Champion Fir

[Oxman]

Last weekend we did a little climbing at Lake Quinault. This 6 mile long lake is on the border of the 100,000 acre Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest in western Washington (no, not the District of Columbia).

Because the mountains climb from the Pacific coast to 7,000' elevation in about 10-15 miles, they intercept 140 inches of rainfall per year. The 140" is average, some years get 200 inches, or 17 feet of annual precipitation.

We saw the champion Douglas fir, which is 14' dbh. It is surrounded by thick vegetation, which makes it difficult to photograph. It is up Gatton Creek Trail, on the south shore of the lake, about a mile from Lake Quinault Lodge.

Here's a shot of a smaller fir, with the champion tree way off in the distance, to the right. All you can see is the stem.

 

[Oxman]

Here's a close up of that shrimpy fir, with the Gatton Creek Fir in the background. The crown is full height and lush.

 

[Oxman]

Walking down the creek, is a clear area where a couple of the bigger firs took root along the bank. The reason these trees survived the storms to live a thousand years is because the steep hillsides protected them from winds. The reason they got so big in the first place is that the slope of the hill caused fertile soil to wash down off the hill and collect along the creekbank, in a flatter section of the mountain. Wind is the major force around here. Lots of huge trees are lying down.

This attachment is of a smaller tree, maybe 10-12' dbh that is in a clear spot, so some surrounding forest can be seen to add perspective. Another major tree can be seen off in the distance, across the creek.

 

[Oxman]

Here's a gnarly Douglas fir, with huge burls made up of dormant buds. That's Shelley Retchless, landscape designer from Seattle, with me to add perspective.

 

[Oxman]

In the background is the Gatton Creek Fir.

 

[Steve Connally]

Awsome pics. I've always dreamed of a forrest walk in a place like that. We have great woods in VA but not like the west coast!

 

[jamie]

wow, i want one

wood love to see a tree that size....seen some biggies here but not taht big

jamie

 

[tom_otto]

We climbed the burly one a couple years ago. The stand has some big Doug. firs for sure!!!