Brush Mountain East Wilderness, Virginia: A Case for small Wilderness
By Mark Miller, SAFC Virginia Field Organizer
On March 30, 2009 President Obama enacted the Public Lands Management Act. His signature secured lasting protection for over 53,000 acres of the Jefferson National Forest. The Ridge and Valley Act created six new Wilderness areas, two National Scenic Areas, and enlarged six already established Wilderness Areas.
The Act designated Brush Mountain East as a federally designated Wilderness. Brush Mountain East is a 3,700 acre jewel nestled in rural Craig County, Virginia. While the areas is small in size it makes up for its diminutive status with a spectacularly steep mountain ridge deeply incised by numerous small streams and finger ridges. The ridge itself climbs from Craig Creek nearly 1,600 feet to the crest of Brush Mountain. The escarpment gives a dramatic backdrop to the views from VA 621 along Craig Creek and provides the foreground for the view from the Audie Murphy Monument lookout near the top of the ridge.
Brush Mountain East is held up by a layer of Devonian Sandstone, but the more friable strata on the north side have promoted the many small drainages, coalescing into about 15 tributaries of Craig Creek. About 7.5 miles of the Appalachian Trail passes through or borders Brush Mountain East and several miles of the old AT traverse the lower slopes of the mountain. This old trail weaves in and out of the many steep, narrow drainages that make up this rugged and pristine place. It crosses many small streams and during high water these streams create many small waterfalls that splash restlessly down the mountain’s western slope.
The George Washington National Forest staff has begun a planning process that will guide and govern the management of the George Washington National Forest for the next ten to fifteen years. This management plan will also recommend areas to be designated as possible Wilderness candidates. Planning staff have remarked that they do not want anymore small wilderness areas. They have repeatedly expressed their concern that small Wilderness does not provide the necessary solitude for a true wilderness experience. A hike along the old AT route would quickly dispel this myth. Brush Mountain East with its deeply incised and sheltered drainages takes one far away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
However, solitude is not the only value offered by small Wilderness. Brush Mountain East provides a refuge to black bear, whose signs are seen scratched on old pines. It plays host to approximately six hundred acres of old growth forest and within a generation most of its forest covered slope will become well established old growth. This small Wilderness serves as a host to Table mountain pine, pirate bush and box huckleberry, the latter a rare plant throughout its Appalachian range. While small in size Brush Mountain East plays a large role in protecting and preserving our natural heritage.
Please contact the planning staff of the George Washington National Forest and let them know that small Wilderness plays as an important role as larger Wilderness. Small Wilderness serves to protect and preserve our natural heritage. Let them know that when considering their recommendations for Wilderness candidates that you support the concept of both large Wilderness candidates as well as small Wilderness. Brush Mountain East is the poster child of small Wilderness designations and reminds us that small is indeed beautiful.
On March 30, 2009 President Obama enacted the Public Lands Management Act. His signature secured lasting protection for over 53,000 acres of the Jefferson National Forest. The Ridge and Valley Act created six new Wilderness areas, two National Scenic Areas, and enlarged six already established Wilderness Areas.
The Act designated Brush Mountain East as a federally designated Wilderness. Brush Mountain East is a 3,700 acre jewel nestled in rural Craig County, Virginia. While the areas is small in size it makes up for its diminutive status with a spectacularly steep mountain ridge deeply incised by numerous small streams and finger ridges. The ridge itself climbs from Craig Creek nearly 1,600 feet to the crest of Brush Mountain. The escarpment gives a dramatic backdrop to the views from VA 621 along Craig Creek and provides the foreground for the view from the Audie Murphy Monument lookout near the top of the ridge.
Brush Mountain East is held up by a layer of Devonian Sandstone, but the more friable strata on the north side have promoted the many small drainages, coalescing into about 15 tributaries of Craig Creek. About 7.5 miles of the Appalachian Trail passes through or borders Brush Mountain East and several miles of the old AT traverse the lower slopes of the mountain. This old trail weaves in and out of the many steep, narrow drainages that make up this rugged and pristine place. It crosses many small streams and during high water these streams create many small waterfalls that splash restlessly down the mountain’s western slope.
The George Washington National Forest staff has begun a planning process that will guide and govern the management of the George Washington National Forest for the next ten to fifteen years. This management plan will also recommend areas to be designated as possible Wilderness candidates. Planning staff have remarked that they do not want anymore small wilderness areas. They have repeatedly expressed their concern that small Wilderness does not provide the necessary solitude for a true wilderness experience. A hike along the old AT route would quickly dispel this myth. Brush Mountain East with its deeply incised and sheltered drainages takes one far away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
However, solitude is not the only value offered by small Wilderness. Brush Mountain East provides a refuge to black bear, whose signs are seen scratched on old pines. It plays host to approximately six hundred acres of old growth forest and within a generation most of its forest covered slope will become well established old growth. This small Wilderness serves as a host to Table mountain pine, pirate bush and box huckleberry, the latter a rare plant throughout its Appalachian range. While small in size Brush Mountain East plays a large role in protecting and preserving our natural heritage.
Please contact the planning staff of the George Washington National Forest and let them know that small Wilderness plays as an important role as larger Wilderness. Small Wilderness serves to protect and preserve our natural heritage. Let them know that when considering their recommendations for Wilderness candidates that you support the concept of both large Wilderness candidates as well as small Wilderness. Brush Mountain East is the poster child of small Wilderness designations and reminds us that small is indeed beautiful.
posted by Southern Appalachian Forest Coalition at
1:21 PM
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