A small group of area citizens had a truly refined experience on Saturday, September 9^th.  They ventured into the South San Juan Wilderness on the Leche Creek Trail to cut and bring to town a section of an aspen tree with the name Kit Carson carved into its bark. This truly eclectic group of horseman and hikers braved a high altitude forest trail, muddy from days of rain, to save the tree from gradual decay and eventual destruction. Such an effort speaks volumes about these people’s character and their keen interest of preserving historic artifacts of Pagosa Country and America.

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Dave Sanchez and the tree.

It was the kind of morning that many long time locals think of as “a Milt Lewis-ish kind of day.” Milt was an artist who lived and operated an art gallery on Main Street for many years. He had a style of painting high country morning mountain scenes with clouds of mist hanging in the trees and hazing through meadows. Many of his paintings and posters still hang in the area. That was the scene as this group arrived at the Leche Creek Trailhead. There was an electric feeling in the air as all were excited and eager, if not a bit apprehensive, about the adventure ahead. The apprehensiveness stemmed from the hanging question of the potential success of their mission.  Felling a large tree without damaging a specific section is not guaranteed!

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This saga began some three years ago when Dave Sanchez of Espanola spotted the tree while rounding-up stray cattle. Dave holds the grazing lease for the area and knows it well. Dave wrote a letter to Ross Aragon shown here:

Dear Mayor:

I'm taking the opportunity to once again converse with you and also send you a photograph of a recent find in the San Juan Wilderness. Two years ago I had the opportunity and pleasure to meet you up in the San Juan Wilderness, while you were enjoying a horseback ride and the enormous scenic beauty that the area offers: I have been a permitee in the South San Juan Mountains for many years and to date this area takes my breath away. Ranching has been a way of life for the Sanchez family for many generations and on the day we met my son and I were checking on our cattle on the V­ Rock Allotment.  ­

The South San Juan area not only offers scenic beauty but also a rich diversity of history. This area and its resources has served the needs of the people for centuries, from sheep operations, cattle, logging, and hunting/trapping and a vast array of recreational activities. Some of this history is captured in the carvings one finds on the beautiful aspens that some individuals took the time to make their mark. I have been intrigued by the many carvings I have found, some dating back into the eighteen hundreds.

The carvings that have impressed me the most are the ones that were done by shepherds, some are very unique and those individuals represented themselves very articulately. These carvings were done in cursive and display their own form of art. This is a treasure most youngsters today may never experience.

Mr. Aragon, our conversation that day, two years ago, along with your presence made a long lasting impression. Certain facts like your tenure as Mayor of the beautiful city of Pagosa Springs, your approachable and friendly personality and being the only Mayor I've ever met that is not only a horseman, but explores the rugged San Juans. Enclosed is a photo of a carving on a very old aspen tree that states Kit Carson 1859. I found this recently "not too far" from where we met that day; I thought you might appreciate this because you may have even ridden by it.

David P. Sanchez

Sanchez Ranches

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The top of the tree was cut away first to lessen chance of damage.

More recently, as outlined in a previous article published here, http://pagosa.com/artman/exec/view.cgi/4/288 I was talking to Ron Bamrick of the Chromo Store about Chromo area history and he showed me a photograph of this aspen tree with the carving. In the process of obtaining Dave Sanchez’s permission to publish the photo, I talked to Ross Aragon who remembered Dave and had his phone number. Dave gave permission and also told me he was worried because the tree was very old and in decay and that the carving would likely be lost if it fell. I did what I’ve done for years when I’ve needed to know something or get something done, I called Fred Harman!

This 500 foot section was too rough for horseback so it went via manback.

Not only was Fred interested - he knew about the tree. In the early 1940s a man named Bill Flaugh, who had grown up with Fred’s father, found the tree and told the Harmans. When Fred was made aware of the tree’s poor condition he immediately saw the need to save it.  Ross Aragon and Jim White, retired Forest Service Ranger, were contacted and a small group formed.  Soon the Mayor saw the need and formed an official committee, under the auspices of the Town of Pagosa Springs, with the intention of saving the tree. Committee members are Fred Harman, Betty Shahan, Jim White, David Sanchez and, your writer, Norm Vance.

The retrieval of the tree was complicated by its location in the South San Juan Wilderness. It would have to be cut with a handsaw and hauled out by horseback. A specific quartet of people with talent in the art of mountaineering, tree felling and horsepacking were brought in to help David do the actual job. They were George Love, Clay Campbell and Jim and Lucille Morehouse. Morehouse supplied a Clydesdale Cross horse that was visibly larger in every direction than any other horse there to carry the tree.

Peggy Bergon is an arborglyphs (tree carvings) expert, so she was a natural for the group.  Betty Shahan brought her friend Dolly Dillinger.  Others in the group included Jim White, Jim N. White, Leigh Gozigian, Mary Helen Cammack, Bob Pargen, Barbara Sanchez and Ian Vance. Ian stood in for me by photographing the event. Fred Harman, Carol Anne White and I waited at the trailhead. Fred manned the radio system for communications.

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Here comes the happy and smiling team.

Betty Shahan stopped to describe the event to Carol Anne White.

So, with a permit from the Forest Service and a preliminary discussion of safety related issues, the group went three and three quarters miles up the Leche Creek Trail to an elevation of 9,600 feet and cut the tree. The section was removed and hauled out. The events along the trail - the cutting and hauling of the tree - will be described here tomorrow, but I can tell you that when the group came riding out of the forest wet, muddy, cold and tired, they had smiles like they had King Solomon’s treasure in their saddlebags. Their attitude may have been enhanced when Dave Sanchez materialized a fifth of Jack Daniels for a toast for the occasion but it was obviously an act of love and inspiration for this group. One person spoke of chill bumps not caused by the wet and cold conditions and others, some fighting emotions, spoke of how blessed they felt to be a part of it.

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Ross, Jim White and the Cammacks Sunday morning. Finally in town!

It was an inspiring event.  We all feel fortunate that we shared it and that we can now share it with you. The tree was presented to Mayor Aragon by Jim White on Sunday morning. The Town of Pagosa Springs will now decide on its future location and interested committee members will begin working on the best way to preserve the wood and carving for the future.

Epilogue thought:

Just know - there are still grand adventures to be had and that there are ways to serve your fellow man beyond the normal paths. Life is still good for those who find it so. This group found it so last Saturday! 

For more related reading see:

For a short history of Kit Carson see:

http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/people/a_c/carson.htm

For an interesting read about Aspen see:

http://pagosa.com/adventure/summer/s_aspen.htm