Dome Land Wilderness

Infobox Protected area
name = Dome Land Wilderness
iucn_category = Ib

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caption =
base_width =
locator_x =23
locator_y =94
location =
nearest_city = Ridgecrest, California
lat_degrees = 36
lat_minutes = 06
lat_seconds = 10
lat_direction =N
long_degrees = 118
long_minutes = 07
long_seconds = 49
long_direction =W
area = convert|130758|acre|km2
established = 1964
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body = U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management
world_heritage_site =The Dome Land Wilderness is a federally designated "wilderness area" located convert|55|mi|km northeast of Bakersfield, California USA. It encompasses convert|130758|acre|km2 and is jointly managed by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM).Adkinson, Ron "Wild Northern California". The Globe Pequot Press, 2001 pp.10-16]

Created by the federal Wilderness Act of 1964 and expanded in 1994 by the California Desert Protection Act which added convert|36000|acre|km2 of BLM land to the wilderness area. [ [http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse=NWPS&sec=wildView&WID=162 Wilderness.net website/National Wilderness Preservation System] ]

Elevations range from convert|2800|ft|m up to convert|9977|ft|m.Activities in the wilderness are cross-country skiing and snowshoing in the winter, as well as day-hiking, backbacking, fishing and rock climbing.Thw wilderness protects the southern area of the Kern Plateau with the Wild and Scenic South Fork Kern River bisecting the wilderness down the middle from north to south. The highest area of the plateau is the middle of the wilderness with large expanses of bedrock with cliffs, domes and spires that give the wilderness its name. Intersparsed with these formations are mixed conifer forests ranging from white fir and Jeffrey pine to Limber Pine and foxtail pine at the highest elevations.

The western boundary is defined by a broken granite ridge with another ridge divide at the northern boundary. Bald Mountain rises to convert|9382|ft|m on the northern divide. Large meadowsoccur in the wilderness and provide summer range for the Kern River deer herd and the Monarche herd as well . Other animals in the wilderness include the mountain lion, bobcat, and American black bear. A large population of rattlesnakes reside within the wilderness and visitors should use extra caution, especially in the area of the South Fork Kern River.

Recreation

Extreme heat in the summer months as well as low water makes the Dome Land lightly visiteduntil autumn, winter or spring.

There are three campgrounds near the wilderness: Long Valley, Chimney Rock and Kennedy Meadows.

The Pacific Crest Trail runs through the wilderness for seven miles (11 km) next to the South Fork Kern River. The Rockhouse Trail follows the river for another four miles (6 km). A ford across the river is required to access higher elevations in the wilderness. The trails in the wilderness traverse the variety of topography and can be accessed via 10 trailheads. The Dome Land Trail goes through the most rugged, rocky part of the wilderness.

Fishing for rainbow trout is popular at this river as well as other streams such as Manter Creek and Trout Creek.

Rock climbing in Dome Land Wilderness is possible, with seldom climbed class 5+ routes.

The Manter wildfire in July 2000 burned more than convert|74000|acre|km2 of the wilderness. [ [http://www.birdpop.org/Sierra/manter.htm Institute for Bird Populations webpage on the Manter Fire.] retrieved 3/20/2008] The Forest Service encourages the practice of Leave No Trace principles of outdoor travel to minimize human impact on the environment.

References

External links

* [http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia/recreation/wilderness.html Sequoia National Forest webpage on wilderness areas.]