It supplied Indians and settlers alike with food and nearly rot-proof building material for houses and fence posts. It was equally important as a source of food for wild animals. Today only small root suckers are present where there used to be tall trees. This was a natural chute for rocks even before the road was cut across the slope, but since then the increased water flow has accelerated the erosion process. This is a good example of how water erodes a gully uphill, in the opposite direction of its flow.
Tea made from the fragrant flowers is used as a diaphoretic, a substance that promotes perspiration.
Basswood is a close relative to the European linden tree, the wood of which was extensively used for woodcarvings. The point of this ridge is exposed and susceptible to weather extremes, especially high winds. In August of 1994, tropical storm Beryl dumped about 13 inches of rain in the Gorge in about 48 hours. Water collected in a low area here, causing a portion of the trail to slide away. This is a convincing demonstration of the tremendous force of water as an agent of landscape formation.