A Class III Cultural Resource Inventory of Proposed Development on Golden Peak, Vail Resort, Eagle County, Colorado (OAHP Doc# EA.FS.R91)

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SE Group: A Class III Cultural Resource Inventory of Proposed Development on Golden Peak, Vail Resort, Eagle County, Colorado (OAHP Doc# EA.FS.R91)

By:

Aaron Whittenburg and Melissa Elkins

Principal Investigator: Melissa Elkins

Prepared for: SE Group 323 W. Main Street, Suite 201 Frisco, Colorado 80443

Prepared by: Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Inc. 31 Eagle Park East Drive Eagle, Colorado, 81631

Lead Agency: USDA Forest Service, White River National Forest

Under USDA Forest Service Special Use Permit No. CAN611HR (Expires 12/31/2020)

September 2017

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY: DISCLOSURE OF SITE LOCATIONS PROHIBITED (43 CFR 7.18) Abstract

Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Inc. (Metcalf) conducted a Class III cultural resources inventory of the proposed development on Golden Peak at Vail Resort in Eagle County, Colorado, for SE Group. The proposed project consists of approximately 70 acres located on the west and northwest facing slope of Golden Peak south of Vail Valley. The proposed development is located on lands administered by the United States Forest Service - White River National Forest (USFS-WRNF). Vail Resort, with the assistance of SE Group, proposes to construct and/or expand lift facilities (including the Riva-Bahn Express mid-station), buried electrical lines, snowmaking pipe, a snowmaking booster station, a mogul course, a race building, race start houses, a lift shelter, and restrooms; and to construct and maintain access roads.

The survey area totaled about 90 acres and included 100 foot wide corridors around linear developments, which include a lift, buried electrical line, snowmaking pipe, and construction and maintenance access roads; and 50 feet wide buffers around the footprint of individual facilities including a mogul course, a race building, the Riva-Bahn mid-station, maintenance building and fuel storage, a snowmaking booster station, race start houses, and a lift shelter and restrooms. Additionally, the USFS- WRNF identified three previously unrecorded sites in and near the survey area during a recent site visit and asked that Metcalf visit and record these sites. These sites include dendroglyphs, a possible wickiup, and a pit and ladder that may be related to the historic use of the area.

The inventory resulted in the recording of the three previously identified but unrecorded sites mentioned above; no additional resources were identified during survey. 5EA.3539 consists of two wooden structures, likely modern in age, which are aspen deadfall propped against live aspen trees to form wickiup-like structures. Although the site retains some integrity, it is likely not older than 50 years. The site does not appear to be associated with any significant events (Criterion A) or people (Criterion B); and the feature does not exhibit unique characteristics (Criterion C). Overall, the site is not likely to yield any important information (Criteria D). Metcalf recommends site 5EA3539 as not eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Site 5EA.3540 is a group of 19 aspen trees exhibiting one or more text panels; one panel is definitively historic in age (>50 years old) while the remaining are either modern (<50 years old) or of unknown age. Although the site retains some integrity, it does not appear to be associated with any significant events (Criterion A) or people (Criterion B); and the dendroglyphs do not exhibit unique characteristics (Criterion C). Metcalf recommends the site as not eligible for inclusion on the NRHP. Overall, the site is not likely to yield any important information (Criteria D). Lastly, 5EA.3541 is an isolated historic prospecting pit with a ladder. The isolate does not represent multiple classes of activity, repeated use over time, or a one-time diagnostically interpretable event. Therefore, Metcalf recommends the isolated find as not eligible for inclusion on the NRHP.

Metcalf recommends a finding of no historic properties affected for the project as proposed at the time of inventory. No further work is recommended.

For Official Use Only: Disclosure of site locations prohibited (43 CFR 7.18) ii Table of Contents

ABSTRACT ...... II TABLE OF CONTENTS ...... III LIST OF FIGURES ...... III LIST OF TABLES ...... III INTRODUCTION ...... 1 EFFECTIVE ENVIRONMENT ...... 2 CULTURE HISTORY AND PREVIOUS WORK ...... 4 CULTURE HISTORY ...... 4 PREVIOUS WORK ...... 7 STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES/RESEARCH DESIGN ...... 10 FIELD METHODS ...... 11 RESULTS ...... 12 5EA.3539 ...... 12 5EA.3540 ...... 16 EVALUATION OF RESEARCH ...... 20 SUMMARY AND MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS ...... 20 REFERENCES CITED ...... 21

List of Figures

Figure 1. Project location map...... v Figure 2. Overview of the environment of the project area, view to the south...... 3 Figure 3. Overview of areas of typical disturbance within the project area, view to the west...... 3 Figure 4. A portion of the 1934 USGS Minturn quadrangle map illustration showing a road within the project area in red...... 10 Figure 5. 5EA.3539. Feature 1 overview, view southeast...... 13 Figure 6. 5EA.3539. Feature 2 overview, view northwest...... 14 Figure 7. 5EA.3540. Locale A, Feature 10. Historically dated panel (1965)...... 18 Figure 8. 5EA.3540. Locale A, Feature 6. Hispanic-related dated panel (1968)...... 18 Figure 9. 5EA.3540. Locale A, Feature 8. Hispanic-related dated panel (1970)...... 19 Figure 10. 5EA.3540. Locale A, Feature 9. Hispanic-related dated panel (1968)...... 19

List of Tables

Table 1. Previous cultural resource inventories located within one mile of the project area...... 8 Table 2. Previously recorded sites and isolated finds located within one mile of the project area...... 9 Table 3. Archival maps inspected during the file search ...... 10 Table 4. Cultural resources recorded for this project...... 12 Table 5. Additional information and metrics for Feature 1, 5EA.3539...... 14 Table 6. Additional information and metrics for Feature 2, 5EA.3539...... 15 Table 7. Additional information and measurements for each tree feature, 5EA.3540...... 16

APPENDIX A: Resource Location Map APPENDIX B: OAHP Site Forms

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Federal acres of Potential Effect/Project: 70 Acres surveyed: 90.2 State acres of Potential Effect/Project: Acres surveyed: Private acres of Potential Effect/Project: Acres surveyed TOTAL 70 TOTAL 90.2

Legal Location of Project (attach additional pages if necessary)

Principal Meridian: 6th County: Eagle USGS Quad Name: Vail East 1970 (PR 1987)

Township 5S Range 80W Section 8 SE 1/4 NW 1/4 Township 5S Range 80W Section 8 SW 1/4 NE 1/4 Township 5S Range 80W Section 8 SE 1/4 NE 1/4 Township 5S Range 80W Section 8 NW 1/4 SE 1/4 Township 5S Range 80W Section 8 NE 1/4 SE 1/4 Township 5S Range 80W Section 8 SE 1/4 SE 1/4 Township 5S Range 80W Section 9 NW 1/4 SW 1/4 Township 5S Range 80W Section 9 NE 1/4 SW 1/4 Township 5S Range 80W Section 9 SW 1/4 SW 1/4 Township 5S Range 80W Section 9 SE 1/4 SW 1/4

Treatment / Management Site Number Site Type Eligibility Effect Comments Recommendations

Supporting Contributing - -

Prehistoric Historic Paleontological Unknown Eligible Data Needs Eligible Not Contributing Non Supporting Non Affected Properties Historic No No Adverse Effect Adverse Effect Work Further No Avoid / Preserve Monitor Test Excavate Archival Research Documentation Archival Other

SITES

5EA.3539 X X X X

5EA.3540 X X X X

ISOLATED FINDS

5EA.3541 X X X X

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Figure 1. Project location map.

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Introduction

Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Inc. (Metcalf) conducted a Class III cultural resources inventory of the proposed development on Golden Peak at Vail Resort in Eagle County, Colorado, for SE Group. The project area is located in Township 5S, Range 80W, Sections 8 and 9. The project consists of approximately 70 acres located on the west and northwest facing slope of Golden Peak south of Vail Valley. However, a total of 90.2 acres were inventoried, as it was more prudent to survey through small gaps within the area of potential affect (APE) rather than maneuver around them. The proposed development is located on lands administered by the United States Forest Service - White River National Forest (USFS-WRNF). Vail Resort, with the assistance of SE Group, proposes to construct and/or expand lift facilities (including the Riva-Bahn Express mid-station), and install buried electrical lines, snowmaking pipe, a snowmaking booster station, a mogul coarse, a race building, race start houses, a lift shelter, and restrooms. In addition, access roads will be newly constructed and existing roads will receive maintenance.

The purpose of the study reported here is to help facilitate USFS-WRNF’s compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (Public Law 89-665) (NHPA) as amended and other applicable federal legislation and regulations arising from the project’s location on federal land and its need for federal permitting. The goal of the inventory is to identify, record, and evaluate cultural resources within the APE. If cultural resources are found, they are evaluated for eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Recommendations for further treatment are made, and the nature of proposed impacts is described if significant resources are present.

The inventory resulted in the recording of the three previously identified but unrecorded sites mentioned above; no additional resources were identified during survey. 5EA.3539 consists of two wooden structures, likely modern in age, which are aspen deadfall poles propped against live aspen trees to form wickiup-like structures. 5EA.3540 is a group of 19 aspen trees exhibiting one or more text panels; one panel is definitively historic in age (>50 years old) while the remaining are either modern (<50 years old) or of unknown age. Although both sites retain some integrity, neither appear to be associated with significant events (Criterion A), or person(s) (Criterion B); and they do not exhibit unique characteristics (Criterion C). They are both unlikely to yield additional significant information (Criterion D). Metcalf recommends both sites as not eligible for inclusion on the NRHP. Lastly, 5EA.3541 is an isolated historic prospecting pit with a ladder. The isolate does not represent multiple classes of activity, repeated use over time, or a one-time diagnostically interpretable event. Therefore, Metcalf recommends the isolated find as not eligible for inclusion on the NRHP.

The Class III cultural resource inventory was conducted September 5th and 6th, 2017, by Metcalf Project Director Cody Anderson and archaeologists Kelly J. Pool and Aaron Whittenburg. The conditions were favorable for fieldwork with sunny, warm weather and clear skies. Work was conducted under USDA Forest Service Special Use Permit No. CAN611HR (Expires 12/31/2020).

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Effective Environment

The project area is located on the southern side of the Vail Valley in central Colorado, in the Southern Rocky Mountain Physiographic province (Fenneman 1946). The Park and Gore Ranges of the Rocky Mountains flank the eastern edge of the project area. The region is generally semi-arid, with warm summers with intermittent monsoonal rains. Winters have variable snowfall with more snow accumulation at higher elevations. For a brief summary of the major environmental features of the Eagle River Valley and surrounding areas, the reader is referred to Spurr and Rood’s (1990) Class I cultural resource overview. Reed and Metcalf (1999) have more recently presented a valuable synthesis of the Northern Colorado River Basin environment, with specific emphasis on its implications for prehistoric occupation of the region. The project specifically lies immediately south/southeast of the town of Vail, Colorado. The project is situated on the west/northwestern slope of Golden Peak that commonly exceeds 30º slope within the study area. There is a 1,760 foot change in elevation that begins at 8,360 feet, near the base, and rises 10,120 feet the western top of the mountain. The study corridor lies between Gore Creek and Mill Creek. However, most of the landform is within a narrow bowl that is part of the Mill Creek watershed. The creeks merge near the base of the slope, in Vail, and then flow west and soon meet with the Eagle River at Dowds Junction, which in turn flows west into the Colorado River at the town of Dotsero.

The geology of the area is dominated by the Minturn Formation, which is comprised of sedimentary rocks of the Middle Pennsylvanian Age. It includes Arkosic Sandtone, conglomerate, shale, and limestone. Along the immediate area of Mill Creek this formation is mantled by unconsolidated surficial deposits and rocks of the Quaternary Age. It includes glacial till, landslide deposits, and colluvial material (Tweto 1979). Sediments in the project area are a brown, rocky, silty loam of shallow depth. On the forested slopes, little if any static Holocene deposition is present. Slopewash has probably heavily affected the area over time.

Ecologically, the project area is located near the intersection of the sedimentary mid-elevation forest and sedimentary subalpine forest ecoregions (Chapman et al. 2006). Sedimentary mid-elevation forests are characterized by partially glaciated, low mountain ridges, slopes, and outslope fans with moderate to high gradient perennial streams with boulder, cobble, and bedrock substrates. Aspen forest, ponderosa pine forest, and Gambel Oak woodland (especially on lower, south facing slopes) are common in this ecoregion. Sedimentary subalpine forests are characterized by glaciated, high mountains with steep slopes and high gradient perennial streams with boulder, cobble, and bedrock substrates. Englemann spruce and lodgepole pine forests dominate this region, though areas of aspen and Douglas-fir forests are common at lower elevations. Specifically for the project area, aspen forest with a heavily vegetated understory was common. Understory vegetation included tall grasses, forbs, and bushes. The northeastern ridgeline consisted of evergreen forest that was on the periphery of a lodgepole pine forest. A general overview of the natural environment of the project area can be seen in Figure 2. Parts of the survey area have been heavily disturbed by the construction and maintenance of Vail Ski Resort; this can be seen in Figure 3.

Current land use is mainly for winter ski recreation and summer hiking and recreation. There were a number of items identified in the survey area with modern attributes, including some of those items that were recorded during the survey. Other modern items observed during the survey include modern fire pit locations, storage garages, short-term shelters, aspen bark art, race gate outbuildings, and restroom facilities. Virtually all of these items are related to the recreation activities of Vail and exhibit recent and ongoing use.

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Figure 2. Overview of the environment of the project area, view to the south. (Roll 17-675; image 6; 09/05/2017).

Figure 3. Overview of areas of typical disturbance within the project area, view to the west. (Roll 17-675; image 19; 09/06/2017).

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Culture History and Previous Work

Culture History

Prehistoric Period

The following summarizes the prehistoric and historic period overviews provided in Reed and Metcalf (1999) and Church et al. (2007). The prehistoric period is subdivided into four eras, including the Paleoindian era, the Archaic era, the Formative era, and the Protohistoric era. The historic period is generally discussed in terms of historic themes that cover the major trends and patterns of the region. Two themes are well represented in the region surrounding the project area and are discussed below: settlement and early agricultural and ranching development and water control and distribution.

Paleoindian Era: The Paleoindian era is the oldest temporal and cultural unit represented in the Upper Colorado River basin, dating from 11,500 to 6400 B.C. based on recent radiocarbon analysis. The Paleoindian era is further subdivided into four traditions based on changes in projectile point attributes, and to a lesser extent subsistence strategies, including the Clovis tradition (11,500-10,500 B.C.), the Goshen tradition (11,000-10,700 B.C.), the Folsom tradition (10,800-9500 B.C.), and the Foothills- Mountain tradition (10,580-5740 B.C.). The Paleoindian era is defined by highly mobile hunter-gatherers with a subsistence strategy focused on large, now-extinct megafauna and a toolkit composed of large bifacial tools and lanceolate projectile points which are often fluted (Reed and Metcalf 1999). Known Paleoindian sites are most often related to hunting activities and kill and game processing, although a small number of camp sites are known as well (Reed and Metcalf 1999). Most known Paleoindian sites occur along the major river valleys of western Colorado (Reed and Metcalf 1999).

Archaic Era: The Archaic era dates from 6400-400 B.C based on recent radiocarbon analysis and is defined by less mobile hunter-gatherer populations with an increasingly broad subsistence base focused on the continual exploitation of large game but also an increasing focus on the collection of floral resources and smaller game (Reed and Metcalf 1999). The Archaic era is also characterized by a technological transition from the use of lanceolate projectile points to the use of stemmed and notched point varieties, and a distinct increase in the overall variability in point styles (Reed and Metcalf 1999). The Archaic stage is subdivided into four periods based on changes in projectile point morphology and settlement strategies. The Pioneer period (6400-4500 B.C.) saw the end of the fully nomadic Paleoindian adaptations and the arrival of full-time occupants who were well acquainted with the available resources in the region and who established seasonal settlement systems (Reed and Metcalf 1999). The Settlement period (4500-2500 B.C.) shows a florescence of locally-oriented occupations characterized by a central place foraging strategy, large numbers of processing features, and the use of pit and basin habitation structures (Reed and Metcalf 1999). The Transitional period (2500-1000 B.C.) has a large degree of continuity with the preceding period but is distinguished by increasing variability in material culture, perhaps less sedentism with possibly more seasonality in the use of the higher elevations (Reed and Metcalf 1999). Finally, the Terminal period (1000-400 B.C.) is characterized by a time of apparent stress on settlement systems which saw experiments with various intensifications in subsistence practices, including the beginnings of the shift to bow and arrow technology, experiments in growing corn, and an increasing shift towards seed processing and the use of other lower rate-of-return foods (Reed and Metcalf 1999).

Formative Era: The Formative era dates from 400 B.C. to A.D. 1500 based on recent radiocarbon analysis and is marked by the introduction of horticulture and corn as a major form of subsistence on the Colorado Plateau. This transition is also characterized by an increase in low elevation sites along river corridors and in the canyonlands of western Colorado, indicating a population increase. Horticultural groups occupying the Colorado Plateau often constructed substantial habitation structures,

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granaries, and made (or traded for) high quality pottery (Reed and Metcalf 1999). The Formative Era among horticultural groups is separated into two traditions, the Anasazi Tradition (A.D. 900 – 100) and Fremont Tradition (A.D. 200 – 1500). The Gateway Tradition (400 B.C. – A.D. 1300) is assigned to groups inhabiting the same general region as the Anasazi and Fremont Traditions, but with a limited reliance on corn horticulture and apparent lack of ceramic production (Reed and Metcalf 1999). Projectile points range from small side-notched arrow points common during the Fremont Tradition to small corner-notched arrow points common in the Gateway Tradition (Reed and Metcalf 1999). Not all occupants of the upper Colorado River basin were settled horticulturalists during the Formative Era, however. The Aspen Tradition spans the entire Formative Era and is used to define non-horticultural occupants of the higher elevations in the upper Colorado River basin. These hunter-gatherer groups were contemporary to lower-elevation horticulturalists and likely maintained contact and trade relations but technology and subsistence strategies easily differentiate the two groups (Reed and Metcalf 1999). The Aspen Tradition is marked by a shift to bow and arrow technology, a broadening and intensification of the subsistence base, and an apparent shift in group mobility patterns (Reed and Metcalf 1999). Aspen Tradition sites are typically assigned as such on the basis of small, corner-notched projectile points and generic grey-ware ceramics (Reed and Metcalf 1999).

Protohistoric Period: The Protohistoric period dates from A.D. 1300-1881 based on recent radiocarbon analysis and historical records and is marked by the emigration of Anasazi into New Mexico and Arizona and a drastic geographic contraction of the Fremont Tradition. This period can generally be defined by increasing Euro-American influence after about A.D. 1600. As a result, inhabitants of the region returned to a highly mobile hunter-gatherer lifestyle. Historic records from Spanish and other Euro-American groups and archaeological data indicate that the Ute (or their immediate ancestors) were the primary occupants of the upper Colorado River basin during this period (Baker et al. 2007; Reed and Metcalf 1999). The Protohistoric period is subdivided into two phases (Antero and Canalla) and is largely defined by the introduction of the horse. During the Antero phase (A.D. 1100-1650), prior to extensive contact with Euro-Americans, these groups constructed wooden wickiups for shelter, manufactured brown-ware ceramics (Ute Uncompahgre brown or Shoshone Intermountain pottery), and hunted with bow and arrow technology using Desert Site-notched and Cottonwood Triangular projectile points (Reed and Metcalf 1999). By the early 1600s (Canalla phase, A.D. 1650-1881), these groups were in contact with the Spanish and the introduction and adoption of the horse allowed expansion of Ute territory across the Western Slope and increased contact and/or conflict with neighboring groups (Baker et al. 2007). Ute influence and cultural fluorescence reached a peak in the early to mid 1800s during the fur trade when their high level of equestrianism and role of brokers and middlemen in the Indian trade allowed expansion of their influence (Baker et al. 2007). By the mid 1800s, increasing political pressure and conflict with Euro-Americans led to a waning of the cultural florescence of the early to mid 1800s. Following the American Civil War, metal goods became prevalent in Ute culture (Baker et al. 2007). Political interests of the United States eventually won out and the Ute were dispossessed of their homeland in Colorado following the Meeker Massacre in 1879 and moved onto reservations in Utah by the end of 1882 (Baker et al. 2007).

Historic Period

The Euro-American history of the area begins in 1776 when Dominguez and Escalante entered the White River Basin. For nearly the next century, trappers, fur traders, and the occasional private explorer or government-sponsored surveyor were the only non-Native people in the region. The United States obtained the Louisiana Purchase, which included the territory that is now Colorado, in 1803 and sent expeditions west to document this new territory. It is during this time frame that the “contact- traditional cultures” were building economic relationships with the Spanish and other European traders. The period between 1820 and 1860 was characterized by more intensive migrations westward of American settlers as a result of the Louisiana Purchase. This led to heightened competition for resources

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and thus more cross-cultural conflicts. The Fur Trade was dwindling, and gold was discovered in the Colorado High Country in 1859, starting the Colorado Gold Rush. Although this did not greatly affect the northwest portion of Colorado directly, it did move settlers closer to the area and prompted Congress to establish the Colorado Territory in 1861 (Church et al. 2007). The Historic period (A.D. 1881-1960) begins with the final expulsion of the Ute by the end of 1882 onto reservations in Utah and marks the end of significant indigenous occupation of the upper Colorado River Basin (Baker et al. 2007).

The history of the Eagle River Valley includes, either directly or indirectly, Spanish, British, French, and American influences. Historic research themes have been identified by Mehls (1982, 1984), and Spurr and Rood (1990) provide a valuable synopsis of the region’s history from the earliest Spanish expeditions in the 18th century to 20th century American farming and ranching efforts. The most pertinent historic themes are transportation, mining, and high country farming and ranching. Taken largely from Spurr and Rood (1990), the historical contexts for these themes are summarized below.

The earliest European explorers in the region followed the Ute trails, which in turn likely traced the routes of more ancient trails. Tennessee Pass has been an important route into the valley since early historic times. From Leadville, the early explorers followed Indian trails on foot or on horseback. The first toll road over the pass was built in 1879 to serve new mining camps. By 1883, stagecoach service operated between Leadville and Dotsero. Railroad development quickly followed road construction and by 1881, the D&RG Railway had been completed to Redcliff from Leadville. Subsequent improvement to this rail line, extension to Glenwood Springs by 1887, and connection to other lines with service to Salt Lake City, helped increase the economic importance of Western Slope towns like Eagle and Minturn (Wilson 1982). Even after rail service extended the length of the Eagle Valley, wagon roads continued to provide important connections between supply centers and mining camps. Some of these roads were precursors to our modern highways. By 1940, a paved road was completed over Vail Pass, named for its chief engineer Charles Vail. This would later become Interstate 70, the portion of which near Vail was completed in the late-1960s (Colorado Division of Highways 1971).

The Colorado-wide gold rush of 1859 was the precursor to gold and silver prospecting in western Colorado beginning in the 1870s. Silver became the primary metal produced during this decade, the most important being the lead-silver carbonates found along the Upper Arkansas River near present-day Leadville, Colorado. Closer to the project area, the Town of Redcliff was one of the many towns formed where promising strikes were made. Redcliff was the original county seat of Eagle County, later changed to the Town of Eagle (Mehls 1982:51-54). Early pioneers in the Avon and Beaver Creek areas grew hay and raised cattle to feed hungry miners in Red Cliff. They also built irrigation ditches to supply all of Avon with irrigation water. A sawmill also operated above Beaver Creek, providing wood to the growing community (Welch 2008).

Improved access provided by transportation developments in the Eagle River Valley helped encourage Euro-American settlement in larger numbers. The earliest homestead patents date to 1883 and the number of patent filings peaked by 1888. The early settlers focused on subsistence farming and small-scale ranching, perhaps supplementing their livelihoods with the sale of a few cash crops such as lettuce and potatoes. Irrigation projects began immediately following the initial homesteading to divert water from the Eagle River and its perennial tributary creeks to pasture land and tilled cropland. Consolidation of small 40 to 160 acre homesteads into larger, more economically viable ranches occurred over the next several decades. In addition, several towns in the Eagle Valley, including Eagle, Gypsum, and Edwards, were first established in the 1880s, soon after homesteading began. In the 1920s, Beaver Creek and Bachelor Gulch became the center of lettuce growing in the United States. Other ranching and farming pursuits included cattle, sheep, hay, potatoes, peas, and oats (Welch 2008).

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During World War II, the Army’s 10th Mountain Division, based out of nearby Camp Hale, used the Vail area for backcountry training in mountain climbing, Alpine and Nordic skiing, and cold-weather survival. Camp Hale functioned as a mountain training facility from 1942 until the conclusion of the World War II in 1945. Following the conclusion of the war, Camp Hale veterans Pete Seibert, Bill “Sarge” Brown and Bob Parker, returned to the Vail Valley with a vision of creating a mountain ski community reminiscent of the great ski resorts they had encountered during their time in Europe (Town of Vail 2017). After teaming up with Earl Eaton, a local uranium prospector with a similar vision, construction on Vail Mountain began in 1962 (Town of Vail 2017). The Town of Vail grew up alongside the ski resort and was incorporated in the fall of 1966 (Town of Vail 2017). During this time, Vail boasted the first gondola in the United States along with two double chairlifts, a beginner poma lift, several restaurants, hotels, and a medical clinic (Town of Vail 2017). As Vail’s reputation as a premier ski resort grew throughout the 1970s and 1980s, so too did its recognition as an all-season recreation destination with the addition of golf courses and mountain biking trails during the 1980s (Town of Vail 2017). Summer and winter recreation and tourism continue to drive the economy of Vail and the surrounding valley. Previous Work

Metcalf conducted a file search that was completed on August 2nd, 2017 through the Colorado Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (OAHP). The goal was: 1) to gain specific information about previously recorded sites, 2) to determine which, if any, previous inventories might have already provided coverage, and 3) to gain a general understanding of the types and expected site distribution in the project area. The file search encompassed a one mile-radius around the project area in Sections 4-10 and 15-18 of Township 5 South, Range 80 West of the 6th PM. The results of the file search are derived from GIS shapefiles provided by the OAHP and an online check of the OAHP - Compass database. The files search includes records of all previously conducted archaeological investigations and all known cultural resources recorded in the study area, including National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) properties. An in-house file search at the USFS-WRNF office was deemed unnecessary by the lead agent. The files search information indicates that there have been 26 previous inventories and 6 previously recorded sites. None of the previously recorded sites are within the project APE.

Twenty-six studies have been previously conducted in the sections researched (Table 1). These projects date from 1983 to 2011 and were conducted for a variety of enterprises, including White River National Forest sponsored projects, several highway and interstate surveys, timber sales, power and utility lines, etc. The projects have been conducted by a number of federal, state, and private agencies or companies, including numerous projects by the USFS-WRNF, Colorado Department of Highways (now Colorado Department of Transportation), and Metcalf. A single previous inventory completely overlaps with the current project area (SHPO Project #EA.FS.R1; Metcalf 1985). However, during a recent field visit, Tom Fuller, the lead agency contact for the USFS-WRNF, identified three previously unrecorded sites. As a result, a complete re-survey of the area was requested.

A version of the current project discussed in this report was originally proposed as part of a 2009 EIS, for which Metcalf conducted a Class I (McKibbin 2008). In addition, Metcalf has conducted four other Class I inventories previously for developments at Vail between 2013 and 2016. These included the 2013 Vail Mountain Recreation Enhancements EIS (McKibbin 2013), the Vail Mountain 2015 Development Areas (Slaughter 2015), the proposed 2016 summer recreation enhancements at Vail including the Sunup Chairlift replacement (Elkins 2016a), and the Vail 2016 Golden Peak EIS (Elkins 2016b).

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Table 1. Previous cultural resource inventories located within one mile of the project area. In OAHP Doc# Report Title Company Year APE? ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF MAIN VAIL EA.CH.NR2 CDOH 1987 No INTERCHANGE, EAGLE COUNTY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF PROJECT BRO 0044 1984 EA.CH.NR21 CDOH No (3), EAGLE COUNTY, COLORADO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF TWO SLIDE AREAS ALONG I-70, EAGLE COUNTY, COLORADO, EA.CH.NR4 CDOH 1988 No WHITE RIVER NATIONAL FOREST

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF EAGLE VAIL TO EA.CH.R1 CDOH 1988 No VAIL EAGLE COUNTY, COLORADO CULTURAL RESOURCE SURVEY OF FIVE EA.FS.NR1 POTENTIAL LAND EXCHANGE PARCELS AT VAIL, M-Z 1983 No COLORADO VAIL ASSOCIATES MOUNTAIN IMPROVEMENTS EA.FS.NR10 METCALF 1985 No RELATED TO CHAIRS 3,4,7,11, AND 16 USFS- EA.FS.NR104 FOUR (4) PROJECTS ON VAIL MTN. AND VAIL PASS 1990 No WRNF CULTURAL RESOURCE INVENTORY OF PORTIONS EA.FS.NR43 OF THE SPRADDLE CREEK SUBDIVISION, EAGLE METCALF 1990 No COUNTY, COLORADO VAIL/BEAVER CREEK 1993 SKI AREA EXPANSIONS USFS- EA.FS.NR47 1993 No AND IMPROVEMENTS WRNF PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF COLORADO EXPANSION OF THE VAIL SUBSTATION, EAGLE EA.FS.NR54 PEC 1994 No COUNTY, COLORADO: A CULTURAL RESOURCES INVENTORY TRAPPERS RUN/TOWN OF VAIL LAND EXCHANGE, USFS- EA.FS.NR60 1996 No EAGLE COUNTY WRNF VAIL MTN. GRAND TRAVERSE MOUNTAIN BIKE USFS- EA.FS.NR83 1992 No TRAIL WRNF CULTURAL RESOURCES SURVEY FOR VAIL EA.FS.NR9 ASSOCIATES MOUNTAIN IMPROVEMENTS, EAGLE METCALF 1985 No COUNTY, COLORADO FINAL REPORT OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL EA.FS.R1 INVESTIGATIONS AT THE VAIL SKI AREA, METCALF 1985 Yes EAGLE COUNTY, COLORADO CULTURAL RESOURCE SURVEY OF VAIL EA.FS.R10 MOUNTAIN IMPROVEMENTS, VAIL SKI AREA, METCALF 1989 No EAGLE COUNTY, COLORADO A CULTURAL RESOURCE INVENTORY OF THE EA.FS.R11 PROPOSED HOLY CROSS ELECTRIC POWER LINE, METCALF 1988 No EAGLE COUNTY, COLORADO A LEVEL III ARCHEOLOGICAL SURVEY FOR THE PINEY RIVER TIMBER TREATMENT PROJECT IN EA.FS.R33 EAGLE COUNTY, COLORADO ON THE WHITE RFA 1998 No RIVER NATIONAL FOREST (ORIGINAL AND ADDENDUM) THE CULTURAL RESOURCES INVENTORY OF THE VAIL MOUNTAIN PINE BEETLE SUPPRESSION USFS- EA.FS.R39 PROJECT, EAGLE COUNTY 2001 No WRNF

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LEVEL THREE CULTURAL RESOURCE INVENTORY AND EVALUATION OF FOURTEEN PREVIOUSLY EA.FS.R43 SURVEYED SITES VAIL VALLEY CULTURAL BRAL 2003 No RESOURCES SURVEY WHITE RIVER NATIONAL FOREST AND ADDENDUM PRELIMINARY REPORT FOR THE SURVEY OF THE EA.FS.R63 PROPOSED VAIL EXTENSION OF WHITE RIVER OAHP 2006 No NATIONAL FOREST WESTERN LAND GROUP: A CLASS III CULTURAL RESOURCES INVENTORY OF NINE PARCELS FOR EA.FS.R87 METCALF 2011 No THE PROPOSED EAGLE VALLEY LAND EXCHANGE, EAGLE COUNTY, COLORADO THE PROPOSED BUILDING SITE FOR THE NEW EA.LG.R7 AA 1977 No VAIL MUNICIPAL STORAGE BUILDING MC.CH.NR1 HIGHWAY DEPT CR NEG REPTS JAN TO DEC 84 CDOH 1984 No A CULTURAL RESOURCE SURVEY OF INTERSTATES 25, 70, 225, AND 270, U.S. HIGHWAYS MC.CH.R96 34 AND 160, AND STATE HIGHWAYS 13 AND 470, CA 1999 No FOR THE PROPOSED ADESTA COMMUNICATIONS FIBER OPTIC SYSTEM, COLORADO (C SW00-102) CULTURAL RESOURCE SURVEYS OF THE HAZARD TREE TREATMENT AREAS ALONG ROADS, EAGLE USFS- MC.FS.R500 2010 No AND SUMMIT COUNTIES, WHITE RIVER NATIONAL WRNF FOREST (CRR R2010021500048) CDOH =Colorado Department of Highways; M-Z=Metcalf-Zier Archaeologists, Inc.; METCALF=Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Inc.; USFS-WRNF=United States Forest Service-White River National Forest; PEC=Powers Elevation Co., Inc.; RFA=Red Feather Archaeology; BRAL=BRAL Environmental Services; OAHP=Colorado Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation; AA=Archaeological Associates, Inc.; CA=Centennial Archaeology

Six previously recorded resources, including two archaeological sites and four isolated finds, were identified within about one mile of the project area (Table 2). 5EA.9 is a historic site comprised of corrals and other buildings and is field recommended as Needs Data. 5EA.740 is the historic Vail Road bridge and is officially recommended as eligible for inclusion on the NRHP. The four isolates are comprised of two prehistoric isolates and two historic isolates. None of these resources are located in the project APE.

Table 2. Previously recorded sites and isolated finds located within one mile of the project area. Smithsonian Site Type/Name NRHP Eligibility In APE? Recorders Number 5EA.9 Historic corrals and buildings Needs data – field No AA 5EA.740 Historic bridge/Vail Road Eligible – officially No Town of Vail bridge 5EA.918 Prehistoric isolate - debitage No assessment No USFS-WRNF; METCALF; BLM-AHC 5EA.919 Prehistoric isolate – flake tool No assessment No USFS- WRNF; METCALF 5EA.1747 Historic isolate - Prospect Pit Not eligible – field No USFS- WRNF 5EA.1748 Historic isolate - Prospect Pit Not eligible - field No USFS- WRNF AA=Archaeological Associates, Inc.; USFS-WRNF=United States Forest Service – White River National Forest; METCALF=Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Inc.; BLM=Bureau of Land Management Anasazi Heritage Center

General Land Office (GLO) plat maps and historic USGS topographic maps were also examined as part of the files search (Table 3) (BLM 2017). The GLO plat maps showed no potential historic resources in the project area. However, various iterations of the USGS Minturn 1:62,500 map and the USGS Leadville 1:250,000 map show a road along the northeastern side of Mill Creek and intersecting

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the project APE (Figure 4). No traces of the road were found during the current project and have likely been destroyed by the construction and/or ongoing maintenance of Vail Resort.

Table 3. Archival maps inspected during the file search Map Reference Scale Year Results GLO Plat –T 5S, R 80W N/A 1882, 1892, 1900 No data in project area. USGS Minturn 1:62,500 1934, 1950 A road winding up the USGS Leadville 1:250,000 1957, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1964 northeastern side of Mill Creek (through the current APE) is present on all historic USGS maps. USGS Vail East 1:24,000 1970, 1982, 1987 Road along Mill Creek USGS Vail 1:100,000 1980 disappears and is replaced by ski development.

Figure 4. A portion of the 1934 USGS Minturn quadrangle map illustration showing a road within the project area in red.

Statement of Objectives/Research Design

Following state and federal policies and regulations implementing the NHPA, the project area was inventoried to identify any cultural resources within the APE. Any discovered cultural resources were to be evaluated for eligibility to the NRHP under the Criteria for Eligibility (36 CFR §60.4). Register eligibility is evaluated in terms of the integrity of the resource and four specific criteria: (A) are associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history; or (B) are associated with the lives of persons significant in our past; or (C) embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction, or that represent the work of a master, or that possess high artistic values, or that represent a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction; or (D) have yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history.

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Prehistoric resources are most often evaluated under Criterion D, for their potential to yield information important to studies of prehistory. Information from a potentially significant prehistoric site often stems from data recovered from intact surface components and subsurface cultural deposits or discrete activity areas that can be securely associated with a temporal period or named cultural group. The potential for intact deposits or cultural/temporal associations may be inferred from surface evidence of cultural features or undisturbed deposits, and the presence of temporally or culturally diagnostic artifacts. Prehistoric structural features such as wickiups, tree platforms, eagle traps, etc., can also be evaluated under Criterion A, for their association with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad pattern of our history; and/or under Criterion C, if the structure embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction, or represents the work of a master, or possesses high artistic values, or represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction.

Historic resources may be evaluated under any of the criteria. However, in the absence of structural features or documented association with significant historic events or important contributions of persons significant in history, historical resources are evaluated under essentially the same criteria as prehistoric resources.

Anticipated results of the survey were based on the files searches and previous work in the region. Previous inventory of the immediate project area suggested a low probability for encountering prehistoric cultural resources and a moderate probability for encountering historic resources. Prehistoric site type expectations in the area are for short-term camps or lithic reduction sites. Regional data from the mountainous regions of Colorado indicate consistent seasonal prehistoric use of the area rather than year- round long-term habitation. Historic sites were likely to be related to early mining, sheepherding, and/or hunting in the area.

Field Methods

The project area was inventoried by archaeologists using pedestrian transects spaced no more than 20 meters apart and generally following the natural contours of the slope. The APE was not marked in the field and was digitally rendered in a handheld Trimble GeoXT6000 GPS unit. All GPS readings were georeferenced to UTM zone 13, NAD 83 (WAAS corrected to 2-5 m accuracy). Weather conditions during the fieldwork were good with bright and sunny conditions. Special attention was paid to areas of enhanced subsurface visibility such as road cuts, drainage cutbanks, animal trails, and roadbeds for buried artifacts, features, and buried cultural soil horizons. When cultural materials were encountered, the immediate area was intensively examined to determine the nature and extent of the resource.

The USFS-WNRF defines a site as a discrete locus of patterned human activity greater than 50 years of age and consisting of five or more prehistoric artifacts with or without features or over 50 historic artifacts with associated features. A single isolated feature, such as a hearth, with no other associated artifacts or features would also be a site. Isolated finds are defined as less than five prehistoric artifacts or 49 historic artifacts without associated features. Exceptions to this definition include: a single core reduction event with a single core and associated reduction debitage; a single pot/bottle drop, where all the sherds are from a single vessel; or prospector pit with/or without artifacts and no associated historic structures or features. These resources are to be recorded as isolated finds. Once defined, resources were recorded on OAHP forms. No artifacts were collected during the project inventory.

Metcalf characterizes artifacts in the field by class (e.g., debitage, flake tool, ground stone) and material type (e.g., chert, quartzite, sandstone). Debitage is described as primary, secondary, tertiary, or shatter to provide a rough idea of the predominant flintknapping stage represented by the assemblage.

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Primary flakes are defined as having 100 percent cortex on their dorsal surfaces; secondary flakes have between 0 and 100 percent cortex on their dorsal surfaces; tertiary flakes lack cortex; and shatter does not have a distinguishable ventral surface. Generally, only diagnostic artifacts are collected, and this only occurs in limited circumstances with permission from the USFS. All field notes, maps, and digital photographs are on file at the Metcalf office in Eagle, Colorado.

Results

Three cultural resources were recorded during the current project (Table 4). All resources were previously identified by the USFS-WRNF who requested that Metcalf record them. The recorded sites include two sites and one isolate. The isolated find (5EA.3560) is a historic prospect pit and wooden ladder likely related to the early mining exploration of the area. It is recommended as not eligible for inclusion on the NRHP. 5EA.3539 is a probable modern wickiup-like hunting blind site with two wickiup-like wooden features. 5EA.3540 is a dendroglyph site with one historic panel and numerous modern panels likely related to numerous activities, including sheepherding, ski area construction, and modern ski race participants and/or crews. It was requested by Tom Fuller at the USFS-WRNF that all dendroglyphs in the area of the site, historic or modern, be recorded so as to create an accurate record of that activity (personal communication, Tom L. Fuller, to Melissa Elkins on September 5, 2017). Both sites are recommended as not eligible for inclusion on the NRHP. The sites are further described below. The locations of all resources are shown on maps in Appendix A of this report (agency copies only, not for public distribution). OAHP site forms are in Appendix B (under separate cover, agency copies only, not for public distribution).

Table 4. Cultural resources recorded for this project. Site Eligibility Site Type Description Number Recommendation Modern wooden Two wickiup-like wooden features, likely 5EA.3539 Not Eligible features hunting blinds. Historic/modern One historic and 18 modern dendroglyphs in 5EA.3540 Not Eligible dendroglyphs an aspen grove. 5EA.3541 Historic isolate Not Eligible Prospecting pit with ladder.

5EA.3539

Site 5EA.3539 consists of two wickiup-like wooden structures, likely modern in age, which are aspen deadfall poles propped against live aspen trees to form wickiup-like structures. Feature 1 is the less well-preserved of the two, made up of seven aspen deadfall trunks. Feature 2, south of feature 1, is made up of about 10 aspen deadfall trunks. All component poles appear to be deadfall that have not been altered but, rather, gathered on-site. No artifacts are associated with either feature.

Feature 1 is a leaner wooden structure made from a total of seven interlocked aspen deadfall trunk poles leaning against a single live aspen tree with three distinct trunks (Figure 5); six are still standing while one has collapsed. The condition of the poles is generally good with only minimal lengthwise grain separation noted, generally less than ¼”. The poles do not appear to be modified for use but, rather, gathered as deadfall from around the site and used as-is. There is approximately 1 ½” – 2 ½” of bark growth from the support trees around two of the poles. The floor plan is irregular and there is no evidence of floor treatment; the floor is the unaltered forest floor. See Table 5 below for metrics of the feature.

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Feature 2 is a leaner wooden structure made from a total of 10 interlocked aspen deadfall trunk poles leaning against two aspen trees, one alive and one dead; eight are still standing while two has collapsed (Figure 6). The condition of the poles is generally good with only minimal lengthwise grain separation noted, generally less than ¼”. The poles do not appear to be modified for use but, rather, gathered as deadfall from around the site and used as-is. The floor plan is irregular and there is no evidence of floor treatment; the floor is the unaltered forest floor. See Table 6 below for metrics of the feature.

Figure 5. 5EA.3539. Feature 1 overview, view southeast. (Roll 17-675, image 11, 09/05/2017)

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Table 5. Additional information and metrics for Feature 1, 5EA.3539. Feature 1 Number of Poles Total: 7 Standing/Leaning: 6 Collapsed: 1

Pole Measurements Longest Shortest Range Length: 30-35’ 12’ 18-23’ Top of pole: height above ground: 11’ 6” 9’ 2” 2’ 4” Pole height at contact with support element: 7’ 6” 5’ 2’ 6” Pole base distance from support element: Not 10’ 6” NA touching/broken Pole base depth below present ground surface: 0-3” 0-3” NA Mid-pole diameter: 3 ½” 3” ½”

Interior Dimensions Interior height: 5’ 6” Length: 5’ 6” Direction: North/South Width: 4’ Direction: East/West

Support Elements Type: Aspen Number: 1, 3 trunks Condition: Living Diameter near base: 14”-22” Approximate height: 60-75’ Direction of support element from feature center: East/southeast Parts of support element utilized by feature: Trunks

Photographs Roll #: 17-675 Images: 10-11

Figure 6. 5EA.3539. Feature 2 overview, view northwest. (Roll 17-675, image 8, 09/05/2017)

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Table 6. Additional information and metrics for Feature 2, 5EA.3539. Feature 2 Number of Poles Total: 10 Standing/Leaning: 8 Collapsed: 2

Pole Measurements Longest Shortest Range Length: 30-40’ 25’ 5-15’ Top of pole: height above ground: 20’ 9’ 2” 10’ 10” Pole height at contact with support element: 8’ 7” 5’ 3’ 7” Pole base distance from support element: 22’ 9” 3’ 19’ 3” Pole base depth below present ground surface: 0-3” 0-3” NA Mid-pole diameter: 5” 3” 2”

Interior Dimensions Interior height: 6’ Length: 10’ Direction: North/South Width: 5’ Direction: East/West

Support Elements Type: Aspen Number: 2 Condition: 1 living; 1 dead Diameter near base: 18” Approximate height: Not recorded Direction of support element from feature center: West Parts of support element utilized by feature: Trunks

Photographs Roll #: 17-675 Images: 7-8

This site was thought to possibly be associated with activities of the US Army’s 10th Mountain Division, based out of nearby Camp Hale, during World War II. Camp Hale functioned as a mountain training facility from 1942 until the conclusion of the World War II in 1945, and used the Vail area for backcountry training in mountain climbing, Alpine and Nordic skiing, and cold-weather survival. However, Rick Doak at the USFS-WRNF suggests the growth around one wickiup does not indicate a long enough timeline for the structures to be associated with the 10th Mountain Division (1942-1945). The Metcalf crew agrees with this assessment based on the condition of the support elements.

NRHP Eligibility and Management Recommendations.

At site 5EA.3539, Integrities of location and setting have likely not changed since the original occupation. The two wooden features are probable modern wickiup hunting blinds constructed during the annual fall hunting season. The design elements that create the form, plan, structure, and style are simple and common throughout the area. The aspen building materials are in good condition but they are heavily dilapidated and are likely dispersed away from the original form and shape of the structure. The workmanship is common for structures of this type. The features do not provide association to a particular culture or period, and their integrity of feeling has been compromised due to the surrounding ski area.

The site is not known to be associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of history (Criteria A), it is not known to be associated with the lives of a significant persons in the past (Criteria B), nor does the site embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method on construction, or represent the work of a master, or possesses a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction (Criteria C). Lastly, the site does not preserve information not already available in written or oral documentation which may yield

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important information related to history (Criteria D). Because the site retains only some integrity and does not meet any of the four National Register criteria, it is recommended to be Not Eligible for inclusion on the National Register. The site has been adequately documented and no additional work is recommended.

5EA.3540

Site 5EA.3540 consists of nineteen aspen trees exhibiting one or more text panels, divided between two locales. The locales surround a north/south mountain access road near the Riva Bahn Express chairlift mid-station at the top of the Ruder’s Run and Whipper Snapper ski runs at Golden Peak Terrain Park. See Table 7 below for additional data for each of the panels recorded.

Locale A, the more northern of the two, is located immediately east of the chairlift tower and contains 13 features (Features 1-13) likely associated with skiing recreation (some are of a height accessible only by standing on deep snow or snow piles) or –presumably- sheepherding, based on the Hispanic graffiti. The dates for Locale A range from 1965 to 2017 and are comprised wholly of writing; no art/pictures were observed. This locale contains the only definitively historic panel (Feature 10), dated to 1965, and was likely inscribed by the construction crew who built the first chairlift on Golden Peak (Figure 7). This locale also contains numerous Hispanic panels written in Spanish (Features 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9) (Figures 8, 9, and 10 ). These may be related to the final years of sheepherding in the area before it became fully entrenched in the summer and winter recreational activities of Vail Resort. The remaining inscriptions are mainly undated names or initials.

Locale B, the more southern of the two, is located south of the chairlift tower, immediately west of the access road, and contains six features (Features 14-19) likely associated with summer or winter recreation along the road. The dates for Locale B range from 1977 to 1994. These panels wholly consist of inscribed names or initials, some with dates.

Table 7. Additional information and measurements for each tree feature, 5EA.3540. Panel height Panel size(s) Panel tree Photo Feature Panel date(s) (bottom) Locale (height x width) diameter at numbers number (if known) above ground (cm) panel (cm) (Roll 17-40) surface (cm) 2007, likely 1 A 400x50 195 40 1200-1204 many others 1210-1215, 2 A 106x45 Unknown 82 45 1256-1257 13x18 (north) 121 (north) 41 (north) 3 A Unknown 1216-1218 20x24 (south) 147 (south) 36 (south) 4 A 35x45 Unknown 146 42 1253-1255 5 A 20x28 Unknown 138 38 1251-1252 6 A 40x36 1968 115 39 1247-1248 80x49 (north) 103 (north) 7 A 1990 Not recorded 1244-1246 16x25 (south) 125 (south) 157x20 (north) 1970, 2009 117 (north) 1219-1230; 8 A Not recorded 63x70 (south) (north) 105 (south) 1233-1235 9 A 76x140 1968 76 50 1236-1243 10 A 33x29 1965 177 32 1205-1207 11 A 68x30 Unknown 110 40 1208-1209 12 A 18x6 2017 147 7 1198-1199 13 A 12x28 Unknown 130 39 1249-1250 14 B 20x8 1994 190 34 1259-1260

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Panel height Panel size(s) Panel tree Photo Feature Panel date(s) (bottom) Locale (height x width) diameter at numbers number (if known) above ground (cm) panel (cm) (Roll 17-40) surface (cm) 15 B 13x23 1991 131 34 1261-1262 16 B 12x23 1977 184 33 1263-1264 17 B 15x15 Unknown 130 30 1265-1267 18 B 18x16 Unknown 160 30 1268-1269 19 B 18x18 Unknown 167 32 1270-1271

NRHP Eligibility and Management Recommendations.

At site 5EA.3540, integrities of location, design, materials, and workmanship remain. Integrity of setting for some of the dendroglyphs is lacking, especially for those dating to the mid to late 1960s. Feeling is also lacking for these earliest dendroglyphs. This is mainly due to the ongoing upgrades to the Vail Ski Resort and surrounding area. Finally, these dendroglyphs are not known to retain integrity of association with a historically important person(s) of the area.

The site is not known to be associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of history (Criteria A), it is not known to be associated with the lives of a significant persons in the past (Criteria B), it does not embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method on construction, or represent the work of a master, or possesses a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction (Criteria C). Lastly, the site does not preserve information not already available in written or oral documentation which may yield important information to history (Criteria D). Because the site retains only some integrity and does not meet any of the four National Register criteria, it is recommended to be Not Eligible for inclusion on the National Register.

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Figure 7. 5EA.3540. Locale A, Feature 10. Historically dated panel (1965). (Roll 40-17, image 1206, 09/06/2017)

Figure 8. 5EA.3540. Locale A, Feature 6. Hispanic-related dated panel (1968). (Roll 40-17, image 1247, 09/06/2017)

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Figure 9. 5EA.3540. Locale A, Feature 8. Hispanic-related dated panel (1970). (Roll 40-17, image 1228, 09/06/2017)

Figure 10. 5EA.3540. Locale A, Feature 9. Hispanic-related dated panel (1968). (Roll 40-17, image 1236, 09/06/2017)

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Evaluation of Research

Metcalf considers the results of this inventory reliable and representative of the area. Although ground visibility was often obscured by dense vegetation, field conditions were adequate for the discovery of cultural resources. The findings are consistent with pre-field expectations based on the size of the inventory, the nature of the terrain and vegetation, the results of previous studies in the area, and the archival research conducted prior to fieldwork. No trace was found of a short segment of a road depicted on historic USGS topographic maps which appeared to intersect the project area. Otherwise, the three previously unrecorded resources identified by the USFS-WRNF were located and recorded.

Summary and Management Recommendations

Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Inc. (Metcalf) conducted a Class III cultural resources inventory of the proposed development on Golden Peak at Vail Resort in Eagle County, Colorado, for SE Group. The project area is located in Township 5S, Range 80W, Sections 8 and 9. The project consists of approximately 70 acres located on the west and northwest facing slope of Golden Peak south of Vail Valley. However, a total of 90.2 acres were inventoried, as it was more prudent to survey through small gaps within the project area of potential affect (APE) rather than maneuver around them. The proposed development is located on lands administered by the United States Forest Service - White River National Forest (USFS-WRNF). Vail Resort, with the assistance of SE Group, proposes to construct and/or expand lift facilities (including the Riva-Bahn Express mid-station), buried electrical lines, snowmaking pipe, a snowmaking booster station, a mogul course, a race building, race start houses, a lift shelter, and restrooms; and to construct and maintain access roads.

Metcalf recommends a finding of no historic properties affected for the project as proposed at the time of inventory. No further work is recommended.

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References Cited

Baker, Steven G., Richard F. Carrillo, and Carl D. Späth 2007 Protohistoric and Historic Native Americans. In Colorado History: A Context for Historical Archaeology, edited by Minette C. Church, Steven G. Baker, Bonnie J. Clark, Richard F. Carrillo, Jonathon C. Horn, Carl D. Späth, David R. Guilfoyle, and E. Steve Cassells, pp. 29-106. Colorado Council of Professional Archaeologists, Denver.

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 2017 Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records. Electronic document, https://glorecords.blm.gov, accessed August 30, 2017.

Chapman, S.S., G.E. Griffith, J.M. Omernik, A.B. Price, J. Freeouf, and D.L. Schrupp 2006 Ecoregions of Colorado (color poster with map, descriptive text, summary tables, and photographs). U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.

Church, Minette C., Steven G. Baker, Bonnie J. Clark, Richard F. Carrillo, Jonathon C. Horn, Carl D. Späth, David R. Guilfoyle, and E. Steve Cassells 2007 Colorado History: A Context for Historical Archaeology. Colorado Council of Professional Archaeologists, Denver.

Colorado Division of Highways 1971 Vail Pass: Alignment Studies and Design Concepts.

Elkins, Melissa 2016a Class I Cultural resource findings for the Vail Mountain 2016 Development Areas. Letter Report submitted to White River National Forest. Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Inc. Eagle, Colorado.

2016b Class I Cultural Resource Findings for the Vail 2016 Golden Peak EIS, Eagle County, Colorado. Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Inc. Eagle, Colorado.

Fenneman, Nevin M. 1946 Physiography of the Western United States. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York.

Town of Vail 2017 History of Vail. Town of Vail. http://www.vailgov.com/history-of-vail, accessed September 14, 2017.

Mehls, Steven 1982 The Valley of Opportunity: A History of West-Central Colorado. Bureau of Land Management, Cultural Resource Series No. 12, Denver.

1984 Colorado Mountains Historic Context. Colorado Historical Society, Denver.

McKibbin, Anne 2008 Proposed 2007 Master Development Plan, Phase 1 Proposal, Vail Resorts. Letter Report submitted to White River National Forest. Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Inc. Eagle, Colorado.

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McKibbin, Anne 2013 Cultural resource findings for the Vail Mountain Recreation Enhancements EIS. Letter Report submitted to White River National Forest. Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Inc. Eagle, Colorado.

Metcalf, Michael D. and Kevin D. Black 1985 Final Report of Archaeological Investigations at the Vail Ski Area, Eagle County, Colorado. Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Inc. Ms. On file, Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, Denver (OAHP Report # EA.FS.R1).

Reed, Alan D., and Michael D. Metcalf 1999 Colorado Prehistory: A Context for the Northern Colorado River Basin. Colorado Council of Professional Archaeologists, Denver, Colorado.

Slaughter, Stephanie 2015 Cultural resource findings for the Vail Mountain 2015 Development Areas. Letter Report submitted to White River National Forest. Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Inc. Eagle, Colorado.

Spurr, Kimberly, and Ronald J. Rood 1990 Class I Cultural Resource Inventory of the Upper Eagle Regional Water Authority, Town of Eagle and Town of Gypsum Water Districts, Eagle County, Colorado. Ms. on file at Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Inc., Eagle, Colorado.

Tweto, Ogden 1979 Geologic Map of Colorado. U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado.

Welch, Shirley 2008 The Eagle River Valley. Eagle County Historical Society, Arcadia Publishing, Eagle, Colorado.

Wilson, O. M. 1982 The Denver and Rio Grande Project, 1870-1901. Howe Brothers, Salt Lake City.

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APPENDIX A: Resource Location Map (Agency copies only; not for public distribution)

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APPENDIX B: OAHP Site Forms (under separate cover; agency copies only; not for public distribution)

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