East Side Shrub Herbaceous Zone
Where found: East side of the Cascade Crest;
primarily in areas disturbed by avalanches in the winter
Each winter avalanches come roaring down from the mountaintops above. Avalanches rip up and snap any tree which is not already covered by snow. In the summer after the snow melts, the bright sun allows many kinds of light-loving bushes and herbs to thrive. Since this zone is on the east slopes of the Cascades, many drought-tolerant species live there.