Trinity Alps

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The Trinity Alps are mountains in Northern California. They are located to the northwest of Redding, California. Elevations there range from 1,350 feet to 8,994 feet at Thompson Peak. The Trinity Alps are situated within the Klamath mountain range, which lies between the Coastal Range and the Cascade Range, which lies further to the east. They are noted for their scenic views and alpine environment, which differ from those found in the Sierra Nevada, the Coastal Range, or the Cascades. According to recent, but incorrect, USGS maps, 35 permanent bodies of snow and several tiny glaciers dot the highest peaks of the Alps ([1]). Independent study has shown that only about six of these snow/ice bodies persist through the driest years. The recent 7.5-minute topo maps from the USGS severely overstate the area of these ice bodies; for example, none of those shown on the east side of the West Range above Canyon Creek Lakes or of Sawtooth Peak remain at the end even of half the years. The only one that is unambiguously a glacier is the 15-acre icefield on the north side of Thompson Peak, which shows crevasses indicating true motion even on so small an icefield. On the ridge south of Sapphire Lake is an unusual phenomenon comprised of a temporary glacier, versus an inactive snowfield that melts out in dry years. Following years of heavy accumulation, an icefield appears in this fully-sheltered north-facing cirque that can show active crevasses and seracs some tens of feet high. But this ice body, at an elevation of only 7,500 feet in a region experiencing a long, hot dry season from about mid May to mid October, can disappear completely during a run of drier years. The lowest snowfield in California that does not disappear except in the extreme runs of dry years is located above Mirror Lake at an elevation of 6,600 feet. Studies of lichen collars indicate that the site near Kalmia Lake is the snowiest spot in the State of California, receiving snow accumulation in excess of the Lake Helen snowcourse on Lassen Peak, by far the snowcourse with greatest late winter snow accumulation in California. This in turn is consistent with the fact of an active glacier under Thompson Peak, while, in contrast, no such active glacier exists under Brokeoff Mountain west of Lassen Peak, higher than Thompson Peak and presenting an ideal NNE-facing zone in the area of maximum snow accumulation beneath an almost-vertical cliff face 1,000 feet high. Sufficient snow does accumulate under Brokeoff that in some years the snowfield there experiences incipient glacial motion. Two moraines below it, one very recent, provide clear evidence at least of mass transport in the recent past at that site. These moraines are quite a bit smaller than those found below the Thompson Peak glacieret.

This region of the Siskiyou Mountains is also outstanding for having the greatest number of conifers of anyplace in the world except one. The northern species, such as alpine fir, amabilis fir, alaska yellowcedar, and englemann spruce are found here, as well as the trees from the south, such as incense cedar, ponderosa and sugar pine, plus unique populations of foxtail pine (Pinus balfouriana) and weeping spruce (Picea breweriana). The reason for so many trees existing together is that these mountains lie right between the Mediterranean climate that dominates to the south and the northwestern coastal climate, again summer dry, but with a far shorter season of drought.

The US Forest Service manages the Trinity Alps Wilderness. The area contains hiking trails, backcountry camping, and beautiful scenery. The area is visited much less heavily than many other wilderness areas in California, such as Yosemite National Park or Kings Canyon National Park. The Trinity Alps overlook Trinity Lake to the east. The higher lakes, Grizzly, Papoose, Smith, and Mirror, lacking proper trail access, rival the most spectacular of the high lakes in the Sierra in terms of scenic values.

Geologically, the Trinity Alps consist of a mixture of Igneous Granite and Metamorphic peaks. The region contains much Pine forest as well as meadows, creeks, and lakes. The Trinity Alps are home to much wildlife including: American Black Bear, deer, lizards, chipmunks, and a great number of bird species. The Trinity Alps is even home to a cryptozoological monster, the Trinity Alps Giant Salamander.

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