land's coordinates in the upper right of this page. Beyond maintained trails, old logging roads can be used to explore the area. The Appalachian Mountains were extensively timbered in the early twentieth century leaving logging roads that are becoming overgrown but still passable. Old logging roads and railroad grades can be located by consulting the historical topographic maps available from the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The Feathercamp wild area is covered by USGS topographic maps Konnarock and Damascus. Natural history Old growth forest have been identified near Cuckoo Knob and on Feathercamp Ridge. The area contains coves in which leaf rot has accumulated that supports an array of mushrooms—the chanterelle, Caesar, yellow and violet corals, and milky white. Two streams in the area, Rush Creek and Feathercamp Branch, are recognized for their water quality. Wild natural trout streams in Virginia are classified by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries by their water quality, with class i the highest and class iv the lowest. Rush Creek and Feathercamp Branch are class ii streams. Topography As part of the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains Subsection within the Central Appalachian Broadleaf Coniferous Forest-Meadow Province, there are tectonic uplifted mountain ranges composed of igneous and metamorphic rock with many high gradient, deeply incised streams. Feathercamp Ridge (3274 feet), Cuckoo Knob, highpoint on the southern end of the ridge, and Clark mountain (3041 feet) are dominant peaks. Forest Service management The Forest Service has conducted a survey of their lands to determine the potential for wilderness designation. Wilderness designation provides a high degree of protection from development. The areas that were found suitable are referred to as inventoried roadless areas. Later a Roadless Rule was adopted that limited road construction in these areas. The rule provided some degree of protection by reducing the negative environmental impact of road construction and thus promoting the conservation of roadless areas. Feathercamp was not inventoried in the roadless area review, and therefore not protected from possible road construction and timber sales. The forest service classifies areas under their management by a recreational opportunity setting that informs visitors of the diverse range of opportunities available in the forest. Areas in Feathercamp include "semi-primitive motorized" around the Iron Mountain Trail, "semi-primitive-2" on the north and south, "dispersed recreation – suitable", and "backcountry – few roads" in the center, as well as the Appalachian Trail corridor and part of the Whitetop