Russian Wilderness
Encyclopedia
The Russian Wilderness is a wilderness area of 12000 acres (48.6 km²) located approximately 65 miles (104.6 km) northeast of Eureka
in northern California
. It is within the Klamath National Forest
in Siskiyou County and is managed by the US Forest Service. It was added to the National Wilderness Preservation System
when the US Congress passed the California Wilderness Act of 1984
.
The Russian Wilderness protects a portion of the high crest of the Salmon Mountains
, which are composed of metamorphic and granitic rock. There are over twenty named lakes at different elevation levels as well as the major watersheds of the Scott River
and North Fork Salmon River
.
The Russian is one of three wilderness areas that form an almost continuous chain, from the Trinity Alps Wilderness
to the south, and the Marble Mountain Wilderness
in the north, these areas provide an important corridor for wildlife such as the migrating herds of black-tailed deer. The Russian Wilderness is part of the largest nearly roadless complex in northwestern California.
Elevations range from 2500 feet (762 m) to the high point of the wilderness, Russian Peak
, at 8196 feet (2,498 m) [41°17′N 122°57′W].
and Engelmann spruce
in the wilderness. A very high concentration of conifer diversity grows in the drainages around Russian Peak
. Here, 17 species in one square mile can be found—over steep and varied terrain. Other rare conifers include the endemic Brewer spruce and foxtail pine
.
Rare perennials include the Siskiyou fireweed (Epilobium siskiyouense), and several types of lousewort (Pedicularis). The rare annual Siskiyou phacelia ( Phacelia leonis), was observed by John O. Sawyer and J. Smith in 1988. Siskiyou phacelia has bell-shaped blue-purple flowers, blooms in summer, and grows in serpentine soil
s.
The wilderness protects habitats for deer
, black bear
, mountain lion, the Northern spotted owl
and peregrine falcon
and is of national significance for the great diversity of plant species found here.
-carved granite
crags, dating from the Mesozoic
, similar to the Sierra Nevada. This results in similar surface topography, including cirque
s and U-shaped glacial valleys. Similar to the Ritter Range
, a chain of dark metavolcanic rock is dominant in the mountains along the edge of the wilderness.
travels 18.5 miles (29.8 km) along the Salmon Mountain
crest. The Bigfoot Trail
passes through the wilderness for 5 miles (8 km) where it crosses the Salmon Mountain crest, from Syphon Lake to Russian Creek. Because of the small size of the wilderness, visitors can reach the highlights in less than two hours of hiking or horseback riding.
Ski and snowshoe trips are possible with four cirque (glacial lake) basins providing good telemark skiing. Major drainages are the North Fork Salmon and Scott rivers and have populations of rainbow trout
and steelhead salmon.
have stands of old growth forest
s of oak and madrone growing in a terrain of glacially modified landscape, with U-shaped valleys and granite crags.
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....
in northern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It 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...
in Siskiyou County and is managed by the US Forest Service. It was added to the National Wilderness Preservation System
National Wilderness Preservation System
The National Wilderness Preservation System of the United States protects federally managed land areas designated for preservation in their natural condition. It was established by the Wilderness Act upon the signature of President Lyndon B. Johnson on September 3, 1964...
when the US Congress passed the California Wilderness Act of 1984
California Wilderness Act of 1984
The California Wilderness Act of 1984 is a federal law , passed by the United States Congress on September 28, 1984, that authorized the addition of over within the state of California to the National Wilderness Preservation System....
.
The Russian Wilderness protects a portion of the high crest of the Salmon Mountains
Salmon Mountains
The Salmon Mountains are a mountain range in Siskiyou County, California and a sub-range of the Klamath Mountains....
, which are composed of metamorphic and granitic rock. There are over twenty named lakes at different elevation levels as well as the major watersheds of the Scott River
Scott River
The Scott River is a river in Siskiyou County, California, United States. It is a tributary of the Klamath River, one of the largest rivers in California....
and 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...
.
The Russian is one of three wilderness areas that form an almost continuous chain, from the Trinity Alps Wilderness
Trinity Alps Wilderness
The Trinity Alps Wilderness is a designated wilderness located in northern California, roughly between Eureka and Redding. It is jointly administered by Shasta-Trinity, Klamath, and Six Rivers National Forests. About are administered by the Bureau of Land Management. The wilderness is located in...
to the south, and the Marble Mountain Wilderness
Marble Mountain Wilderness
The Marble Mountain Wilderness is a wilderness area located 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 , it was one of four areas to gain...
in the north, these areas provide an important corridor for wildlife such as the migrating herds of black-tailed deer. The Russian Wilderness is part of the largest nearly roadless complex in northwestern California.
Elevations range from 2500 feet (762 m) to the high point of the wilderness, Russian Peak
Russian Peak
Russian Peak is part of a sub-range of the Klamath Mountains called the Salmon Mountains—a horseshoe-shaped range encompassing the headwaters of the Salmon River...
, at 8196 feet (2,498 m) [41°17′N 122°57′W].
Flora and fauna
There are several stands of conifers that are rare for California, including subalpine firSubalpine 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...
and Engelmann spruce
Engelmann Spruce
Picea engelmannii is a species of spruce native to western North America, from central British Columbia and southwest Alberta, southwest to northern California and southeast to Arizona and New Mexico; there are also two isolated populations in northern Mexico...
in the wilderness. A very high concentration of conifer diversity grows in the drainages around Russian Peak
Russian Peak
Russian Peak is part of a sub-range of the Klamath Mountains called the Salmon Mountains—a horseshoe-shaped range encompassing the headwaters of the Salmon River...
. Here, 17 species in one square mile can be found—over steep and varied terrain. Other rare conifers include the endemic Brewer spruce and foxtail pine
Foxtail Pine
The Foxtail Pine is a rare pine that is endemic to California, United States, where it is found in two areas with a separate subspecies in each, the typical subsp. balfouriana in the Klamath Mountains, and subsp. austrina in the southern Sierra Nevada.-Description:Foxtail Pine is a tree to tall,...
.
Rare perennials include the Siskiyou fireweed (Epilobium siskiyouense), and several types of lousewort (Pedicularis). The rare annual Siskiyou phacelia ( Phacelia leonis), was observed by John O. Sawyer and J. Smith in 1988. Siskiyou phacelia has bell-shaped blue-purple flowers, blooms in summer, and grows in 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.
The wilderness protects habitats for 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...
, 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...
, mountain lion, the Northern spotted owl
Northern Spotted Owl
The Northern Spotted Owl, Strix occidentalis caurina, is one of three Spotted Owl subspecies. A Western North American bird in the family Strigidae, genus Strix, it is a medium-sized dark brown owl sixteen to nineteen inches in length and one to one and one sixth pounds. Females are larger than males...
and 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 is of national significance for the great diversity of plant species found here.
Geology
The wilderness is dominated by glacierGlacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
-carved granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
crags, dating from the Mesozoic
Mesozoic
The Mesozoic era is an interval of geological time from about 250 million years ago to about 65 million years ago. It is often referred to as the age of reptiles because reptiles, namely dinosaurs, were the dominant terrestrial and marine vertebrates of the time...
, similar to the Sierra Nevada. This results in similar surface topography, including cirque
Cirque
Cirque may refer to:* Cirque, a geological formation* Makhtesh, an erosional landform found in the Negev desert of Israel and Sinai of Egypt*Cirque , an album by Biosphere* Cirque Corporation, a company that makes touchpads...
s and U-shaped glacial valleys. Similar to the Ritter Range
Ritter Range
The Ritter Range is a small mountain range within California's Sierra Nevada. Most of the mountain range lies within the Ansel Adams Wilderness. The Range is easily viewed from Minaret Summit, which is accessible by auto. The Ritter Range is most easily accessible from Mammoth Lakes, where hiking...
, a chain of dark metavolcanic rock is dominant in the mountains along the edge of the wilderness.
Recreation
The Pacific Crest TrailPacific 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...
travels 18.5 miles (29.8 km) along the Salmon Mountain
Salmon Mountains
The Salmon Mountains are a mountain range in Siskiyou County, California and a sub-range of the Klamath Mountains....
crest. The Bigfoot Trail
Bigfoot Trail
The Bigfoot Trail is a U.S. long distance hiking trail in northern California . The trail begins in the Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness and ends in Redwood National Park at the Pacific Ocean near Crescent City, California. A major focus along the trail is conifer diversity, passing 32 species in...
passes through the wilderness for 5 miles (8 km) where it crosses the Salmon Mountain crest, from Syphon Lake to Russian Creek. Because of the small size of the wilderness, visitors can reach the highlights in less than two hours of hiking or horseback riding.
Ski and snowshoe trips are possible with four cirque (glacial lake) basins providing good telemark skiing. Major drainages are the North Fork Salmon and Scott rivers and have populations of rainbow trout
Trout
Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
and steelhead salmon.
Roadless areas
There are three separate units totaling 16800 acres (68 km²) adjacent to the wilderness. These roadless areasRoadless area conservation
Roadless area conservation is a conservation policy limiting road construction and the resulting environmental impact on designated areas of public land. In the United States, roadless area conservation has centered on U.S. Forest Service areas known as inventoried roadless areas...
have stands of old growth forest
Old growth forest
An old-growth forest is a forest that has attained great age , and thereby exhibits unique ecological features. An old growth forest has also usually reached a climax community...
s of oak and madrone growing in a terrain of glacially modified landscape, with U-shaped valleys and granite crags.