Gearhart Mountain Wilderness
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Bridge Creek Wilderness | |
|---|---|
| IUCN Category Ib (Wilderness Area) | |
 |
|
| Location | Oregon, USA |
| Nearest city | Bly, Oregon |
| Coordinates | |
| Area | 22,823 acres (92 km²) |
| Established | 1964 |
| Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
Gearhart Mountain Wilderness is a wilderness area located within the Fremont National Forest in Lake County, south-central Oregon. This area was established in 1943 as a Wild Area and designated as Wilderness with the Wilderness Act of 1964. In 1984, an additional 4,144 acres (17 km²) were added for a total of 22,823 acres (92 km²). The Wilderness is entirely within the boundaries of Bly Ranger District.[1]
Gearhart Mountain was named for James P. Gearhart or William H. Gearhart; two brothers who raised and traded cattle in the area from about 1873 to 1882.[2]
Contents |
[edit] Topography
Gearhart Mountain Wilderness is in the desert/coastal transition zone of south central Oregon on the borders of Lake and Klamath Counties.[1] At 8,364 feet (2,549 m) Gearhart Mountain is the highest point in this Wilderness of high mountain meadows, cirques, and glacial valleys.[3] Views from the top of Gearhart Mountain range from Steens Mountain to the east, the Cascade peaks to the west, Mount Lassen in California to the south, and the Three Sisters (Oregon) in the north. The headwaters of numerous small streams lie at the base of many of the cliffs and ridges.[3]
[edit] Vegetation
The Gearhart Mountain Wilderness area is part of a continuous dry pine forest covering the transition zone. Differences in species are primarily dependent on water availability. The lower slopes tend to be dominated by white fir with a mix of ponderosa pine, whitebark pine, and lodgepole pines, while the higher elevations are covered with pure stands of lodgepole and whitebark pine.[1][3] The meadows scattered throughout the Wilderness are characterized by lush green ground cover, stands of aspen, and a multitude of wildflowers. Gearhart Mountain Wilderness does have some stands of old growth forest.[1]
[edit] Wildlife
A variety of wildlife can be found in Gearhart Mountain Wilderness. These include deer, coyote, elk, black bear and mountain lion, and a wide variety of birds such as woodpecker, chickadee, finch, jay, junco, raven and hawk. Rainbow and brook trout inhabit the lower levels of some of the area streams, and Blue Lake is stocked yearly with Rainbow Trout.[1]
[edit] Recreation
Popular recreational activities in Gearhart Mountain Wilderness include hiking, camping, swimming, fishing, wildlife watching, and horseback riding. Approximately 20 miles (32 km) of established trails cross the Wilderness, including the popular Gearhart Mountain trail.[4][3]
[edit] Gallery
 Blue Lake |
 Rock formations in the Wilderness |
 "The Notch" on Gearhart Mountain Trail |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e Gearhart Mountain Wilderness, Oregon - GORP
- ^ McArthur, Lewis A.; Lewis L. McArthur [1928] (2003). Oregon Geographic Names, Seventh Edition, Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. ISBN 0-87595-277-1 (trade paperback), ISBN 0-87595-278-X (hardcover).
- ^ a b c d Gearhart Mountain Wilderness - Wilderness.net
- ^ Fremont-Winema National Forests - Gearhart Mountain Wilderness
[edit] External links
- Fremont-Winema National Forests - Gearhart Mountain Wilderness
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
