Plot is on top of a gently sloping ridge spur of Stuart Knob, which is located ca. 1.5 miles SW, Condon Run is located ca 0.5 miles S, Otter Creek is located ca. 0.75 miles E, and Yellow Creek is located ca. 1 mile N. The land is owned by the Monongahela National Forest. I believe I have entered the wilderness area but haven't seen any markings.;High elevation upland forest dominated by Betula alleghaniensis - Acer rubrum / Rhododendron maximum. Forest is near impenetrable due to S1,S2 rhododendron cover (rhodo hell!). Shrubs grow in inter-twining patches from knee high to 8 feet. Area is relatively flat and broad E sloping ridgetop. Forest has very little T3 layer.
Representativeness
Large patch of a matrix forest type in the southern end of the Otter Creek Wilderness Area. The yellow birch - red maple / great laurel forest. Plot was placed to maximize cover by both yellow birch and great laurel in this undersampled community type.