South Warner Wilderness

South Warner Wilderness includes portions of the semi-arid eastern escarpment of the mountains as well as the more mesic, rolling topography of the western slope. Several plant communities are found in the area, frequently scattered, particularly on the east face and at the higher elevations. Much of the higher portion is barren.

In the lower reaches there is a Western juniper woodland, with Juniperus occidentalis dominant. In the adjacent higher regions this woodland is mixed with Jeffrey pine, Pinus jeffreyi, which, in turn, gives way to a mixed ponderosa-Jeffrey pine forest, with Pinus ponderosa.

Above 2,600 meters (8,800 feet) there is an alpine forest with whitebark pine, Pinus albicaulis, the main cover. In this forest, ground cover includes Arabis lemmonii, Calyptridium umbellatum and Poa secunda ssp. nevadensis. True alpine plants are found in some of the east-facing cirques.

In the non-forested areas, basin sagebrush, Artemisia tridentata, is the dominant ground cover, with Cercocarpus ledifolius, Purshia tridentata, or Wyethia mollis and Eriogonum spp. present, depending on the altitude.

Animal life is abundant. Mountain lions, Felis concolor, mule deer, Odocoileus hemionus, and pika, Ochotona princeps, are among the mammals present.

Geologically, the area consists primarily of Miocene and other Tertiary volcanics, though there is some Quaternary glacial till in the upper Pine Creek region.

There are a number of glacial lakes in the Wilderness, as well as several landslide lakes. Clear Lake on upper Will Creek is an excellent example of the latter; probably having been formed within the last 100 to 150 years, the landslide scar marks are still in evidence.

Integrity: The area is virtually undisturbed and has been a Wilderness since 1964.

Use: Educational, research, observational, present.

Ref: Milligan, M. T. 1969. Transect Flora of the Eagle Peak Region, Warner mountains. Unpub. M.S. Thesis, Humboldt State University, Arcata, Calif., 187 pp.

May 1981