A thick, evergreen forest in the mountains is always cool.
The aspect of a slope is simply the direction the area of a mountain is facing. Think about the aspect of a trail when planning a hike because it determines the amount of sunlight in an area.
The more time you spend in the mountains the more you’ll learn about them. I just want to pass on this cool nature fact because it may help you understand why some trails have conifers and others maple trees or other broadleaf trees. This fact is also an important hiking tip because it can help you pick the right trail at different times of the year.
What Is The Aspect Of A Slope?
Basically it is just the angle or direction a slope is facing. In the mountains different sides or parts of the mountain face different directions.
It is obvious that different sides of a ridge face different angles, but the aspect can change slightly on the same side of a mountain also. A mountain is never a big, smooth continuous slope like a pyramid. Rather it is full of contours, creating little gullys, hollows, and valleys all of which face a different direction.
Why Is The Aspect Of A Slope Important?
The most important thing to keep in mind is simply the amount of sunlight that a slope will receive. The more sunlight means that an area will be warmer all year long. It will get hot in the summer. In the winter the snow will melt sooner and it won’t be as cold as the other areas.
Different types of plants grow in areas that receive different amounts of sunlight. When you go to a gardening store to buy plants you always read the tag that describes the ideal sunlight for the plant. Some plants are ideal in full sun and other partial or full shade.
Notice the different vegetation on this mountain. The stand of evergreens are at a slightly different aspect.
North Facing Slopes In The Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are located in the northern hemisphere. This means that in the winter the sun will be low in latitude and the north-facing slopes will not get much or any sunlight.
Thus, the north-facing slopes will be colder and the snow will stay on them longer before it melts. Conifers are much more common in these colder, north-facing areas.
South Facing Slopes In The Rocky Mountains
South-facing slopes tend to get much more sunlight. They will tend to have more broadleaf trees at lower elevations.
In the winter the snow will melt faster and not stay as long in these areas since they get more sun. During the summer these areas may get quite hot.
Hiking Tip Based On Aspect Of A Slope
You should keep in mind the aspect of a trail when you are planning where to go for a hike. It’s important to keep this in mind all the time, but especially for early season hiking.
If it is winter and you want to hike in snow then look for a trail on a north-facing area. But, if you want a sunny trail in the winter head for a trail with a south-facing slope. Here are some other tips on winter hiking with kids.
In the summer your thinking should be reversed. If you want a trail that is not too hot head for a north facing area. But, if you like the sun and want to be hot head to the south-facing areas.
A lot of times a trail will head all over and pass through different microclimates. These are little areas that on a trail that have a different aspect than the rest of the trail. Some parts of the trail may be hotter and sunnier than others. You just need to think about the big picture of what side of a ridge or mountain the trail is located on.