Rising high above Fishlake Basin, the Upper Pando Hill Section describes 6.27 acres of Pando’s landmass spanning a treacherous grade that soars 300 feet above Fish Lake down below. A watershed comprised of steep approaches and loose soils intermixed with volcanic boulders, the area is trafficked by predators and prey which field observations suggest, move down from Fishlake Hightop Mountain some 3,000 feet above the area as they move down to Fish Lake for water, food and bedding. Featuring mostly old and middle-aged branches, the area features pockets of new growth, especially in steeper passages and places where volcanic boulders bar easy passage by animals and humans alike. Far removed from the human activity in the Basin, geologic maps strongly suggests the area was carved by glacial runoff creating a mineral rich delta of soil that reaches all the way to shores of Fish Lake. A perennial landslide and avalanche zone, this area serves another role; when the land moves, it scours away tap-rooted conifers at the surface, opening up new paths of water, nutrients and light Pando can quickly take advantage of as it continues it’s 9,000 year long shapeshifting dance across the land.