Excerpt from Forest Conditions in the Northern Sierra Nevada, California The area of high relief of the region may be considered as consisting primarily of the main range of the Sierra Nevada, a secondary chain of mountains to the east of it paralleling it at distances varying from 10 to 20 miles. From these ranges proceed in all directions a multitude of ridges, which together constitute the mountain system of the region. The main uplift of the Sierra is a continuous northwest-southeast range, and forms the geographic divide throughout most of the region. In the northern part of the Downieville quadrangle it is cut through by the Middle Fork of Feather River. Which heads in the eastern range. The summit of the Sierra varies in elevation; most of it rarely falls below feet. South of Donner Pass numerous peaks rise to altitudes of over feet, while Mount Lola reaches an elevation of feet. The eastern slope of the range is generally short and abrupt; its western slope is longer and has a more gradual descent. The Sierra has been subjected to glaciation in all portions above feet, and abounds in rocky and bowlder-strewn slopes, narrow summits, semicircular glacial basins, and tracts of bare rock from which all soil has been swept away. None of its peaks rise above timber line, although Castle Peak, at an elevation of feet, has a narrow line of perpetual snow on its northeastern slopes, and the higher peaks south of Donner Pass usually hold banks of snow throughout the summer on northern slopes in the lee of projecting combs. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.