Pre-Bull Lake Glacial Landscapes and Soils, Snowy Range, Wyoming.

The glacial event known as “Pre-Bull Lake” was extensive in the Northern Rocky Mountains. Because subsequent glaciations were smaller, extensive areas of moraine dating to the Pre- Bull Lake event still exist and soils dating to this period (approximately 500,000 YBP) show intense weathering with non-skeletal Alfisols in the fine, kaolinitic textural family being the norm. These soils present distinctive potential and response to management because of their unique physical and chemical properties. This study greatly expands the known coverage of Pre-Bull Lake landforms and soils in the Snowy Range and brings attention to their unique characteristics. Soils on the Pre- Bull lake landscape are thicker, less rocky, more strongly acidic and contain higher clay contents than younger soils developed on moraines from more recent glaciations.