In North America, pikas (mammal genus Ochotona) are distributed throughout the western mountain ranges where they are mostly restricted to higher elevation talus slides. There are two species in North America, the Alaskan or Collared Pika (Ochotona collaris Nelson) and the American Pika (Ochotona princeps Richardson). The former is found north of 58 degrees north latitude and has no subspeciation, while the latter occurs south of 58 degrees latitude and consists of 35 subspecies isolated on various mountain ranges (Hall and Kelson 1959). In Utah there are nine subspecies, which are mostly distributed in the Wasatch range that runs northeast to southwest through Utah. They are also found in the LaSal Mountains and the Uinta Mountains, where this study was conducted. This subspecies of pika, Ochotona princeps uinta (Hollister) is found in the entire Uinta range and extends west into the central Wasatch Mountains.

The object of this study was to determine whether or not Lodgepole pine is successfully invading meadows near ponds in the western Uinta Mountains as a preliminary step to the invasion of the Spruce-Fir climax forest. Line transects were established at three sites near Trial Lake extending from forest to wet meadow. Along these transects the soil was studied to determine percent organic matter, pH, depth to mineral soil, and texture. Also the depth of the water table was measured and the topography plotted. The age and size of the trees along the transect was determined, and the extent of some root systems was noted. Conifers found growing in the dry meadow were stunted and no conifers were found growing on peat deposits over 17 inches. The water table was found within about 8 inches of the surface and the soil conditions suggested poor aeration. The combination of peat and high water level accounted for the stunting of the trees. The trees were apparently unable to convert the dry meadow to forest and thus, the climax for hydrarch succession in this area is a meadow vegetation of grasses and sedges instead of the conifer forest.