On Tue, 29 Aug 1995, Dennis Paulson wrote:

> > A final highlight were 4-6 (some may have been repeats) Ruffed
> >Grouse near Dose Meadows, which I believe was recently named in honor of
> >Jerry Garcia :-) This area is near the head of the valley at 4400'
> >elevation. I would have expected Blue Grouse but that's not what is
> >there. Does this strike other people as high for Ruffed Grouse in this area?
> >
> > Jim Elder
>
> Yes it does, very much so. What kind of habitat?
>

This area is alternating subalpine meadows (imagine columbines and cow
parsnip) alternating with forest. By this point in the valley the forest
sections are mostly fir and mountain hemlock but Douglas fir/western
hemlock forests reach almost this high in this valley. Interspersed in
here is stands of slide alder, mountain ash, and there may have been vine
maple as well. The grouse themselves were in edge habitats where you
would have a hard time categorizing it as any of the above three. They
were not in the middle of the meadows or in the middle of the forest
though they were in the middle of the trail. In short the habitat they
were in was perfectly suitable for either grouse or was within easy
walking range (for a grouse) of habitat that was perfectly suitable.
Incidentally I didn't hear any Blue Grouse either.