between 4000- and 4800-feet elevation, is dominated by American beech, yellow birch, sugar maple, mountain maple and striped maple. Above 4200 feet red spruce is found throughout the area. Although most of the timber is in the 21-100 year old age class, there are areas at high elevations where logging was limited by steep and rocky slopes. Here mature northern hardwood communities exist, a submesotrophic forest. The area contains two rare plants, the Blue Ridge St. Johns wort and mountain rattle snake root, as well as rare sub-species of the northern flying squirrel. While the northern flying squirrel is relatively common, the subspecies is extremely rare and is listed as Federally endangered. There is some old growth forest on Brier Ridge. Parts of Big Wilson Creek, Mount Rogers, and Pine Mountain special biological areas are found here. Unique aspects of these areas are Virginia’s largest high elevation peat bog, wetlands and seeps with rare herbs, birds and salamanders. It has a spot with one of the highest concentrations of rare species and significant plant communities in the state. Five streams, Solomon Branch, Opossum Creek, Little Wilson Creek, Middle Fork of Helton Creek and Cabin Creek, 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. Cabin Creek is a class i trout stream, the highest possible ranking, while the others 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. Pine Mountain is a dominant peak in the area. Forest Service management The original report by the Wilderness Society, published in 1999, included seven areas; Little Wilson Creek Addition A, 78 acres; Addition B, 1724 acres; Addition C, 60 acres; Lewis Fork Addition A, 600 acres; Addition B, 270 acres; and Addition C, 95 acres; as well as the Crest Zone Bald Management Area, 3444 acres. With adjacent Little Wilson Creek Wilderness, Lewis Fork Wilderness and Grayson Highlands, a contiguous environment is formed for expanded wilderness opportunities. With passage of the Omnibus Public Lands Act of 2009, Little Wilson Creek Additions A and B were added to the Little Wilson Creek Wilderness, and