Ansel Adams Wilderness, Wilderness area in Sierra Nevada, California
Ansel Adams Wilderness is a protected area in the Sierra Nevada of California, spanning 93,000 hectares between Sierra and Inyo National Forests. Granite peaks alternate with alpine meadows, while glacial lakes rest between the ridges.
The area was created in 1964 as Minarets Wilderness, protecting these high mountain ranges for the first time. Twenty years later it received its current name in honor of the photographer and conservationist.
Named after Ansel Adams, whose black-and-white photographs of the Sierra Nevada became symbols of American conservation. Hikers today follow the same trails he documented with his camera.
A permit is required between May and October, which should be requested in advance. Summer temperatures range from 57 to 89 degrees Fahrenheit (14 to 32 degrees Celsius), though nights can be cool even in July.
The Sierra Crest east of the Ritter Range drops to about 3,000 meters, a low gap that lets winter storms through and buries Mammoth Mountain in snow. The same gap lets plants and animals cross the Sierra Crest. The Ritter Range itself is the higher, darker wall of metavolcanic rock.
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