The Delta independent., 1917-02-23

as. Alexander, Barren. Big Creek,
Cottonwood, Eggleston, Grand Mesa.
Leon, Trickle Park and Ward, vary in
size from twenty-five to one hundred
acres or more. All these bodies of
water are readily accessible by auto
or wagon from the valley towns along
the Denver & Rio Grande For those
who would enjoy the outdoor attrac-
tions of the Mesa region, but do not
care to camp out or trough it." excel
lent Accommodations are available at a
summer resort operated by the Grand
! Mesa Lakes Company in the immediate
vicinity of Alexander Lake This re-
sort may be reached by automobile
from Delta, distant twenty-four miles.
The particular value of the Grand
from it's accessibility, the fine camp
| ing grounds available. and the excel
lent trout fishing which the lakes and
\ streams of the region afford. Ideal
cinity of all the important streams and
lakes, and firewood, forage for stock
and pure water are to be found in
abundance The more secluded camp
| ing places, at the headwaters of the
various creeks, may also be reached
by saddle and pack horses. Good fish.
ing is TO be found in these localities.
and occasionally big game is encount-
| cred. No permission is required for
ordinary camping privileges in a Ma
tional Forest. but visitors are required
to maintain clean and sanitary camp
and to be careful and not set the
woods on fire
The Grand Mesa is a paradise for
the amateur angler. The trout streams
and lakes of the Batlement Forest are
regularly stocked with young fish from
government, state and private hatch.
cries, and excellent fishing is to be
had during the entire summer season.
Native and RAINBOW trout are the prin-
cipal game species. In the Grand
Mesa region alone there are fifty miles
of good fishing streams, and over / 900
acres of lakes in which excellent
catches of fish are made daily.
Big game animals are not abundant
on the Grand Mesa, although elk and
deer are to be found in the eastern
portion of the tablelands. These ami
mails range in the low country during
the winter months but may be seen
in summer only in the timber regions
few bear, mountain lions. bob cats
and lynx are also to be found on the
Forest, while mountain sheep are
occasionally observed on the higher
mesas. Big game areas are accessible
only by the wagon roads or pack
trails
The most noted mountain on the
Grand Mesa is Leon Peak, 1854 feet
in elevation. The U. 8. Forest Service
has fire lookout station on this sum-
nit, from which wonderful panoram-
ic view is obtained. The immediate
surroundings of the peak also com
prise beautiful vistas OF lakes. reser-
voirs and streams. and extensive
bodies of spruce and fir timber inter
spersed with open, grassy parks. Leon
Peak. at which Forest officer Is sta
toned for observation purposes dur
ing the dangerous summer fire season,
can easily be reached on horseback
from Collbran or the Grand Mesa lakes
country.
| n tn hn atf.r, tfraf
tion of the Grand Mesa. it is interest
ing to visitors to know that summer
home sites may be secured along the
shores of many of the streams and
lakes of the region. from the Forest
Service for a yearly rental. This has
been made possible by an Act OF Con
gress, passed March 4, 1915, which
authorized the Sc retary of Agricul.
ture to issue permits for summer home
sites for maximum period of thirty
years. and for areas not to exceed five
acres in extent. The rental charges
for these summer home plots varies
4 from ten dollars to twenty-five dollars
per year, depending on the attractive
ness and accessibility of the site. In
desirable locations, where there is
considerable demand for home sites,
the area of lots is usually limited to
one acre or less. House logs and tim
ber needed for domestic purposes can
be secured under permit from the Ma
tional Forest without cost than that
Il