Celebrating 50 years of wilderness designation
The Marble Mountain Wilderness contains the most solid chunk of protected land in northwest California. By walking into the center of its 241,744 acres, it is possible to be 15+ miles from any road and in some of the most visually stunning scenery in the state. In addition to 89 lakes, the wilderness contains several distinct sub ranges defined by the plutons of rock that formed them. Marble Mountain forms the northern section. It is the most dramatic peak in the wilderness, composed of metamorphosed limestone—marble—that has been uplifted. I first saw Marble Mountain after a summer storm and as the clouds broke I thought it was covered in snow—but all I was seeing was wet, white marble reflecting sunlight. Marble Mountain is visible from every prominent peak in the northern Klamath Mountains.
Indeed. I spent a memorable summer as a USFS Wilderness Guard in 1974 for the ranger district on the Fort Jones with the Marble Mountain itself entirely within my area.
Bill- thanks for checking out the blog and for sharing your memories. The Marbles are a special place indeed!