Slopes are 2 to 30 percent. Elevations are 6,500 to 9,000 feet. The mean annual precipitation is about 20 inches and ranges from 15 to about 25 inches of which about half falls as snow or rain in April, May, and June. The frost-free season is estimated to be about 45 to 85 days, but frost can occur at any time at higher elevations. These are the Decross , Nathrop , and Starman soils.
Decross soils are deep with overthickened mollic epipedons.
They occur in depressional or snowpack areas. Nathrop soils are skeletal and occur near the areas of rock outcrop and along drainages. The Starman soils are shallow or very shallow and occur on slope shoulders near rock outcrop. Rangeland, mountain meadows, and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation is Idaho fescue, slender wheatgrass, spike-fescue, western wheatgrass, and big sagebrush.