Detailed Soil Survey of the Mount Revelstoke Summit Area.

colors and are classified as Gleysolic soils .Fairly deep accumulationsof peaty organic materials may be present on the surface of these soilsoverlying dark colored A horizons and dull gray C horizons .Features of minor areal extent, but of considerable interest,are the earth hummocks developed in isolated basins in the southern portionof the study area .These features are apparently a result of frost actionand are fairly common in alpine and arctic regions (Washburn, 1956 ;Knapik,Scotter and Pettapiece, 1973) .Another interesting feature in the area isthe disturbance of some surface horizons by burrowing of small mammals(voles?) .Map Unit DescriptionsSoil Map Unit 1(Orthic Humo-Ferric Podzol)These are well drained Podzolic soils occurring mainly along theupper slopes and summit of the ridge in the north half of the study area .The vegetation cover consists of alpine communities of Carex niqricans andLuetkea pectinata with scattered individuals and clumps of Abies lasiocarpa .The land surface is freely drained and is moderately rolling to very steeplysloping . Surface boulders are common in these soil areas .The soils are characterized by a dark colored Ah horizon with aturfy surface and a thin, dark brown Bhf (Plate 1) .In many cases these twohorizons with silt loam textures overlie another complete Ah, Bf, C profilewhich is sandy loam textured .The upper profile has developed in whatseems to be an aeolian (wind-deposited) material which overlies the glacialtill .This surficial deposit is not continuous over the soil area but itis common .