Some geological periods

Paleozoic (‘ancient life’)

Mesozoic (middle) – Triassic > Jurassic > Cretaceous

Cenozoic (recent)

The Trinity Alps

Most of the information below copied is from the Wikipedia article.

Geology

Geologically, the Trinity Alps consist of a mixture of igneous, granite and metamorphic peaks. The Trinities are ocean floor rock or sediment (iron and magnesium rich basalt with variety), with three regions, each running North – South.

In the eastern mountains are the Red Trinities, due to reddish ultramafic peridotite,

In the central granitic batholith are the White Trinities; the White Trinities are igneous implaced granite from the Nevadan Orogeny (a time of igneous intrusion).

In the western mountains are the Green Trinities, due to more extensive forest cover.

The high lakes are glaciated. The region contains much pine and fir forest as well as meadows, creeks, and lakes.

Flora

The Trinity Alps section of the Klamath Mountains Ecoregion is botanically outstanding by having the second greatest number of conifer species of any place in the world. Russian Peak, in the Russian Wilderness just north of the Trinity Alps, has the greatest number of conifer species in North America. So many genera and species of conifers exist together because the Trinity Alps are at the intersection of the Mediterranean climate of the south and the Northwestern coastal climate, which has a shorter dry season.

Northern tree species, such as subalpine fir, pacific silver fir and Engelmann spruce are found here, as well as southern trees, such as incense cedar , ponderosa pine, and white fir, plus unique populations of foxtail pine and weeping spruce.

Other plants along the trails include the carnivorous California pitcher plant, the showy pinkish Lewisia cotyledon, and the rare Trinity Alps endemic wildflower Trinity penstemon. Sagebrush is found on ridges in the Scott Mountains.

Large fires have burned through some of the forests in the wilderness, including much of the 105,855-acre Iron / Alps Complex fire in 2008.

Fauna

Most of the lakes have been stocked with rainbow, brown or brook trout, and some have self-sustaining populations. The major streams of the North Fork Trinity River and New River watersheds have spawning chinook salmon, and some have steelhead.

The Trinity Alps are home to much wildlife, including: American black bear, mountain lion, bobcat, blacktailed deer, lizards, chipmunks, and a great number of bird species. Deer and black bear are commonly seen. Less common but present are mountain lion, pine marten, fisher, and wolverine. Rough-skinned newts are commonly found in ponds and lakes. The Trinity Alps may be home to a cryptozoological phenomenon, the Trinity Alps Giant Salamander.