Recent Changes

Species: C. serrultata
[17]
Human Impact
Mountain biking is still a relatively new activity whose environmental impact and contribution to trail degradation is poorly understood. As with all recreational pursuits, it is clear that mountain biking contributes some degree of environmental degradation. In the absence of adequate research, land and trail managers have frequently been cautious, implementing restrictive regulations in some instances (Edger 1997). Surveys of managers have shown that they frequently perceive mountain biking to be a substantial contributor to trail degradation but lack scientific studies or monitoring data to substantiate such concerns (Chavez and others 1993; Schuett 1997). In recent years, however, a small number of studies have been conducted that help clarify the environmental impacts associated with mountain biking. This article describes the general impacts associated with recreational uses of natural surface trails, with a focus on those studies that have examined mountain biking impacts.[18]
Trails are generally regarded as essential facilities in parks and forests. They provide access to remote areas, accommodate a diverse array of recreational activities, and protect resources by concentrating visitor trampling on narrow and resistant tread surfaces. Formal or designated trails are generally designed and constructed, which involves vegetation removal and soil excavation. These changes may be considered "unavoidable," in contrast to "avoidable" post-construction degradation from their subsequent use (e.g., trail widening, erosion, muddiness), or from the development and degradation of informal visitor-created trails.[18]
Common environmental impacts associated with recreational use of trails include:
· Vegetation loss and compositional changes
· Soil compaction
· Erosion
· Muddiness
· Degraded water quality
· Disruption of wildlife [18]
Mountain Protection Organizations
· UIAA
· Mountain Protective Services
· Rocky Mountain Protective Services
· High Mountain Protective Services
· Black Mountain Protective Services
Reference List
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain
2. http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/climate.htm
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_range
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bighorn_Sheep
5. http://www.baldeagleinfo.com/eagle/eagle7.html
6. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Eagle
7. http://www.nhptv.org/Natureworks/bighornsheep.htm
8. http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Golden_Eagle/lifehistory#at_habitat
9. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynxn
10. http://www.nhptv.org/NatureWorks/lynx.htm
11. http://www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/wildlife/lynx.php
12. http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0211900/journey/lynx.htm
13. http://eduscapes.com/nature/bighorn/index1.htm
14. http://extension.usu.edu/range/Woody/curlleafmahog.htm
15. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cercocarpus
16. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saxifraga_oppositifolia
17. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleome_serrulata
18. http://www.imba.com/resources/science/marion_wimpey_2007.html

Genus: Saxifraga
Species: S. oppositifolia
Rocky Mountain Beeweed
{Rocky%20Mountain%20bee%20plant.jpg} {DSC02625rmbeeplantsmall.jpg} {Cleome%20serulata%20Jefferson-Valley.jpg}
Description
It is an annual plant growing to 10-150 cm tall, with spirally arranged leaves. The leaves are trifoliate, with three slender leaflets each 1-7 cm long. The flowers are reddish-purple, pink, or white, with four petals and six long stamens. The fruit is a capsule 3-6 cm long containing several seeds. [17]
Habitat
The Rocky Mountain Beeweed is native to western North America from southern British Columbia, east to Minnesota and Illinois, and south to New Mexico and northernmost California. It is also naturalized further east in North America. Also grown along mountain sides. [17]
Classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Angiosperms
Class: Eudicots
Order: Brassicales
Family: Cleomaceae
Genus: Cleome
Species: C. serrultata
[17]

.....................................................................
Mountains on Earth
.......................
{chile.jpg}
←This is a picture of the Andes Mountains taken by a satellite orbiting the Earth.
↓This is a close up picture of Mountains of the Earth’s Surface.
{cassiar.jpg}
...................
A Description of Mountains
A mountain is a large landform that stretches above the surrounding land in a limited area usually in the form of a peak. A mountain is generally steeper than a hill. The adjective montane is used to describe mountainous areas and things associated with them. The study of mountains is called Orology. [1]
Climate
Mountain climate is a geographical term used for the kind of climate in the mountains and generally in the high country. It is often contrasted to the climate of the cloudy, lowland area surrounding or near the same mountains.
summers. [3]
Highland climates are cool to cold, found in mountains and high plateaus. Climates change rapidly on mountains, becoming colder the higher the altitude gets. The climate of a highland area is closely related to the climate of the surrounding biome. The highlands have the same seasons and wet and dry periods as the biome they are in.
Mountain climates are very important to mid-latitude biomes. They work as water storage areas. Snow is kept back until spring and summer when it is released slowly as water through melting.
Diet
The bighorn sheep browses on grasses, clover and sedges in warm months. In colder months, it eats woody plants like willow and sage. Bighorn sheep in desert areas often eat brushy plants like holly and cactus. When it is not grazing, it will lie down and chew its cud. [7]
Habitat
All bighorn sheep migrate between high mountain slopes in the summer and foothill slopes in winter. They live in areas that are rarely disturbed by humans. Bighorns are found on high, rugged, sparsely wooded mountain slopes, cliffs, and rocky, lightly wooded canyons and foothills. They feed in early morning, at midday, and in the evening. Between grazing they lie down, resting, and chewing their cud and digesting their food. They return to a bedding spot each night, an area about 4 feet wide and wallowed down about 1 inch. This bed usually smells of their urine and is edged with droppings. Bighorn sheep return to these beds, staying for extended periods during their yearly migrations, and may use them again and again over several years. [13]
Classification
{Golden_eagle_hand_large.jpg} {golden_eagle_chick.jpg} {golden_eagle_male.jpg}
Diet
and snakes.[5]
Habitat
trees. [8]
Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
{curlleaf_mountain_mahogany.jpg} {leaders_of_curlleaf_mountain_mahogany.jpg} {curlleafmahogplnt.jpg}
Description
grooved. [14]
Habitat
Curlleaf mountain mahogany is found on hills, rocky slopes, and rocky ridges, and in canyons. It is somewhat shade tolerant.[14]

Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Aquila
chrysaetos [6]
Plants of the Mountains
Curlleaf Mountain Mahogany