The Carson-Iceberg and Leavitt Lake Roadless Areas (the study area) lie near the crest of the Sierra Nevada in central California. The study area encompasses approximately 219,630 acres in the Stanislaus and Toiyabe National Forests in Alpine, Mono, and Tuolumne Counties. The area is dominated by rugged topography typical of the high Sierra Nevada. Elevations range from about 4,920 feet at Donnells Reservoir, at the southwestern corner of the study area, to 11,570 feet at Leavitt Peak, along the southwest boundary of the Leavitt Lake Roadless Area.