Ray Benson Sno-Park

Ray Benson Sno Park sits between Hoodoo Ski Area and Three Fingered Jack. At 4,400 ft in elevation, it is the highest area we will visit but is still quite a bit lower in elevation than the surrounding peaks. Hoodoo stands at 5,703 ft and Three Fingered Jack is 7,844 ft in elevation. This location is close to Santiam Pass, which was known to native peoples but crossed by settlers in the region in 1859 as they were looking for a cattle trail over the Cascades.

Keep in mind as you watch the videos

Take notes using the community analysis pages for each site provided in the assignment. Remember at each site we are trying to determine whether we are seeing a mature forest or an early successional stage.

To determine this we will try to answer the following questions:

1. What is the structural complexity of this forest? Is every layer represented?

2. What is the species composition and diversity of this forest? Which species are here?

3. What are the soil conditions in this forest? How do they contribute to the diversity and complexity?

4. What is the relative age of this forest