The A horizon extends from about 10 to 80 cm in depth and is black to dark brown very friable loam with common medium roots and a weak subangular blocky structure. In two of the four profiles, we noted moderate granular structure in the upper 10 cm of the A horizon. The color the upper A horizon is black (10YR 2/1), grading toward dark brown (10YR 3/3) with depth. Wet consistence is non-sticky to slightly sticky and non-plastic to slightly plastic, with clay estimated to be about 10%. Gravel comprises 0 to 10%.

A Bw horizon is present in SP-1 only. This was recognized by a slightly greater clay content (15%) compared to the A horizon (10%), and a dark yellowish brown color (10YR 4/4). Wet consistence is sticky and plastic. No clay films or accumulations of other pedogenic minerals were observed.

In profiles 2, 3, and 4 the A horizon gradually transitions to a C horizon composed of yellowish brown to light yellowish brown (10YR 5/4 to 6/4) very friable loam. Fragments of weathered sandstone comprise 10% to 50% of the horizon and typically increase with depth. Wet consistence is slightly sticky and slightly plastic and the structure is massive to single grained.

The depth to bedrock varies greatly on the ridge. Bedrock outcrops are present intermittently through the forest; we deliberately selected augering sites that were likely to have deeper soil. We were surprised to note the great depth of the soil in profile JMP-3 on the hillside. The soil was as deep or deeper than the other sites, suggesting that the hillside has been stable with very low erosion rates, for a long period of time. We expected the hillslopes to have relatively shallow soil due to typically greater erosion rates on steeper slopes. In many other places, the hillsides have very shallow soils. A good example is the bedrock tread of the Big Trees Trail near its junction with the Sequoia Bayview Trail