In addition, knowledge of the plants present is needed to evaluate success in restoring pre-settlement forest conditions. As noted above, the absence of fire has resulted in dramatic shifts in the nature of the forest community. Baseline information is needed in order to make comparisons as fire regimes are developed. Information on the understory communities will be presented in a later publication. The former comprises moderate to deep, and moderately to excessively drained, loamy soils over sandstone and shale.
Summers are hot with high humidity levels.
Average annual precipitation is 122 cm, with April and May the wettest months. Days with snow cover of 2.5 cm or more are typically only three per year. A systematic collection of the vascular plants of the Wilderness was conducted during the growing seasons of 1993-1997. Several times each season, the area was traversed on foot by 2-6 individuals for a total of 24 trips. Specimens typically were collected in fertile condition.