The Gauley River is located 10 m below the plot. Downstream 50 m is the Iron Ring Flat Rock. The Hemlock-Yellow birch community extends to the E and W for several meters beyond the plot. The old emergency access railgrade is above the plot ca 30 m. The TSCA-BEAL community extends to the uphill slope of the railgrade.;Steep shady NE facing toe slope. There are several large moss covered colluvial boulders in the plot. There is some old railroad garbage scattered throughout the plot. Little modern anthropological disturbance in plot.
Representativeness
Small patch of Hemlock-Yellow birch/Great laurel forest. Similar to plots sampled at NERI and MONF. Here the community is confined to steep banks cut by the river or the rail grade.