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| x Figure A. Gorge trail, older stairs ascending the hill in the "highlands dry" sub-section, October 2017. x |
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| "Highlands
Dry" refers to the subsection of the gorge trail
that begins immediately above the main
observation platform. In this section, the trail continues to
climb the hill for quite some distance, though not as sharply as
before. By this point, the trail is far above the creek bed.
Hikers can hear flowing water, perhaps enjoy a glimpse of a waterfall
through tree branches, but generally not view the creek itself.
The landscape is forested, but the tree canopy isn't quite as dense as along the "initial ascent". The soil is relatively thin, rocky and well drained. Though hemlocks are present in moderate numbers, hardwoods such as red oak*, white oak, chestnut oak, sugar maple, white ash, American beech, black birch, basswood and tulip tree dominate. Shrubs, such as witch hazel or maple-leaved viburnum, are relatively sparse, except immediately adjacent to the gorge trail and beyond the chain link fence, which was erected for hiker safety. Spring wildflowers and ferns, such as red trillium, white trillium, sweet cicely, Canada mayflower, wild sarsaparilla, Christmas fern, polypody fern and marginal woodfern dot the landscape. The common sedge is the broad-leaved sedge with its distinctive, pale, blue-green leaves. The chain link fence not only keeps hikers away from the cliffs, but it is quite effective in keeping deer from eating the flora along the cliff top. Accordingly, Canada mayflower*, common polypody fern and witch hazel are frequently found safely behind the fence. |
