Steep gorge slope in the middle of a DNR wildlife management area. The entire slope has been a variation of this sugar maple - basswood since ca.150m below the last plot. Although here it is steeper and lacks black cherry and tulip poplar. See SNHI plots for more context.;Steep shaley colluvial slope. Subject to frequent landslides. Litter/duff layer is only found on the uphill side of the trees. Our obs. point was placed on a small ridge nose. The only flat ground on the slope. No noticeable skid trails or logged stumps. The slope is just too steep. We have been following a game trail across the slope and any flat areas are trampled bare. This is different from the littter movement on the steep section. All trees here have definite signs of slope creep. Lots of exposed shaley forest floor. The area would probably look a lot more diverse in spring.
Representativeness
Large patch of steep rich somewhat mesic sugar maple - basswood forest. The slope is steeper and less mesic than Pringle gorge slope in Preston County above the Cheat River Narrows. Not quite mixed-mesophytic.