello.  They would be going down to either freehold land or to permitted grazing on BLM land.