- Gila Wilderness
Infobox_protected_area | name = Gila Wilderness
iucn_category = Ib
caption =
locator_x = 77
locator_y = 123
location =New Mexico , USA
nearest_city =Silver City, New Mexico
lat_degrees = 33
lat_minutes = 14
lat_seconds = 25
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 108
long_minutes = 16
long_seconds = 51
long_direction = W
area = convert|558014|acre|km2|1|abbr=on
established = 1924
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body =United States Forest Service Gila Wilderness was designated the world's first
wilderness area onJune 3 ,1924 . [ [http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse=NWPS&sec=wildView&wid=205 Gila Wilderness] at wilderness.net.] Along withAldo Leopold Wilderness andBlue Range Wilderness , the convert|558014|acre|km2|1|abbr=on wilderness is part of New Mexico'sGila National Forest . The wilderness is approximately convert|27|mi|km|0 from north to south and convert|39|mi|km|0 east to west. [http://www2.nature.nps.gov/views/KCs/Wilderness/HTML/ET_07_UpClose.htm Wilderness up close] at the National Park Service] TheGila Cliff Dwellings National Monument is found within the wilderness. [ [http://www.nps.gov/gicl/ Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument] at the National Park Service.]Gila Wilderness is located in southwest New Mexico, north of Silver City and wrapping around Reserve. It contains the West Fork, Middle Fork and much of the East Fork of the Gila River; riverside elevations of around convert|5000|ft|m|-2|abbr=on are the lowest in the wilderness. The
Mogollon Mountains traverse an arc across the southwest of the wilderness. The tallest peak within this range,Whitewater Baldy at convert|10895|ft|m|0|abbr=on, anchors the western point of the wilderness. At the northeast corner is Black Mountain at convert|9287|ft|m|0|abbr=on. [ [http://www2.srs.fs.fed.us/r3/gila/publications/docs/forestmap.pdf Gila National Forest map] ]History
The
Mimbres people, a subgroup of theMogollon were active between 1000 and 1130 in the Gila Wilderness area, leaving cliff dwellings, ruins and other evidence of their culture. TheChiricahua band ofApache came into the area between 1200 and 1600. Because of their fierce protectiveness, the area remained undeveloped into the 1870s. [ [http://www.nps.gov/archive/gicl/adhi/adhi0a.htm Gila Cliff Dwellings] at the National Park Service.] In 1922,Aldo Leopold , aUnited States Forest Service supervisor of theCarson National Forest proposed that the headwaters area of theGila River should be preserved by an administrative process of excluding roads and denying use permits. Through his efforts, this area became recognized in 1924 as the first wilderness area in the National Forest System. [ [http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/centennial/leopold.shtml Aldo Leopold] at the US Forest Service.] Gila became first congressionally designated wilderness of theNational Wilderness Preservation System when theWilderness Act was signed into law by PresidentLyndon B. Johnson in 1964.Flora and fauna
A variety of
ecosystem s are found in this transition zone between theChihuahuan Desert andRocky Mountains . The wilderness includesmesquite ,Apache Pine and is the northern-most range of theChihuahua Pine . [http://www.nmwild.org/wilderness/gila Gila Wilderness] at New Mexico Wilderness Alliance.] Gila contains one of the world's largest and healthiestPonderosa Pine forests. [ [http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/na/na0503_full.html Arizona Mountains forests] ] Arizona Sycamore,walnut ,maple , ash,cottonwood ,alder andwillow trees are found along rivers and in canyons.Gila is home of predators such as the
Bobcat andCougar .Mule Deer ,White-tailed Deer andPronghorn are all found in the Wilderness. Other mammals include theAmerican Black Bear ,Javelina andCoatimundi . The critically endangeredMexican wolf was reintroduced to the wilderness in 1988 with eleven captive-raised individuals. Most died or were killed and more were released the following year. [ [http://www.cec.org/trio/stories/index.cfm?varlan=english&ed=3&ID=32 Guided tours to help gray wolf’s come-back] at Commission for Environmental Cooperation.] As of 2006, four packs have established themselves within Gila. [ [http://www.fieldtripearth.org/article.xml?id=1110&ordinal=2 Mexican Wolf Monthly Report: December 2006] ] Because of conflicts with livestock owners, the federal predator control program has killed or removed several animals. [ [http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/swcbd/PRESS/wolf-shot-07-07-2006.html Federal Government Kills Another Endangered Mexican Gray Wolf] at Center for Biological Diversity.]Bighorn Sheep were common throughout the region until about 1900 when they became locally extinct through hunting. Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep were reintroduced to the Gila Wilderness after 1958 from a growing herd of Canadian releases in theSandia Mountains . [ [http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/49678.html Bighorn rooted in state's history.] ] Elk were reintroduced by theNew Mexico Department of Game and Fish in 1954 with sixteen animals fromYellowstone National Park . [ [http://www.fws.gov/news/historic/1956/19560219.pdf Interstate Swaps and Purchases Aid Game Restoration Program] at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.]Game birds include Turkey and
Dusky Grouse ; birds of prey includeCommon Black Hawk ,Zone-tailed Hawk ,Goshawk ,Osprey andBald Eagle ;American Dipper s are found in mountain streams. The wilderness is home to the largest population ofNear Threatened Mexican Spotted Owl s, which preferDouglas-fir orwhite fir stands and can be found in Ponderosa Pine forests with a well-developedGambel oak understory . [ [http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/mso/RecoveryUnitDetail.cfm?Unit=Gila Mexican Spotted Owl Recovery Program] at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.]Reptiles such as the Arizona
Coral Snake andGila Monster are present.Brown trout ,rainbow trout ,catfish and bass are found in rivers and streams. The endangeredGila trout is present in Iron, McKenna and Spruce Creeks. It prefers sufficiently deep water, such asAmerican Beaver ponds, which provide hiding places and can withstand both floods and drought. [ [http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/swcbd/species/gtrout/index.HTML Gila Trout] at Center for Biological Diversity.]Recreation
The Gila Wilderness provides opportunities for fishing, hunting, backpacking, horseback riding and camping. It has miles of trails starting at over fifty easily accessible
trailhead s. A visitor center near the cliff dwellings site is about two hours north of Silver City, New Mexico on State Route 15.Hot spring s are found within the wilderness. Because it is a wilderness, visitors must minimize their impact on thenatural environment by observing theLeave No Trace principles.In 2007, a hiker was found alive after being lost 40 days in the Gila Wilderness, setting a new state record for the number of days for a lost person to be found alive. It is not uncommon for hikers to become lost in the Gila; some are never found. [ [http://lcsun-news.com/ci_5021134 Hiker sets state record while enduring cold, snow] at Las Cruces Sun-News.]
References
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