The James River Face Wilderness is an 8,907-acre area located near Natural Bridge, Virginia that is protected by the Eastern Wilderness Act of Congress to maintain its present, natural condition. As part of the National Wilderness Preservation System, it helps to preserve a variety of natural life forms and contributes to a diversity of plant and animal gene pools. Over half of the ecosystems in the United States exist within designated wilderness.[1]
The wilderness contains many contrasting features. A short distance separates scorched hillsides, stark rockpiles and dry forest on one side and exceedingly rich vegetation on the crest of the Blue Ridge on the other.[2]
The forest cover includes chestnut oak and various types of yellow pine. Northern red oak and hickories are found near Highcock Knob. The wilderness has sheltered coves with white oak, basswood and tulip poplar. Old growth trees are found in the watershed of Matt’s Creek and along the James River where the Appalachian Trail goes into the drainage of Matt’s Creek.[6]
Allegheny Woodrat
The Allegheny woodrat has been observed in the wilderness at the rock outcrops of the Devils Marbleyard.[7]: 127 The population of the woodrat is in decline. Among the hypotheses being considered for the decline are the loss of food sources, loss of habitat and mortality from parasites introduced by raccoons.[7]: 25–30
The lower elevations of the wilderness have a long history of mineral development and logging. The area contains the former Francis T. Anderson's Glenwood Estate, regarded as one of the finest principalities in western Virginia. Anderson operated the Glenwood Iron Furnace, an enterprise that required thousands of acres of timber to produce the charcoal used in the iron furnace. The area was stripped of its timber, and then operators returned to log second and third-growth timber.[2]
Topographyedit
James River from AT bridge looking north, fall 2017
The wilderness has a complex topography with a peak Highcock Knob towering at an elevation of 3100 feet over the James River at 650 feet, a rock outcrop Devils Marbleyard composed of quartzite boulders the size of a schoolbus, many creeks with rapid descents and waterfalls, and the tall ridges Piney Ridge on the east and Gunter Ridge on the west.[8][2][4][6]
Managementedit
This wilderness was designated by congress in 1975 and is managed by the U.S. Forest Service as a part of the Glenwood-Pedlar Ranger Districts of the George Washington & Jefferson National Forests.[8] There are some regulations to maintain the integrity of the area. For example, motorized equipment, motor vehicles and mountain bikes are prohibited, group size is limited to ten people, and limits are placed on camping.
The wilderness is being monitored for clean air, with special concern for visibility, water quality and vegetation. Sulfur compounds produce a haze reducing visibility, an acidification of streams and a leaching of nutrients from the soil, and ozone creates visible injury to plant leaves reducing plant growth. Pollutants are created by many sources over a large geographic region.[9][10][11]
Nearby wildlandsedit
Nearby wilderness areas and wildlands recognized as one of Virginia's "Mountain Treasures" by the Wilderness Society are:[12]
^ abcdBamford, Sherman (October 2014). 18 Wonders of Virginia. Richmond, Virginia: Sierra Club Virginia Chapter. ISBN978-0-926487-79-6.
^ ab"Lexington, Blue Ridge Mts [George Washington and Jefferson National Forests]". www.NatGeoMaps.com. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
^ abSteven Carroll and Mark Miller (1995). Wilderness Virginia. Lexington, Virginia: Old Forge Productions. p. 145. ISBN0-9646692-1-8.
^"James River Face Wilderness Hike". www.HikingUpward.com. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
^ ab"James River Face Wilderness". Virginia Wilderness Committee. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
^ abPeles, John D.; Wright, Janet (2008). The Allegheny Woodrat. New York, N. Y.: Springer. ISBN978-0-387-36050-8.
^ ab"James River Face Wilderness - General Information". Wilderness.net. Retrieved May 5, 2019.
^Revised Land and Resource Management Plan, Jefferson National Forest, Management Bulletin R8-MB 115A. US Department of Agriculture. January 2004. p. 2-44.
^"- Forest Service Air Resource Management Program". www.fs.fed.us. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
^"James River Face Wilderness". webcam.srs.fs.fed.us. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
^Virginia's Mountain Treasures, report issued by The Wilderness Society, May 1999
External linksedit
Wilderness.net - U.S. National Wilderness Preservation System Map
Wilderness Connect, James River Face Wilderness
Appalachian Trail Parking and Access Areas in the James River Face Area
Map of Trails in the James River Face Wilderness
Management Regulations for Wilderness
George Washington & Jefferson National Forests
Wilderness Society
January 01, 1970
james, river, face, wilderness, acre, area, located, near, natural, bridge, virginia, that, protected, eastern, wilderness, congress, maintain, present, natural, condition, part, national, wilderness, preservation, system, helps, preserve, variety, natural, li. The James River Face Wilderness is an 8 907 acre area located near Natural Bridge Virginia that is protected by the Eastern Wilderness Act of Congress to maintain its present natural condition As part of the National Wilderness Preservation System it helps to preserve a variety of natural life forms and contributes to a diversity of plant and animal gene pools Over half of the ecosystems in the United States exist within designated wilderness 1 James River Face WildernessIUCN category Ib wilderness area James River Face from Va 130 looking southeastLocationBedford Rockbridge County Virginia United StatesNearest cityBuena Vista VirginiaCoordinates37 35 19 N 79 26 42 W 37 588524 N 79 444885 W 37 588524 79 444885Area8 907 acres 3 605 ha Established1975AdministratorU S Forest Service The wilderness contains many contrasting features A short distance separates scorched hillsides stark rockpiles and dry forest on one side and exceedingly rich vegetation on the crest of the Blue Ridge on the other 2 The area is part of the Glenwood Cluster Contents 1 Location and access 2 Natural history 3 Topography 4 Management 5 Nearby wildlands 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksLocation and access edit nbsp Bridge for Appalachian Trail crossing the James River Virginia fall 2017 James River Face Wilderness is located in the Jefferson National Forest several miles from Natural Bridge Station Virginia It is bounded on the northeast by the James River on the west by Forest Service Road 35 and on the south by the Blue Ridge Parkway 3 There are several well maintained trails giving access into the wilderness Among these are 3 2 4 Appalachian Trail 9 9 miles 2400 feet elevation change trailheads on US 130 and FS 35 5 Balcony Falls Trail 4 1 miles 1850 feet elevation change trailhead on FS 3093 Belfast Trail 2 8 miles 1700 foot elevation change trailhead on FS 35 Gunter Ridge Trail 5 1 miles 1560 foot elevation change trailhead FS 54 Piney Ridge Trail 3 5 miles 1720 foot elevation change trailhead on FS 54 Sulphur Springs Trail 2 7 miles 1050 foot elevation change trailhead on FS 35Natural history editThe forest cover includes chestnut oak and various types of yellow pine Northern red oak and hickories are found near Highcock Knob The wilderness has sheltered coves with white oak basswood and tulip poplar Old growth trees are found in the watershed of Matt s Creek and along the James River where the Appalachian Trail goes into the drainage of Matt s Creek 6 nbsp Allegheny WoodratThe Allegheny woodrat has been observed in the wilderness at the rock outcrops of the Devils Marbleyard 7 127 The population of the woodrat is in decline Among the hypotheses being considered for the decline are the loss of food sources loss of habitat and mortality from parasites introduced by raccoons 7 25 30 The lower elevations of the wilderness have a long history of mineral development and logging The area contains the former Francis T Anderson s Glenwood Estate regarded as one of the finest principalities in western Virginia Anderson operated the Glenwood Iron Furnace an enterprise that required thousands of acres of timber to produce the charcoal used in the iron furnace The area was stripped of its timber and then operators returned to log second and third growth timber 2 Topography edit nbsp James River from AT bridge looking north fall 2017 The wilderness has a complex topography with a peak Highcock Knob towering at an elevation of 3100 feet over the James River at 650 feet a rock outcrop Devils Marbleyard composed of quartzite boulders the size of a schoolbus many creeks with rapid descents and waterfalls and the tall ridges Piney Ridge on the east and Gunter Ridge on the west 8 2 4 6 Management editThis wilderness was designated by congress in 1975 and is managed by the U S Forest Service as a part of the Glenwood Pedlar Ranger Districts of the George Washington amp Jefferson National Forests 8 There are some regulations to maintain the integrity of the area For example motorized equipment motor vehicles and mountain bikes are prohibited group size is limited to ten people and limits are placed on camping The wilderness is being monitored for clean air with special concern for visibility water quality and vegetation Sulfur compounds produce a haze reducing visibility an acidification of streams and a leaching of nutrients from the soil and ozone creates visible injury to plant leaves reducing plant growth Pollutants are created by many sources over a large geographic region 9 10 11 Nearby wildlands editNearby wilderness areas and wildlands recognized as one of Virginia s Mountain Treasures by the Wilderness Society are 12 Thunder Ridge Wilderness James River Face Wilderness Addition White Oak Ridge Terrapin Mountain North Creek conservation area Cove MountainSee also editGlenwood Cluster Wilderness Eastern Wilderness Act List of U S Wilderness Areas George Washington and Jefferson National ForestsReferences edit Why Wilderness Retrieved October 18 2016 a b c d Bamford Sherman October 2014 18 Wonders of Virginia Richmond Virginia Sierra Club Virginia Chapter ISBN 978 0 926487 79 6 a b Lexington Blue Ridge Mts George Washington and Jefferson National Forests www NatGeoMaps com Retrieved April 21 2019 a b Steven Carroll and Mark Miller 1995 Wilderness Virginia Lexington Virginia Old Forge Productions p 145 ISBN 0 9646692 1 8 James River Face Wilderness Hike www HikingUpward com Retrieved April 21 2019 a b James River Face Wilderness Virginia Wilderness Committee Retrieved April 21 2019 a b Peles John D Wright Janet 2008 The Allegheny Woodrat New York N Y Springer ISBN 978 0 387 36050 8 a b James River Face Wilderness General Information Wilderness net Retrieved May 5 2019 Revised Land and Resource Management Plan Jefferson National Forest Management Bulletin R8 MB 115A US Department of Agriculture January 2004 p 2 44 Forest Service Air Resource Management Program www fs fed us Retrieved April 21 2019 James River Face Wilderness webcam srs fs fed us Retrieved April 21 2019 Virginia s Mountain Treasures report issued by The Wilderness Society May 1999External links editWilderness net U S National Wilderness Preservation System Map Wilderness Connect James River Face Wilderness Appalachian Trail Parking and Access Areas in the James River Face Area Map of Trails in the James River Face Wilderness Management Regulations for Wilderness George Washington amp Jefferson National Forests Wilderness Society Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James River Face Wilderness amp oldid 1223029976, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
