The Wilderness Land Trust Protects 280 acres in and adjacent to the Jarbidge Wilderness Area in northern Nevada

CARBONDALE, Colo., Jan. 29, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Jarbidge translates into "monster that lurks in the canyon" in the Shoshone language.  While hikers in the Jarbidge Wilderness may not need to worry about running into a "Jarbidge," they can keep an eye out for mountain lion, elk, black bear, and northern river otter. 

The Wilderness Land Trust received an anonymous donation of seven parcels of land totaling 280 acres in and adjacent to the Jarbidge Wilderness.  All the parcels are surrounded by the Humboldt Toiyabe National Forest, and the Trust will now work with the Forest Service on their transfer for wilderness habitat, public access, and recreation.  

The Jarbidge Wilderness Area was designated by the original Wilderness Act of 1964 and was the first wilderness area in Nevada.  The wilderness totals over 113,000 acres and stretches from red rock canyons to the crest of the wilderness with eight peaks over 10,000 feet in elevation.  Located in the extremely remote northeast corner of Nevada, the wilderness has a Class 1 Airshed rating which means it has one of the last remnants of pristine air in the United States--truly an example of how wilderness provides a baseline for our natural world before the intrusion of civilization.

"These parcels are in the key areas of the wilderness and the lands leading into the wilderness," said David Kirk, the Trust's Land Protection Specialist for Nevada.  "They contain critical habitat along Sun Creek and Mary's River, and are crossed by a trail leading to Mary's River Peak, the largest mountain in the wilderness.  The view from the top can span over 150 miles, and the sheer elevation drop into the aspen filled canyons is stunning."

The Wilderness Land Trust
The Wilderness Land Trust is a small, highly specialized nonprofit organization established to buy and protect wilderness land. Since it was founded in 1992, the non-profit organization has preserved more than 380 parcels comprising of more than 38,000 acres of wilderness inholdings in 82 designated and proposed wilderness areas. The Wilderness Land Trust, a 501(c)(3) organization, has offices in California, Colorado and Washington State.  For more information visit our website www.wildernesslandtrust.org.

The Wilderness Land Trust is a 1% for the Planet Non-Profit Partner.  Visit www.onepercentfortheplanet.org for more information.

Contact: Karin Evans, Administrative Director
970.963.6068, [email protected]
www.wildernesslandtrust.org

SOURCE The Wilderness Land Trust