Treasure Mountain - 3,870 acres (6 square miles)
Setting
The proposed Treasure Mountain Addition to the Raggeds Wilderness Area occupies several enormous steep cirques and bowls that plunge from the crest of Treasure Mountain to the Crystal River. Treasure Mountain is a massive feature that dominates the region between Marble and Schofield Pass. It is a five-mile-long, 13,000-foot-high massif that divides Yule Creek from the Crystal River.
This area covers parts of four huge basins separated by cliffs and towers that drain the north side of the mountain. Aspens grow on these slopes below 10,000 feet, Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir to about 12,000 feet, and only alpine vegetation above that. The elevation ranges from about 9,500 feet at the corner of the unit, to 13,500 feet at the summit of Treasure Mountain.
What's special about it?
The extremely steep and rugged topography of this area have precluded any human development. The area has every quality of wilderness, is adjacent to the Raggeds Wilderness Area, and serves as an important wildlife linkage between the Raggeds and the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wildernesses. Mountain goats and ptarmigans thrive on the high ridge tops and the area contains good elk summer range. The main recreation here is awesome, but difficult, backcountry skiing, and only by a few individuals per year. Stunning summer hikes also make this area a treasure. There is a high degree of solitude and opportunities for primitive, unconfined, and challenging types of recreation exist within the area.
Potential threats
A helicopter skiing operation once occurred here, and there has been a movement to reactivate those operations. The topography will limit incursions from private property along the Crystal River. Historic mining claims ring the area suggesting deposits of potentially valuable minerals that could lead to more extensive claims under the right economic conditions.
Division of Wildlife habitat qualities, species of significance
The area contains elk and mule deer summer range, mountain goat summer range, as well as white-tailed ptarmigan habitat. The area also contains possible lynx denning and winter habitat. Lynx radio collar locations have been documented in the area.
CDOW management recommendations: This area should remain roadless with no new trails or road construction. This will help protect summer range and solitude for deer, elk, and mountain goats. Recommended wilderness designation should be carried forward.
Outreach Results
The Rocky Mountain Biological Lab has a special use permit area within and around the Treasure Mountain proposal area. After meeting with RMBL on numerous occasions, the Hidden Gems campaign decided to add language to the bill that would reinforce RMBL's ability to continue using the area for current and future research. As a result of conversations with The Trust for Public Land, the Hidden Gems campaign discovered that the Forest Service had reclaimed a large block of mining claims adjacent to the Treasure Mountain proposal area. Thus, several hundred acres will likely be added to the eastern side of the proposal area. See table of adjustments for details.
How to get there
The proposed Treasure Mountain Addition is located three miles southeast of the town of Marble. There are no maintained trails in the area.
- From Marble, take FS 314 up Daniels Hill east of town. Stay on FS 314 toward Lead King Basin. The unit is south of the road as you drive toward Crystal.
- The USGS 7 1⁄2' quads for the proposed Treasure Mountain Wilderness Area are Marble and Snowmass Mountain.
Other info
The proposed Treasure Mountain Addition is one of several roadless areas that abut the 65,400-acre Raggeds Wilderness. Together they form a roadless complex of over 99,000 acres (154 square miles).
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