De I. VNER VEW D Forest Trees of the Pacific Slope

FOREST TREES OF THE PACIFIC SLOPE. 97
axis (fig. 35). After the seeds are shed, usually late in September or October,
the cones begin falling from the trees, and by spring most of them are down.
The seeds (fig. 35, b) are pale brown, with large wings which enable the
wind to carry them for long distances. Seed-leaves, 4, and about one-fourth inch
in length. Wood, very fine-grained, soft (considerably lighter than that of
western hemlock), and pale reddish brown. It is without the silvery character
of eastern hemlock wood. It is practically never used for commercial purposes,
and locally only occasionally on the prospector's alpine camp fire.
LONGEVITY.-Believed to be a very long-lived tree, but much more study of
its age limits is required. Trees from 18 to 20 inches in diameter are from 180
to 260 years old, while trees of high, wind-swept ridges are from 60 to 80
years old when from 5 to 7 inches in diameter.
RANGE.
Timberline tree. From the Pacific coast mountains of Alaska southward through the
high Sierras of California, and to northern Idaho and Montana.
ALASKA.-Sea slope of Coast Range northward to neighborhood of Lynn Canal (in
about lat. 600), and westward to head of Yukla Creek on north of divide between Turnagain
Arm and Knik Arm of Cook Inlet (lat. 610 10', long. 1500). Commonly at elevations
of 2,000 to 4,000 feet, except when occasionally inhabiting cold sea-coast bogs from
Sitka northward, and when descending to sea level at west end of its range on shores of
Prince William Sound and Kenai Peninsula. Timberline in southeastern Alaska is
1,800 to 2,400 feet on exposed seaward slopes, but is considerably higher in protected
inland passes. About Lynn Canal dwarf trees reach 3,250 feet, or more; westward, its
upper limit ranges from elevations of 400 feet to 1,600 feet, and about Prince William
Sound, at from 300 feet, in gulches away from sea, to over 1,450 feet, on warm slopes
facing the Sound. On Kenai Peninsula, generally up to elevations of 1,200 or 1,600
feet, but follows Resurrection Bay across divide to Turnagain Arm, reaching 2,500 feet
on inland plateau. Occurs in following localities: Hot Springs (near Sitka), Baranof
Island, and Yes Bay, at sea level; KHiu Island; White Pass, at 2,888 feet, and from
inland to Shallow Lake, Long Lake, Chilkoot and valley of Chilkoot, Fort Wrangell.
BIRITISH COLUMBIA.-Higber sea slopes of Pacific Coast Range and islands, generally
at from 2,500 to 5,000 feet; also abundant in interior of southern British Columbia on
west slopes of Selkirk Mountains. All summits of Queen Charlotte Islands above 2,000
feet, and up to 4,500 or 5,000 feet, especially those at head of Cumshewa Inlet. Fraser
River Valley and inland on higher slopes above 2,700 feet to Silver Mountain (near
Yale). Vancouver Island, at 3,000 to 5,500 feet elevation, especially on following summits:
Mount Benson (3,000 feet) ; Mount Mark (3,300 feet) ; Mount Arrowsniith (5,500
feet) ; Mount Edinburgh (3,250 feet) ; locally noted at Vancouver, Victoria, and Port
Townsend.
WAs5L'.NToN.-Both slopes of Cascade and Olympic mountains at elevations of 5,000
to 7,000 feet, and on one peak of Blue Mountains, but not on Okanogan Highlands.
Olympics, at 5,000 to 6,000 feet, and at following points: Hoh Divide; head of
Bogachiel River, near pass to Jordan's Lake; near Close Call Basin; sphagnum swamp
3 miles below Hot Springs; main bead of South Fork of Skokomish River. Northern
part of Washington National Forest (west side of Cascades), at from 4,000 to (timberline)
6,000 feet; east side of Cabeades in moist valleys and passes at 3,100 to 6,400 feetsometimes
to 7,000 feet, as on slopes above Lake Chelan, and down to 2,200 feet, as in
Stehekin River Valley and on east side of Stevens Pass (mouth of Great Northern Railroad
tunnel). Southern part of Washington National Forest, at 2,600 to 7,200 feet;
most abundant at 4,000 to 6.000 feet in Skykomish, Tolt, Snoqualmie, Cedar, Green,
White, Yakima, Wenache, Entiat river basins and of Lake Chelan. Also at following
points: Cascade Pass, at 5,421 feet; headwaters of Stehekin River, at about 7,000 feet;
pass between Montecristo and Index; trail to Columbia Peak; Skagit Pass; Bridge
Creek. Mount Rainier National Forest, at 3,500 to 7,500 feet with best growth at 4,500
to 6,200 feet, in river basins on both sides Cascades. Locally noted as follows; Mount
Rainier, at 4,000 to 6,000 feet; Mount Adams, at 6,000 feet; Cascade Divide (3 miles
north of Cowlitz Pass) at 4,800 feet ; at point 2 miles vest of divide at Cowlitz Pass, at
4,750 feet; head of Summit Creek; Cowlitz River, at 3,650 feet; Dewey Lake (head of
American River) at 5,300 feet; main divide on head of Cispus River, at 5,200 feet.
OREGON.-Both slopes of Cascades at elevations of 5,500 to 7,000 feet, and In Powder
River Mountains (northeastern Oregon). Cascade National Forest (North), principal