Favoritos de leppinm

This is a high elevation site (5100 ft/ 1555 m) located well in to the western Cascades. While this is a high elevation site that receives a large amount of winter snowfall (Tsuga mertensiana and Abies lasiocarpa grow close by), the site is a warm microsite sheltered by a south-facing cliff. I am a bit perplexed because these higher elevation oaks often have the bud shape characters of vars. breweri and semota as per FNA (http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=233501033), but I don't believe these plants are actually var. breweri or var. semota as they are outside the known ranges of those vars.