White Mountain National Forest :: Essays Papers

White Mountain National Forest Legend has it that the White Mountains received their name from early sailing visitors to New England who saw the distant snow capped peaks in the distance as the sailed south along the coast. The White Mountain National Forest was established to protect these mountains in 1911. This followed the passage of the Weeks Act, due in large part to public outcry, which allowed the federal government to purchase private land East of the Mississippi River to create parks for public use. Prior to the establishment of the White Mountain Forest the area had been utterly ravaged by unrestricted and uncontrolled logging, which spawned massive fires that ripped across the barren landscape. From the original purchase of 7,000 acres in Benton, New Hampshire, the Forest has grown over the years, and now encompasses 800,000 acres. Of this, 112,000 acres (@ 15%) have been designated as wilderness. The remaining area is conserved for activities and uses including recreation, wildlife habitat, water, wilderness and timber. Today, tree harvesting occurs on only about 0.5% of the forest at any given time. Approximately 29 million board-feet of timber are taken annually from the forest (1 million board-feet builds about 100 two-thousand square foot homes). Harvesting is selected and carried out carefully to improve recreational facilities, create trails and vistas, improve wildlife habitat and provide wood products. The White Mountain National Forest is also one of the most heavily visited forests in the national system, with over 6 million visitors each year. Visitors enjoy backpacking, swimming, camping, snowmobiling, scenic driving, skiing and dogsledding. The forest is also the home of the state’s tallest peak, the 6,280’ Mount Washington. Mount Washington is the tallest peak in New England and is home to some of the worlds most dangerous weather. Washington, and the rest of the Whites, are cared for by the Appalachian Mountain Club. Founded in 1876, the AMC is the oldest conservation and recreation association in the U.S.. Today the organization has over 87,000 members worldwide. The AMC promotes â€Å"the protection, enjoyment, and the wise use of the mountains, rivers, and trails of the North-east.