Gearhart Mountain Wilderness
| Gearhart Mountain Wilderness | |
|---|---|
|
IUCN category Ib (wilderness area) | |
 The Gearhart Mountain Wilderness | |
 | |
| Location | Lake / Klamath counties, Oregon, USA |
| Nearest city | Bly, Oregon |
| Coordinates | 42°30′46″N 120°51′44″W / 42.51278°N 120.86222°WCoordinates: 42°30′46″N 120°51′44″W / 42.51278°N 120.86222°W |
| Area | 22,823 acres (9,236 ha) |
| Established | 1943 |
| Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
Gearhart Mountain Wilderness is a wilderness area located within the Fremont National Forest in Lake County and Klamath 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 (1,677 ha) were added for a total of 22,823 acres (9,236 ha). The Wilderness is entirely within the boundaries of Bly Ranger District.[1]
Gearhart Mountain was named for James P. Gearhart and William H. Gearhart; two brothers who raised and traded cattle in the area from about 1873 to 1882.[2]
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 in the north. The headwaters of numerous small streams lie at the base of many of the cliffs and ridges.[3]
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] However, in recent years, a large area of the forest on Gearhart mountain and surrounding areas have succumbed to the Mountain pine beetle, and large dead stands of Ponderosa and Lodgepole pine can be seen.
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]
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.[3][4]
See also
- List of Oregon Wildernesses
- List of U.S. Wilderness Areas
- List of old growth forests
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Gearhart Mountain Wilderness, Oregon - GORP
- ↑ McArthur, Lewis A.; Lewis L. McArthur (2003) [1928]. Oregon Geographic Names (Seventh Edition ed.). Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. ISBN 0-87595-277-1 (trade paperback), ISBN 0-87595-278-X (hardcover).
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Gearhart Mountain Wilderness - Wilderness.net
- ↑ Fremont-Winema National Forests - Gearhart Mountain Wilderness
External links
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Media related to Gearhart Mountain Wilderness at Wikimedia Commons