The National Trails System Act (P.L. 90-543 as amended, 16 USC 1241-1251)
defines “high potential route segments” as follows (Section 12 [16USC1251]):
defines “high potential route segments” as follows (Section 12 [16USC1251]):
(2) The term “high potential route segments” means those segments of a trail
which would afford high quality recreation experience in a portion of the route
having greater than average scenic values or affording an opportunity to
vicariously share the experience of the original users of a historic route.
which would afford high quality recreation experience in a portion of the route
having greater than average scenic values or affording an opportunity to
vicariously share the experience of the original users of a historic route.
This means... we are not looking for perfect traces, we are looking for intact, minimally disturbed landscapes with what appear to be period trail traces, which give the recreational user the FEELING as if they have stepped back in time - as if they were there when Armijo (or others) were - observing the western frontier of an America that wasn't even born yet!