| The White Mountain Wilderness contains almost 50,000 acres within the Lincoln National Forest. It was established as a wilderness by Congress in 1933 and was included in the National Wilderness System in 1964. As with all wilderness areas, travel is allowed by foot or horseback only.The Wilderness consists primarily of a long, north-south ridge adjoining the Mescalero Apache Reservation. The eastern side of the ridge has broad forested canyons with a few small streams. The west side of the ridge is steep, rugged, and dry, with many rock outcroppings.Elevations within the wilderness range from 6500 feet at the Three Rivers Campground to a high of 11,580 feet near Lookout Mountain on the ridge. The weather is directly related to elevation, and in the winter months, the higher elevations may be under six feet or more of snow. In the summer, a sweater or jacket may be needed at the higher elevations, while near 6000 feet it may be quite warm during the afternoon. |
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