The Trough Fire burned 24,970 acres (101.1 km2) of Snow Mountain Wilderness and national forest land in August 2001.

This human-caused wildfire started near Fouts Springs, an off-road vehicle recreational area in Mendocino National Forest.

Other wildlife include black bear, mountain lion, spotted owl and game birds like California quail, sooty grouse and bandtailed pigeon.

The Forest Service encourages the practice of Leave No Trace principles of outdoor travel to minimize human impact on the environment.

The trailhead of Bearwallow begins on the east side of the wilderness and crosses the southern and western slopes of Saint John Mountain (6,719 ft[6]).

In the spring the cows would be moved to this higher elevation meadow of the mountain and in autumn, the butter would be brought down to the towns of Williams and Willows to be sold.