Marble Mountain Wilderness
Encyclopedia
The Marble Mountain Wilderness is a 241744 acres (978.3 km²) wilderness area located 60 miles (96.6 km) northeast of Eureka, California
, USA. It is managed by the US Forest Service and is within the Klamath National Forest
. The land was first set aside on April 1931 as the Marble Mountain Primitive Area (234957 acres (950.8 km²)), it was one of four areas to gain primitive status under the Forest Service's L-20 regulations that year. In 1964, it became a federally designated wilderness area when the US Congress passed the Wilderness Act
.
The name comes from the distinctive coloration caused by light-colored limestone
along with black metamorphic rock on some peaks, giving the mountains a marbled appearance. There are at least five different rock types identified here.
The wilderness is in the Klamath Mountains geomorphic province (a large area having similar features such as terrain
and geology
). The horseshoe-shaped Salmon Mountains
are at the core of the wilderness with Marble Mountain being a north-trending spur ridge of the Salmons.
The wilderness contains a number of isolated stands of locally rare conifers. For example, the subalpine fir
grows along the granite moraines at the head of watershed
s above 6000 feet (1,828.8 m) in open areas surrounding lakes and meadows, in the Sky High Lakes Basin, in Shelly Meadow along the Pacific Crest Trail
and in the Deep Lake area. All of the subalpine fir groves in northwest California are more than 50 miles (80.5 km) from the next closest subalpine fir stand, which is in southern Oregon
on Mount Ashland
. In addition, the headwaters of the Salmon River in the wilderness also hold a relict stand of Pacific silver fir
, which is the southern most stand in the range of the species.
Common wildlife include the black-tailed deer
and black bear
. Less commonly seen species are badger
and wolverine
. Bird species include the great grey owl
and northern goshawk. Also the peregrine falcon
and bald eagle
, both of which have been removed (August 2007 and August 1999, respectively) from the federal threatened/endangered species list.
Fish species include summer steelhead and a spring run of king salmon in Wooley Creek, as well as resident rainbow trout in other streams in the wilderness.
There are several rare wildflowers that are adapted to serpentine soil
s of the Marble Mountain Wilderness and surrounding area. These include crested cinquefoil or crested potentilla (Potentilla cristae
), Siskiyou fireweed (Epilobium siskiyouense
), and McDonald's rock cress (Arabis blepharophylla var. macdonaldiana
), a perennial found in conifer forests of California and Oregon. MacDonald's rockcress is both state-listed (1979) and federally listed (1978) as endangered
.
systems-Wooley Creek and the North Fork Salmon River
, as well as 32 miles (51.5 km) of the Pacific Crest Trail
, there are many recreation opportunities. Elevations range from 400 feet (121.9 m) to 8299 feet (2,529.5 m) giving a highly variable terrain with low-elevation canyons and high ridges such as the 22 miles (35.4 km)-long English Peak ridge.
Popular activities include fishing, backpacking
and cross-country skiing
.
There are several national forest campgrounds outside the boundary and one camp inside the wilderness near Wooley Creek, named after Anthony Milne, who was a miner in the area around 1885.
Eureka, California
Eureka is the principal city and the county seat of Humboldt County, California, United States. Its population was 27,191 at the 2010 census, up from 26,128 at the 2000 census....
, USA. It is managed by the US Forest Service and is within the Klamath National Forest
Klamath National Forest
Klamath National Forest is a national forest, in the Klamath Mountains, located in Siskiyou County in northern California, but with a tiny extension into southern Jackson County in Oregon. The forest contains continuous stands of ponderosa pine, Jeffrey pine, Douglas fir, red fir, white fir and...
. The land was first set aside on April 1931 as the Marble Mountain Primitive Area (234957 acres (950.8 km²)), it was one of four areas to gain primitive status under the Forest Service's L-20 regulations that year. In 1964, it became a federally designated wilderness area when the US Congress passed the Wilderness Act
Wilderness Act
The Wilderness Act of 1964 was written by Howard Zahniser of The Wilderness Society. It created the legal definition of wilderness in the United States, and protected some 9 million acres of federal land. The result of a long effort to protect federal wilderness, the Wilderness Act was signed...
.
The name comes from the distinctive coloration caused by light-colored limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
along with black metamorphic rock on some peaks, giving the mountains a marbled appearance. There are at least five different rock types identified here.
The wilderness is in the Klamath Mountains geomorphic province (a large area having similar features such as terrain
Terrain
Terrain, or land relief, is the vertical and horizontal dimension of land surface. When relief is described underwater, the term bathymetry is used...
and geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
). The horseshoe-shaped Salmon Mountains
Salmon Mountains
The Salmon Mountains are a mountain range in Siskiyou County, California and a sub-range of the Klamath Mountains....
are at the core of the wilderness with Marble Mountain being a north-trending spur ridge of the Salmons.
Flora and fauna
This area of high divides, deep canyons and perennial mountain streams provides habitat for a wide variety of plant and animal life. With more than 7,000 feet of vertical relief, soils from several rock types, and abundant rain and snowfall, the diversity of ecosystems is unequaled anywhere else in the country.The wilderness contains a number of isolated stands of locally rare conifers. For example, the subalpine fir
Subalpine Fir
The Subalpine Fir or Rocky Mountain Fir is a western North American fir, native to the mountains of Yukon, British Columbia and western Alberta in Canada; southeastern Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, western Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, northeastern Nevada, and the...
grows along the granite moraines at the head of watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
s above 6000 feet (1,828.8 m) in open areas surrounding lakes and meadows, in the Sky High Lakes Basin, in Shelly Meadow along the Pacific Crest Trail
Pacific Crest Trail
The Pacific Crest Trail is a long-distance mountain hiking and equestrian trail on the Western Seaboard of the United States. The southern terminus is at the California border with Mexico...
and in the Deep Lake area. All of the subalpine fir groves in northwest California are more than 50 miles (80.5 km) from the next closest subalpine fir stand, which is in southern Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
on Mount Ashland
Mount Ashland
Mount Ashland ski area is located on Mount Ashland and features 23 trails on served by four lifts, in addition to chute skiing in a glacial cirque called The Bowl. The mountain receives over of snow annually with a season from early December until mid-April...
. In addition, the headwaters of the Salmon River in the wilderness also hold a relict stand of Pacific silver fir
Pacific Silver Fir
Abies amabilis, commonly known as the Pacific silver fir, is a fir native to the Pacific Northwest of North America, occurring in the Pacific Coast Ranges and the Cascade Range from the extreme southeast of Alaska, through western British Columbia, Washington and Oregon, to the extreme northwest of...
, which is the southern most stand in the range of the species.
Common wildlife include the black-tailed deer
Deer
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
and black bear
American black bear
The American black bear is a medium-sized bear native to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most common bear species. Black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. They typically live in largely forested areas, but do leave forests in...
. Less commonly seen species are badger
Badger
Badgers are short-legged omnivores in the weasel family, Mustelidae. There are nine species of badger, in three subfamilies : Melinae , Mellivorinae , and Taxideinae...
and wolverine
Wolverine
The wolverine, pronounced , Gulo gulo , also referred to as glutton, carcajou, skunk bear, or quickhatch, is the largest land-dwelling species of the family Mustelidae . It is a stocky and muscular carnivore, more closely resembling a small bear than other mustelids...
. Bird species include the great grey owl
Great Grey Owl
The Great Grey Owl or Lapland Owl is a very large owl, distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. In some areas it is also called the Great Gray Ghost, Phantom of the north, Cinereous Owl, Spectral Owl, Lapland Owl, Spruce Owl, Bearded Owl and Sooty Owl.-Description:Adults have a big, rounded...
and northern goshawk. Also the peregrine falcon
Peregrine Falcon
The Peregrine Falcon , also known as the Peregrine, and historically as the Duck Hawk in North America, is a widespread bird of prey in the family Falconidae. A large, crow-sized falcon, it has a blue-gray back, barred white underparts, and a black head and "moustache"...
and bald eagle
Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...
, both of which have been removed (August 2007 and August 1999, respectively) from the federal threatened/endangered species list.
Fish species include summer steelhead and a spring run of king salmon in Wooley Creek, as well as resident rainbow trout in other streams in the wilderness.
There are several rare wildflowers that are adapted to serpentine soil
Serpentine soil
A serpentine soil is derived from ultramafic rocks, in particular serpentinite, a rock formed by the hydration and metamorphic transformation of ultramafic rock from the Earth's mantle....
s of the Marble Mountain Wilderness and surrounding area. These include crested cinquefoil or crested potentilla (Potentilla cristae
Potentilla cristae
Potentilla cristae is a rare species of cinquefoil known by the common name crested cinquefoil. It is endemic to the Klamath Mountains of far northern California, where it is known from a few occurrences in the subalpine and alpine climates of the high mountain ridges. It grows in talus and moist...
), Siskiyou fireweed (Epilobium siskiyouense
Epilobium siskiyouense
Epilobium siskiyouense is a rare species of flowering plant in the evening primrose family known by the common names Siskiyou Willowherb and Siskiyou Fireweed ....
), and McDonald's rock cress (Arabis blepharophylla var. macdonaldiana
Arabis blepharophylla
Arabis blepharophylla is a species of rock cress known by the common names Coast rock cress and Rose rock cress. It is endemic to California, growing mostly in the San Francisco Bay Area and nearby low-elevation California Coast Ranges....
), a perennial found in conifer forests of California and Oregon. MacDonald's rockcress is both state-listed (1979) and federally listed (1978) as endangered
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
.
Recreation
With 89 lakes and two major Wild and Scenic riverNational Wild and Scenic River
National Wild and Scenic River is a designation for certain protected areas in the United States.The National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act was an outgrowth of the recommendations of a Presidential commission, the Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission...
systems-Wooley Creek and the North Fork Salmon River
Salmon River (California)
The Salmon River is a tributary to the Klamath River in western Siskiyou County, California.The river has its origins in the high mountains of the Trinity Alps, Russian Mountains, and Marble Mountains...
, as well as 32 miles (51.5 km) of the Pacific Crest Trail
Pacific Crest Trail
The Pacific Crest Trail is a long-distance mountain hiking and equestrian trail on the Western Seaboard of the United States. The southern terminus is at the California border with Mexico...
, there are many recreation opportunities. Elevations range from 400 feet (121.9 m) to 8299 feet (2,529.5 m) giving a highly variable terrain with low-elevation canyons and high ridges such as the 22 miles (35.4 km)-long English Peak ridge.
Popular activities include fishing, backpacking
Backpacking (wilderness)
Backpacking combines the activities of hiking and camping for an overnight stay in backcountry wilderness...
and cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
.
There are several national forest campgrounds outside the boundary and one camp inside the wilderness near Wooley Creek, named after Anthony Milne, who was a miner in the area around 1885.