Detailed Soil Survey of the Mount Revelstoke Summit Area.

15Soils of the Summit AreaThe soils in the Summit area reflect the cool,fairly moistclimatic conditions .Podzolic soils are most common, especially in theforested areas . Two main types of Podzolic profiles are present in the area ;those with a fairly deep, dark colored surface (Ah)horizon and those inwhich this horizon is very thin or absent, and a light gray,eluviated (Ae)horizon is present in its place .In both cases the underlying B horizonis dark reddish brown and contains high amounts of amorphous iron andaluminum oxides (criteria for Bf horizon) . These B horizons may be quitefirm due to cementation of soil aggregates, probably by iron oxides .ThinPodzolic soils over bedrock (Lithic Podzols)are present whenever the bedrockis within 50 cm (20 in .) of the surface .Podzolic soils with lesser amounts of iron and aluminum concentratedin the B horizon are dominant along the Summit ridge above the continuousforest under predominantly alpine vegetation .These soils have a turfylayer overlying a thick dark Ah horizon and a dark brown Bf horizon .Regosolic soils having a very thick, dark Ah horizon directlyoverlying the C horizon, are associated with steep slopes .Soil creep isoften active on the steep slopes, disrupting horizon differentiation andthus preventing the formation of B horizons .Imperfectly to "moderately"poorly drained Regosolic soils with thick organic (0h)surface horizons arefound in poorly defined snoVmelt runoff channels and in areas of latesnowmelt .Poorly and very poorly drained soils,that are saturated withwater throughout the year or for a considerable part of the year,arepresent marginal to stream channels, in depressional basins, and in areasof groundwater discharge . These soils generally exhibit reduced (gleyed)