Ski slope vegetation of Mount Hood, Oregon, USA

Ski slope vegetation on Mount Hood, Oregon, U.S.A. was surveyed to assess vegetation that has developed under a constant disturbance regime and the environmental factors that are important in structuring the vegetation. Ski runs extend from 1200 to 2200 m on the south face of Mount Hood. TWINSPAN distinguished 17 plant communities including 4 above treeline and 13 below treeline; 3 of the latter also occur in the forest adjacent to the ski runs. Elevation, which is correlated to temperature, precipitation, depth of snowpack, and timing of snow melt, is the most important variable structuring the vegetation. Soil texture is also important. Distance to the forest boundary influences the vegetation only at lower elevations. Most of the slopes we examined were thickly vegetated, except above treeline where vegetation is typically sparse. Non-native species were detected only at the lowest elevations and were infrequently dominant. Non-native species cover and richness were correlated with percent bare area. Relative to ski runs in other areas, those on Mount Hood have little non-native species invasion, probably due to the harsh conditions prevalent on the ski runs and to a relative lack of bare areas, which occupy 17% of the runs below treeline. The relative scarcity of bare areas may be a result of the relatively great age of the ski runs (64 yr). Above treeline there was no detectable difference in vegetative composition on and off the ski run, probably due to extensive trampling of the vegetation in the summer.