Pioneer Mountains (Montana)
Encyclopedia
The Pioneer Mountains cover 2000 square miles (5,180 km²) in Beaverhead County
in southwestern Montana
, USA
.
The highest peaks in this range include:
The Pioneer Mountains are divided into two subranges by the paved Wise River
Road: the East Pioneers and West Pioneers. The highest mountains in the entire range are in the East Pioneers - Tweedy Mountain, at el. 11,154 ft., and nearby Torrey Mountain, el. 11,147 ft.; these two peaks are the highest on the Beaverhead National Forest.
The two subranges are quite different from each other in appearance. The East Pioneers have sharp, rocky, heavily glaciated peaks. About 145,000 acres of the East Pioneers are roadless, and the range holds more than 30 high lakes, including Grayling Lake, which contains arctic grayling
. Golden trout
are present in Sawtooth and Hidden Lakes. Mountain goats inhabit the high crags of the range, while pronghorn antelope utilize the lower elevation grassland foothills. The East Pioneers receive relatively little use from recreationists, and a number of lake basins are trailless.
In marked contrast to the East Pioneers, the West Pioneers are gently rolling, heavily forested mountains. The highest point in the West Pioneers is Stine Mountain, el. 9,497 ft. 148,000 acres of the West Pioneers are a Wilderness Study Area
. All told, about 239,000 acres of the West Pioneers were roadless as of 1992, including the Wilderness Study Area.
Lakes in the West Pioneers contain perhaps the last pure strain population of arctic grayling
south of Canada
. Old growth whitebark pine
and lodgepole pine
is present in the West Pioneers; a stand of lodgepole pine over 500 years old is reputed to be the oldest known anywhere.
Wolke describes the West Pioneers region in superlatives: "the peaks aren't classicly spectacular, but what an ecological treasure this area is!" Wildlife in the West Pioneers includes elk
, black bear, moose
, pine marten
, wolverine
, and northern goshawk.
A site on the Beaverhead National Forest just off the Wise River Road, called Crystal Park, is available for the public to dig for quartz crystals. Picnic tables, fire grates and water are provided as well.
Beaverhead County, Montana
-National protected areas:* Beaverhead National Forest * Big Hole National Battlefield* Nez Perce National Historical Park * Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge-History:...
in southwestern Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The highest peaks in this range include:
- Tweedy Mountain 11154 ft (3,400 m)
- Torrey Mountain 11147 ft (3,398 m)
- Baldy Mountain 10568 ft (3,221 m)
- Mount Fleecer 9436 ft (2,876 m)
- Odell Mountain 9405 ft (2,867 m)
The Pioneer Mountains are divided into two subranges by the paved Wise River
Wise River
The Wise River is a tributary of the Big Hole River, approximately 30 mi long, in southwestern Montana in the United States. It rises in the Beaverhead National Forest in the Pioneer Mountains in Beaverhead County. It flows NNW through the mountains and joins the Big Hole near the town of...
Road: the East Pioneers and West Pioneers. The highest mountains in the entire range are in the East Pioneers - Tweedy Mountain, at el. 11,154 ft., and nearby Torrey Mountain, el. 11,147 ft.; these two peaks are the highest on the Beaverhead National Forest.
The two subranges are quite different from each other in appearance. The East Pioneers have sharp, rocky, heavily glaciated peaks. About 145,000 acres of the East Pioneers are roadless, and the range holds more than 30 high lakes, including Grayling Lake, which contains arctic grayling
Arctic grayling
Arctic grayling is a species of freshwater fish in the salmon family of order Salmoniformes. It comprises five subspecies native to the Nearctic and Palearctic ecozones. T. a. arcticus is widespread throughout the Arctic and Pacific drainages in Canada, Alaska, and Siberia, as well as the upper...
. Golden trout
Golden Trout
The golden trout is a sub-species of the rainbow trout, and it closley resembles the juvenile Rainbow trout. The fish is also known as the California golden trout and is native to Golden Trout Creek, Volcano Creek and the South Fork Kern River. Another variant, O. m...
are present in Sawtooth and Hidden Lakes. Mountain goats inhabit the high crags of the range, while pronghorn antelope utilize the lower elevation grassland foothills. The East Pioneers receive relatively little use from recreationists, and a number of lake basins are trailless.
In marked contrast to the East Pioneers, the West Pioneers are gently rolling, heavily forested mountains. The highest point in the West Pioneers is Stine Mountain, el. 9,497 ft. 148,000 acres of the West Pioneers are a Wilderness Study Area
Wilderness study area
A wilderness study area contains undeveloped United States federal land retaining its primeval character and influence, without permanent improvements or human habitation, and managed to preserve its natural conditions...
. All told, about 239,000 acres of the West Pioneers were roadless as of 1992, including the Wilderness Study Area.
Lakes in the West Pioneers contain perhaps the last pure strain population of arctic grayling
Arctic grayling
Arctic grayling is a species of freshwater fish in the salmon family of order Salmoniformes. It comprises five subspecies native to the Nearctic and Palearctic ecozones. T. a. arcticus is widespread throughout the Arctic and Pacific drainages in Canada, Alaska, and Siberia, as well as the upper...
south of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Old growth whitebark pine
Whitebark Pine
Pinus albicaulis, known commonly as Whitebark Pine, Pitch Pine, Scrub Pine, and Creeping Pine occurs in the mountains of the Western United States and Canada, specifically the subalpine areas of the Sierra Nevada, the Cascade Range, the Pacific Coast Ranges, and the northern Rocky Mountains –...
and lodgepole pine
Lodgepole Pine
Lodgepole Pine, Pinus contorta, also known as Shore Pine, is a common tree in western North America. Like all pines, it is evergreen.-Subspecies:...
is present in the West Pioneers; a stand of lodgepole pine over 500 years old is reputed to be the oldest known anywhere.
Wolke describes the West Pioneers region in superlatives: "the peaks aren't classicly spectacular, but what an ecological treasure this area is!" Wildlife in the West Pioneers includes elk
Elk
The Elk is the large deer, also called Cervus canadensis or wapiti, of North America and eastern Asia.Elk may also refer to:Other antlered mammals:...
, black bear, moose
Moose
The moose or Eurasian elk is the largest extant species in the deer family. Moose are distinguished by the palmate antlers of the males; other members of the family have antlers with a dendritic configuration...
, pine marten
Pine Marten
The European Pine Marten , known most commonly as the pine marten in Anglophone Europe, and less commonly also known as Pineten, baum marten, or sweet marten, is an animal native to Northern Europe belonging to the mustelid family, which also includes mink, otter, badger, wolverine and weasel. It...
, 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...
, and northern goshawk.
A site on the Beaverhead National Forest just off the Wise River Road, called Crystal Park, is available for the public to dig for quartz crystals. Picnic tables, fire grates and water are provided as well.
External links
- Article on Goingoutside.com.
- Pioneer Mountains on Google MapsGoogle MapsGoogle Maps is a web mapping service application and technology provided by Google, free , that powers many map-based services, including the Google Maps website, Google Ride Finder, Google Transit, and maps embedded on third-party websites via the Google Maps API...