Clearcut on the Madison Plateau, Targhee National Forest, Idaho
The photo was taken on the Madison Plateau about 3 miles west of the
west boundary of Yellowstone National Park near "Big Grassy". Timber regeneration
in areas like this, immediately west of the Park boundary is much slower
than in Island Park itself, down off the Madison Plateau, because the altitute
is 1000 feet higher and the soil is less fertile. The soil is hardly more
that cinders covered by and inch or two of soil in many places.
There is an excellent aerial photo of the incredible difference along
the Yellowstone Park boundary with the Targhee National Forest on the Madison
Plateau in the March 1997 National Geographic. The photo is
in the article on the national forests.
Ralph Maughan/ rev. March 7, 1997