BIG RED OAK

[KentuckySawyer]

We worked on this tree a couple days ago. It was the nicest tree I've been in for a long time. Maybe the best yet.

Chasing deadwood all day long. It was great.

Sorry Rich

 

[KentuckySawyer]

There are three climbers in this tree. Can you find all of them?

 

[KentuckySawyer]

Here I am getting up in the canopy.

 

[KentuckySawyer]

A nice shot of RogerM doing some "Limbwalking."

 

[KentuckySawyer]

The view from my side of the tree...

 

[Kevin]

That is a nice tree!

 

[Phil]

someone is sporting the BII...its hard to get a full grasp on the shear size of the tree until you look at the pic of your accent...that tree is bigger than any i have ever climbed...any dimensions for us? Height...spread? thats a tree you want to make sure you got everything on the first run...i hate the time i get down after hours of climbing and i look up and go...sh&t i missed a branch. or am i the only one who has ever had that happen? beautiflu tree

 

[RogerM]

We had a ton of fun in that one. The wind chill was 22 that day. Two days before it was near 80. We wrapped a piece of rope around the base and tied a knot in it. Monday we'll measure the length of it and divide by 3.14 to get a diameter. Its a good one. And no, your not the only one to "miss" a branch. After lunch I used my Pantin to get back up, but Cory Jumped back up there via footlock.

 

[SCOTTYNC]

Wish I could say I never missed nothing. Nice job guy's. Scotty

 

[trees4est]

Hey, that's awesome. Do you know if that's a shumard oak?

 

[KentuckySawyer]

I think it was a Southern Red Oak, but couldn't be 100% sure. I measured that rope today. The circumfrence is 19', so does that means the diameter is 72" right?

I was tied in at about 70-75' and there was maybe 10-15' more above me. The overall spread was probably about the same if not a bit more.

A picture of Jeff by the tree...

 

[rich_h]

[ QUOTE ]
grasp .. the shear size .. of your accent..

[/ QUOTE ]

hmm must be talking about Roger

plenty of liberty taken on the quote, sorry.

Cory, needless to say I am completely and totally jealous of that climb with that caliber of crew. Luckily I was able to drown my sorrows in lbs of fish... Great pics, keep them coming.

 

[KentuckySawyer]

Here I'm going out over the house to deadwood and raise these low limbs for clearance.

Hopefully we'll get to climb this tree again soon. It has two old cables that are supporting the LARGE limbs extending over the house, but they're pretty rusted and not really far enough out for proper leverage. We suggested new cables with through bolt hardware.

I want to install some ligntning protection in that old soul.

 

[KentuckySawyer]

Here's a closeup of one of the lower cable ends.


Tight as a banjo string!

 

[guymayor]

[ QUOTE ]
We suggested new cables with through bolt hardware.

I want to install some ligntning protection in that old soul.

[/ QUOTE ]HOw bad is the fork that the cable supports? Would you cut off the old cable to allow a little natural movement after you install the new one(s)? That's got to be a nervous moment.

Yeah it would be good to protect it from lightning. Here's the quote sheet for materials: http://www.ipclp.com/html/aud_trees_quote.html

How's the lower trunk look? Any soft spots between the buttresses, any black streaks?

 

[KentuckySawyer]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
We suggested new cables with through bolt hardware.

I want to install some ligntning protection in that old soul.

[/ QUOTE ]HOw bad is the fork that the cable supports? Would you cut off the old cable to allow a little natural movement after you install the new one(s)? That's got to be a nervous moment.

Yeah it would be good to protect it from lightning. Here's the quote sheet for materials: http://www.ipclp.com/html/aud_trees_quote.html

How's the lower trunk look? Any soft spots between the buttresses, any black streaks?

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks a ton for the link on Lightning Protection, Guy.

I would probably leave the old cables in place just for the extra support. These limbs are massive and canteleverd far out over the house. The forks aren't included, but there are small areas of decay in those areas. One limb has a spot of exposed dead tissue on the underside. See picture.

The arrows indicate limbs that need bracing.

 

[Roger_Barnett]

Awesome tree, great job, and pics. Average diameter is 72.6 inches.

Did you mean to say "brace"? That would take some drill bit to get through that entire trunk...

 

[KentuckySawyer]

[ QUOTE ]

Did you mean to say "brace"? That would take some drill bit to get through that entire trunk...

[/ QUOTE ]

I didn't mean a bracing rod. I meant bracing as a general need for support, not really the specific method of support.

I should have said cables.

 

[guymayor]

The dead patch on that second one is curious. Wonder what caused it?

Not a good angle on that lower one. I guess one reason for removing the old cable if it is so tight is to allow normal reinforcing tissue growth in response to movement. Is this a case where an untended cable becomes a "crutch", interfering with the tree's own support strategies?

How's the lower trunk look? Any soft spots between the buttresses, any black streaks? Any holes?

 

[KentuckySawyer]

[ QUOTE ]

How's the lower trunk look? Any soft spots between the buttresses, any black streaks? Any holes?

[/ QUOTE ]

The lower trunk looked good. I didn't notice any streaks or holes, and to be honest, I didn't thoroughly examine the buttress. Overall, the tree seemed in excellent health for its age/size.

How would you go about cutting that cable? Would you install the new cable first? Or secure the lead with bullrope(s?) then slowly release tension? Then intall the new cable?