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18-533: The Crystal Range is a small chain of mountain peaks in the Desolation Wilderness in the U.S. state of California. It is a subrange of the Sierra Nevada . The highest and most southerly peak is Pyramid Peak at 9985 ft; Mount Agassiz is next north at 9967 ft, with Mount Price (9975 ft) rounding out the southern group of peaks. Tells Peak is the northernmost named peak in

36-410: A reservoir with shallow, clear waters sitting in a wide granite basin carved by glaciers of the last ice age. Many other alpine and wooded lakes of various sizes are scattered throughout the area. Wet meadow A wet meadow is a type of wetland with soils that are saturated for part or all of the growing season which prevents the growth of trees and brush. Debate exists whether a wet meadow

54-672: A minority of the total area cover. High water levels are one of the important factors that prevent invasion by woody plants; in other cases, fire is important. In areas with low frequencies of fire, or reduced water level fluctuations, or higher fertility, plant diversity will decline. Wet meadows were once common in wetland types around the world. They remain an important community type in wet savannas and flatwoods . The also survive along rivers and lakeshores where water levels are allowed to change within and among years. But their area has been dramatically reduced. In some areas, wet meadows are partially drained and farmed and therefore lack

72-783: A specific permitting quota. Overnight permits are available online via recreation.gov and at select Forest Service ranger stations for a 'day of entry' permit, first-come, first-served. Day use permits are available at individual trailheads. The Desolation Wilderness provides a home for many species of plants, fish and wildlife. Desolation Wilderness supports predominantly red fir and lodgepole pine forests with associated species such as Jeffrey pine , mountain hemlock , ponderosa pine , western juniper , and western white pine . Most forested areas occur between 7,400 and 9,000 feet (2,300 and 2,700 m) of elevation, becoming patchy to rare at higher elevations. These hardy trees take root in excessively rocky and often nutrient-poor soils. As much of

90-410: A variety of game fish such as the rainbow and brook trout . Less common, but also present are brown and golden trout . The Crystal Range is within the wilderness area, with Pyramid Peak as the highest point in the range and the wilderness at 9,985 feet (3,043 m) in elevation. Among the many waterfalls within the wilderness is Horsetail Falls . Its largest body of water is Lake Aloha ,

108-416: A wet meadow usually includes a wide variety of herbaceous species including sedges , rushes , grasses and a wide diversity of other plant species. A few of many possible examples include species of Rhexia , Parnassia , Lobelia , many species of wild orchids (e.g. Calopogon and Spiranthes ), and carnivorous plants such as Sarracenia and Drosera . Woody plants , if present, account for

126-465: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Desolation Wilderness Before European settlement in the mid-19th century, there is evidence this area was used by the Washoe . After, it was known at times as "Devil's Valley," and most often used for cattle grazing. By the end of that century, the first formal step to limiting its development when it was made a Forest Reserve, managed first by

144-451: Is a type of marsh or a completely separate type of wetland. Wet prairies and wet savannas are hydrologically similar. Wet meadows may occur because of restricted drainage or the receipt of large amounts of water from rain or melted snow. They may also occur in riparian zones and around the shores of large lakes. Unlike a marsh or swamp , a wet meadow does not have standing water present except for brief to moderate periods during

162-586: Is to capture and store rainwater onsite and use it as a resource to grow attractive native plants that thrive in such conditions. The Buhr Park Children's Wet Meadow is one such project. It is a group of wet meadow ecosystems in Ann Arbor, Michigan designed as an educational opportunity for school-age children. In Europe, wet meadows are sometimes managed by hay-cutting and grazing. Intensified agricultural practices (too frequent mowing, use of mineral fertilizers, manure and insecticides), may lead to declines in

180-903: The United States General Land Office , and later, by the US Forest Service . It was set aside as the Desolation Valley Primitive Area in 1931 with an area of 64,000 acres (260 km ). In 1969, it became the Desolation Wilderness after the passage of the Wilderness Act of 1964. Desolation is a popular backpacking destination, with much barren rocky terrain at the edge of the tree line. It has extensive areas of bare granite rock formations . The Tahoe Rim Trail and Pacific Crest Trail pass through

198-614: The biodiversity described here. In other cases, the construction of dams has interfered with the natural fluctuation of water levels that generates wet meadows. The most important factors in creating and maintaining wet meadows are therefore natural water level fluctuations and recurring fire. In some cases, small areas of wet meadow are artificially created. Due to the concern with damage that excessive stormwater runoff can cause to nearby lakes and streams, artificial wetlands can be created to capture stormwater. Often this produce marshes, but in some cases wet meadows may be produced. The idea

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216-529: The yellow-bellied marmot , golden-mantled ground squirrel and Douglas squirrel . Also found is a member of the rabbit and hare family, the pika . There are also a variety of mountain birds, including the Steller's jay , Clark's nutcracker , mountain chickadee , sooty grouse , mountain bluebird , American dipper , and occasional golden eagle . Within Desolation's numerous lakes and streams are also

234-402: The expanses of barren rock. There are many wet meadows throughout the wilderness, each unique due to the differences in elevation, exposure, soil composition and soil depth, resulting in a wide diversity of annual and perennial plant life. A variety of wildflower species, sedges, and grasses inhabit these fragile wet areas. Aspen and willow are common to these wetland areas. Mule deer are

252-602: The ground surface in Desolation is bedrock granite : soils are limited. Decomposed granite accumulations are often shallow deposits within glacially scoured basins. The most extensive forested areas are found on moist soils bordering lakes, streams, and meadows. The limited tree cover in Desolation is valuable for watershed protection, wildlife habitat, and aesthetics. The sparse woodlands of widely scattered western junipers and lodgepole pines are interrupted by patches of montane chaparral species such as pinemat manzanita , huckleberry oak , and mountain pride penstemon clinging to

270-540: The growing season. Instead, the ground in a wet meadow fluctuates between brief periods of inundation and longer periods of saturation . Wet meadows often have large numbers of wetland plant species, which frequently survive as buried seeds during dry periods, and then regenerate after flooding. Wet meadows therefore do not usually support aquatic life such as fish. They typically have a high diversity of plant species, and may attract large numbers of birds, small mammals and insects including butterflies . Vegetation in

288-581: The largest of the game species found within the wilderness. Black bears are increasingly common, with individuals being displaced from the Tahoe Basin and lower elevation western slopes into the higher country. More common, yet seldom seen, are the smaller mammals like coyote , porcupine , badger , and bobcat . Species of special interest that are very rare in the area are the fisher , pine marten , red fox , and wolverine . Desolation also provides an ideal habitat for numerous alpine rodents such as

306-435: The range. It is southwest of Lake Tahoe and north of U.S. Route 50 . Two main access roads run off of U.S. Route 50, Ice House Road, which is furthest west, and more easterly, Wright's Lake Road which is a steep road not conducive to trailers or large vehicles. Many access the tallest peak Pyramid Peak from Hwy 50 directly hiking in, to the Desolation Wilderness. This El Dorado County, California –related article

324-509: The wilderness. A list of other trailheads that provide access to the wilderness follows. Permits are required for both day use and overnight camping. In the summer, a quota system is used for overnight trips to limit the number of visitors on any given day in the wilderness. Desolation Wilderness is one of the most heavily used protected areas in the United States. This Wilderness area is split up into 45 different zones, with each having

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