A bald summit is a description for a peak of a mountain that doesn’t contain trees or vegetation and has exposed, bare rock instead. While common for mountains in the Western United States, these summits are novel and sought after by hikers in the Eastern United States as they are uncommon and provide vistas. The lower elevations lead to many mountains having their views obstructed by trees.
Causes
A combination of factors will contribute to the condition of a mountain summit, namely elevation, temperature, snowpack, wind, and soil quality. High winds and melting snow erode the soil off of the mountain, exposing the bare rock beneath. Higher elevations make it difficult for trees to grow, further exposing the soil and smaller vegetation to erosion.
