Ivikukuch
N 37° 20.461 W 108° 11.386
12S E 748948 N 4136408
Two Ute Trees at San Juan National Forest Target Tree Recreation Area (camping, picnicking, & hiking trail access).
Waymark Code: WM66V
Location: Colorado, United States
Date Posted: 01/17/2006
Views: 117
Not "trail trees" in the purest sense of providing directions, but significant location and activity markers nonetheless.
From the trailhead sign
"This National Forest campground was the site of an historic Ute Indian camp. To the Utes it was "Ivikukuch" or the Target Tree Camp. Ivikukuch was located on one of the Ute's main trails, essentially what is now the route of U.S. Highway 160. While camped here they would use an old tree for bow and rifle target practice during hunting expeditions. They also scraped sweet sap and the cambium (inner bark) from ponderosa pines. The sap was made into a kind of candy. The cambium was used in soups, stews, and for making tea. Many of the old yellow or red barked ponderosas here still show large, oval shaped scars left by this use."
Park at listed waypoint near trailhead. 0.25 mi of gently-sloping and well-maintained trail leads to two such ponderosa Ute trees near N 37° 20.377 W 108° 11.328 and N 37° 20.349 W 108° 11.211
Although there is road access near the 2nd tree, the inner gate is usually closed and the outer gate is closed to vehicles during the off-season. Please do not park at the inner gate, but at the trail head. Using the trail also avoids fee questions since they are collected for overnight camping and day picnicking. If outer gate is closed, add a moderately-steep, quarter-mile hike to reach trailhead.
For credit, please post visit photos or email description of two small historical photos on "Ute Tree" sign.