Henry M. Jackson Wilderness
Encyclopedia
The Henry M. Jackson Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area in the state of Washington, United States
.
of Washington . Senator Henry Jackson was instrumental in the designation of many of the state's Wildernesses, and this "forest" of fabled peaks recalls his efforts.
Cross-Cascade Indian trails paralleled the Little Wenatchee River
and provided routes for later exploring parties such as the 1860 E.F. Cady party for whom Cady Pass and Cady Creek were named.
. This 102,673 acre (415.5 km²) area is northwest of Stevens Pass
on United States Highway 2 and northeast of the town of Skykomish, Washington
. While this Wilderness straddles the Cascade Mountain Range
, most of it is in the Westside ecotype. The Wilderness lies in parts of Snoqualmie
, Mount Baker
, and Wenatchee
National Forests. Wild Sky Wilderness
is located immediately southwest of the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness.
, while the southern portion drains into the Skykomish River
. Main features of this area include Cady Creek Ridge and Cady Creek, as well as the Beckler River's
tributary the Rapid River
, the true source of the South Fork Skykomish River.
The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail
traverses the southern portion of the Wilderness. The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail winds down the high heart of the area for about 32 miles. Other trails snake up from the east and west to join the PCT. The Blanca Lake Trail leads 3.5 miles to Blanca Lake, and five short pathways approach the center of the northwest section and fade to bushwhacking terrain.
The area is rich in mining history with several acres of patented mining claims within its borders. This area contains approximately 30 lakes which receive moderate fishing. One of the most popular of these lakes is Blanca Lake
due to its beautiful turquoise green color.
, Douglas-fir
, true fir
s, Engelmann Spruce
, Western Hemlock
, Mountain Hemlock
, sub-alpine meadows, and at higher elevations, alpine meadows.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
History
The Henry M. Jackson Wilderness was created by the 1984 Washington Wilderness Act and named after former US Senator Henry M. JacksonHenry M. Jackson
Henry Martin "Scoop" Jackson was a U.S. Congressman and Senator from the state of Washington from 1941 until his death...
of Washington . Senator Henry Jackson was instrumental in the designation of many of the state's Wildernesses, and this "forest" of fabled peaks recalls his efforts.
Cross-Cascade Indian trails paralleled the Little Wenatchee River
Little Wenatchee River
The Little Wenatchee River is the southern and smaller of the two rivers that flow into the west end of Lake Wenatchee. The northern and larger one is the White River. A large number of place names in the Little Wenatchee River basin, including the river's name itself, were given by Albert H...
and provided routes for later exploring parties such as the 1860 E.F. Cady party for whom Cady Pass and Cady Creek were named.
Location
The Henry M. Jackson Wilderness is adjacent to the southwest corner of the Glacier Peak WildernessGlacier Peak Wilderness
The Glacier Peak Wilderness, created by the US Forest Service in 1960 by efforts of the , four years before the 1964 wilderness legislation of the Congress, is located within portions of Chelan County, Snohomish County, and Skagit Counties in the North Cascades of Washington...
. This 102,673 acre (415.5 km²) area is northwest of Stevens Pass
Stevens Pass
Stevens Pass is a mountain pass through the Cascade Mountains located at the border of King County and Chelan County in Washington, United States....
on United States Highway 2 and northeast of the town of Skykomish, Washington
Skykomish, Washington
As of the census of 2000, there were 214 people, 104 households, and 58 families residing in the town. The population density was 623.2 people per square mile . There were 162 housing units at an average density of 471.8 per square mile...
. While this Wilderness straddles the Cascade Mountain Range
Cascade Range
The Cascade Range is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, and the notable volcanoes known as the High Cascades...
, most of it is in the Westside ecotype. The Wilderness lies in parts of Snoqualmie
Snoqualmie National Forest
Snoqualmie National Forest is a United States National Forest in the State of Washington. It was established on 1 July 1908, when an area of 961,120 acres was split from the existing Washington National Forest. Its size was increased on 13 October 1933, when a part of Rainier National Forest was...
, Mount Baker
Mount Baker National Forest
Mount Baker National Forest was established in Washington on January 21, 1924 when its name was changed from Washington National Forest. In 1974 it was administratively combined with Snoqualmie National Forest to make Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. In descending order of land area, Mount...
, and Wenatchee
Wenatchee National Forest
Wenatchee National Forest is a U.S. National Forest located in Washington. With an area of 1,735,394 acres , it extends about 137 miles along the eastern slopes of the Cascade Range of Washington, USA from Okanogan National Forest to Gifford Pinchot National Forest...
National Forests. Wild Sky Wilderness
Wild Sky Wilderness
The Wild Sky Wilderness is a wilderness area in the western Cascade Range of Washington state. The wilderness is within the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest north of the U.S. Highway 2 towns of Index and Skykomish. The wilderness flanks, but does not include, the North Fork Skykomish River...
is located immediately southwest of the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness.
Geographic features
The terrain is rugged, with steep slopes, and finger ridges dissected by small intermittent or permanent drainages. Streams in the northern portion of this area drain into the Sauk RiverSauk River (Washington)
The Sauk River is a tributary of the Skagit River, approximately long, in northwestern Washington in the United States. It drains an area of the high Cascade Range in the watershed of Puget Sound north of Seattle. The river is a popular destination for fly fishing...
, while the southern portion drains into the Skykomish River
Skykomish River
The Skykomish River is a Washington river which drains the west side of the Cascade Mountains in the southeast section of Snohomish County and the northeast corner of King County. The river starts with the confluence of the North Fork Skykomish River and South Fork Skykomish River approximately one...
. Main features of this area include Cady Creek Ridge and Cady Creek, as well as the Beckler River's
Beckler River
The Beckler River is a tributary of the South Fork Skykomish River in the U.S. state of Washington in the United States.The Beckler River originates near Jack Pass and flows southeast about where it is joined by the Rapid River, its principal tributary...
tributary the Rapid River
Rapid River (Washington)
The Rapid River is a tributary of the Beckler River in the U.S. state of Washington in the United States. It is long, with a drainage basin of ....
, the true source of the South Fork Skykomish River.
The Pacific Crest National Scenic 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...
traverses the southern portion of the Wilderness. The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail winds down the high heart of the area for about 32 miles. Other trails snake up from the east and west to join the PCT. The Blanca Lake Trail leads 3.5 miles to Blanca Lake, and five short pathways approach the center of the northwest section and fade to bushwhacking terrain.
The area is rich in mining history with several acres of patented mining claims within its borders. This area contains approximately 30 lakes which receive moderate fishing. One of the most popular of these lakes is Blanca Lake
Blanca Lake
Blanca Lake is located in the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness Area in the Cascade Mountains of the U.S. state of Washington.Blanca Lake sits in a basin surrounded by the peaks of Monte Cristo, Kyes, and Columbia. The lake is fed by the Columbia Glacier to the northwest and is drained by Troublesome...
due to its beautiful turquoise green color.
Flora and fauna
A tall forest covers the lower elevations, then thins out and changes in species to eventually open into broad meadows on many ridge tops. The vegetation includes Western RedcedarThuja plicata
Thuja plicata, commonly called Western or pacific red cedar, giant or western arborvitae, giant cedar, or shinglewood, is a species of Thuja, an evergreen coniferous tree in the cypress family Cupressaceae native to western North America...
, Douglas-fir
Douglas-fir
Douglas-fir is one of the English common names for evergreen coniferous trees of the genus Pseudotsuga in the family Pinaceae. Other common names include Douglas tree, and Oregon pine. There are five species, two in western North America, one in Mexico, and two in eastern Asia...
, true fir
Fir
Firs are a genus of 48–55 species of evergreen conifers in the family Pinaceae. They are found through much of North and Central America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, occurring in mountains over most of the range...
s, 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...
, Western Hemlock
Western Hemlock
Tsuga heterophylla. the Western Hemlock, is a species of hemlock native to the west coast of North America, with its northwestern limit on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, and its southeastern limit in northern Sonoma County, California.-Habitat:...
, Mountain Hemlock
Mountain Hemlock
Tsuga mertensiana, known as Mountain Hemlock, is a species of hemlock native to the west coast of North America, with its northwestern limit on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, and its southeastern limit in northern Tulare County, California....
, sub-alpine meadows, and at higher elevations, alpine meadows.
See also
- Ecology of the North CascadesEcology of the North CascadesThe Ecology of the North Cascades is heavily influenced by the high elevation and rain shadow effects of the mountain range. The North Cascades is a section of the Cascade Range from the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River in Washington, United States, to the confluence of the Thompson and Fraser...
- WildernessWildernessWilderness or wildland is a natural environment on Earth that has not been significantly modified by human activity. It may also be defined as: "The most intact, undisturbed wild natural areas left on our planet—those last truly wild places that humans do not control and have not developed with...