121 foot hollow grand fir

[Roger_Barnett]

Scott Baker of Tree Solutions had tested this tree (using his spiffy Picus Sonic Tomograph) and found it to be hollow, plus there were two vertical seams/cracks extending up about 10 feet from the base. The top had broken out many years ago. It was 121 feet tall. Amazing that it had withstood our windstorms. Appx 125 years old, and about 34" dbh.

A gorgeous day it was on the west shore of Mercer Island, overlooking Seward Park and downtown Seattle. On Seward Park, some 12 years ago, Dan Kraus, Paul Sisson, Michael Oxman and I rec climbed 195 and 215 foot firs....they might be in the images somewhere.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rbtree/sets/72157628101339490/

Slide show
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rbtree/sets/72157628101339490/show/

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Is the eagle nest still in the tree on the east side of the two rec climb trees? Those are the ones that we took the U of MN SSA students into.

Pretty office view!

 

[MikePoor]

Beautiful ....work and view!

 

[Roger_Barnett]

more

In this image, the two vertical cracks are visible. I'm also wondering why, in my zeal to reduce the width of the backcut, I cut out some of the holding wood where my hinge ended up, on one side anyhow.

 

[Roger_Barnett]

Some of the splendor in Robin's yard...besides about 10 large Doug-fir, and a few more grand fir, a couple of which may be 135-145 feet tall....and a dying hemlock which Kathy Holzer will be removing along with some end weight reduction on some of the Doug's.

 

[Roger_Barnett]

Prolly, Tom....and there's scads more eagle nests these days....

 

[Roger_Barnett]

Looking at the pics of that butt (rot, and the cracks meaning the cylinder of live wood was less strong than it normally would be) has my butt puckering a tad....also remembering how it felt when Doug gave me a bit of a ride when we lowered the second of two tops. Mind you, the wood I was lanyarded in to was about 14" , but it was very punky just above the two new tops... it got stronger quick, but the decay column petered out for a good 15-20 feet....much of the next 70 feet was at least 90% good wood.

 

[Norm_Hall]

Nice job Roger. Nice view from the top. The base looked scary with the cracks almost 180 degrees apart.
Ever tried webbing binders on trees like that? Cheap insurance on vertical cracked trees.

 

[Roger_Barnett]

Yes, Norm. I have three straps, which are rather light duty. Scott and I discussed the tree, which was surely borderline. However, it was straight, with relatively light branches and sparse as well. Nothing but the two tops weighed over 100 lb. With 110 feet of tree above the weak area, I'm not sure straps would have kept it from failing. Still should have put some on though, in retrospect, especially upon viewing the stump.

Had the tree been more of a concern, we could perhaps have squeezed Image's 38 ton crane in....or even a smaller crane just to work from, but we needed tip height again.

 

[TLHamel]

Nice job Roger. Great photos!

 

[scott_baker]

Hello Treebuzzers!

The test was made with a Fakopp "Arborsonic" tomograph.

I have used the Picus tool as well as the Arbortom. Tree Solutions went with the Fakopp tool which is a great field tool.

The company is from Hungary and we have enjoyed working with them. They have been in the timber testing tool biz for years.

The tree was a fun one to look at and might have been a candidate for crown work and keep it a while....but mansion building near has exposed the tree to the storm winds here. I suspect that the shell cracked during the 12-14/15-06 "Hanukkah Eve Windstorm". This part of Mercer Island was totally hammered that night.

Here is an image from the test near where Rogers felling cut was made.

Also of interest the owner is leaving the log as a nurse log! Ecology first!

 

[easyphloem]

Great images Roger! Thanks Scott for attachment too.

SZ

 

[SuperK]

Great photos! What kind of tree is the orange one? You might of said it but i didnt see it.

Great job.

Thanks.

 

[trees4ever]

[ QUOTE ]
What kind of tree is the orange one?

[/ QUOTE ]


Looks like a Japanese maple of the Linearilobum group -which have those long finger-like leaf lobes.

Acer palmatum 'Shino buga oka' ,in particular, turns that beautiful yellow-orange tints with a slight cascading effect.
Very striking!


-Diane

 

[Frax]

Now this is arboriculture! Thank you.

 

[SuperK]

Thanks Diane!