Climb of Record Pine + OR Champ + 2nd Sugar Pine

[mdvaden]

Just got back from southern Oregon. Ascending the Giants, as the Oregon Big Tree Registry, drove down to climb two pine trees. One is the world record pine we found last January. They got over 268 feet, within a few inches of Taylor's & Atkin's laser rangefinder measurements.

Tomorrow, the should be climbing, in the same area, the big pine that Michael Taylor nominated as Oregon's biggest Ponderosa pine. Over 250 feet tall.

To really top off the day, Taylor and I left the TV & newspaper news folks and climbers, and did some more exploring. Turns out we found what is the 2nd tallest Sugar Pine, around 253 feet tall. It could possibly tie the Umpqua National Forest Sugar Pine for world's tallest of that species, but for now it's one of only two known over 250 feet.

Below are some photos. I will add more later. In one, Will Koomjian can be seen traversing from another Ponderosa into the 268 foot one.

Edit - 2 news stories published since I posted here. Added them later in the topic, plus here for convenience. Will Koomjian said he's going to add a link to the Medford NBC News affiliate KOBI 5 with video footage, like on 10/18. Probably airing 10/17.

LINK FOR STORY 1
LAND OF THE GIANTS

LINK FOR STORY 2
SURPRISE AMONG THE PINES

 

[mdvaden]

Had a chance to try out my new Canon 60D, and Tokina 11-16mm UWA lens. The shot above was with the 24-105mm L. The 60D is the same camera that Beranek got recently I think. The shot below is the 50mm 1.4 I got a few weeks back.

 

[mdvaden]

Another ... Damien ...

 

[mdvaden]

This is the 24-105. I should post the 11-16 version, where he looks like a speck of sand.

 

[mdvaden]

Will replies later, that his crossing was over 200 feet above the ground level.

With no rain, it was handy for pointing cameras toward the sky.

 

[mdvaden]

Nikon D300 I think.

 

[mdvaden]

The journalist did pretty good getting into the woods considering is limp from a near lethal car wreck many years ago. Paul Fattig with the Mail Tribune of Medford, OR.

 

[Daniel]

Nice photos Mario,
Thanks for sharing

 

[Adkpk]

Good stuff, looking forward to more.

 

[mdvaden]

Closer zoom looking upward. Guess the weather couldn't have been better for this.

 

[mdvaden]

The tallest trees glowed the most in the pre-sunset. About 3 hours of daylight left at this point. Top area, left of the main stem, you may be able to spot a climber as a vertical speck.

 

[Gerald_Beranek]

I was in Grants Pass about 20 years ago looking at some big pondo's in the Rogue River National Forest. There was one tree with a double top. And a plaque by it nominating it as the champ. But that was 20 years ago too.

Here's some pics of late with my 60D. One big pondo we found on the way to Medicine Lake. Lake Helen on Lassen Peak and a redwood on the Nikerson Ranch trail in Jed Smith. On the way home.

 

[mdvaden]

[ QUOTE ]


Here's some pics of late with my 60D. One big pondo we found on the way to Medicine Lake. Lake Helen on Lassen Peak and a redwood on the Nikerson Ranch trail in Jed Smith. On the way home.

[/ QUOTE ]

Check that link. Forum says "broken". Does it to me too a lot lately.

Here's the Ultra Wide 11-16 shot of the traverse. The thing like a tiny bird in the sky is Will.

 

[Gerald_Beranek]

Yeah there's something going on with that broken link. Had a heck of a time uploading those pics.

You familiar with that pondo I mentioned in the RNF, Mario?

 

[mdvaden]

[ QUOTE ]
I was in Grants Pass about 20 years ago looking at some big pondo's in the Rogue River National Forest. There was one tree with a double top. And a plaque by it nominating it as the champ. But that was 20 years ago too.

Here's some pics of late with my 60D. One big pondo we found on the way to Medicine Lake. Lake Helen on Lassen Peak and a redwood on the Nikerson Ranch trail in Jed Smith. On the way home.

[/ QUOTE ]

Am familiar with the pine. I think it's called "Big Pine". We stopped by to see it on our back and forth through that forest looking at various valleys. There seems to be an arrow stuck in it like 150 up.

Nice shot of Nickerson Ranch trail. I almost revisted it last time, but ran short on time. The weather lately is awesome down there.

Here's a Bigleaf maple leaf I stopped to get while waiting for everyone to show up yesterday morning. I drove down at night and power-napped along a turnout next to the Rougue River. Got into the forest like 7am, 5 hours early.

 

[mdvaden]

Hey ... noticed your shirt ... is that a Giant Sequoia shirt ???

Have you seen the new Coast Redwood shirt?

Just bought one last week from the Prairie Creek visitor center. Bet you would look good in black as well as purple.

 

[Gerald_Beranek]

Yeah it's a sequoia. Robert Phillips, Sohner, gave me the shirt some years ago. Beefy T, long lasting

 

[lumberjackson]

that is really cool! I always LOVE your pictures, Mario. and how can you go wrong with the guys from ATG? Great stuff, thanks for sharing

 

[goodaking]

Awesome pics as always Mario! I'm dying to go back out west, hopefully soon. I miss those tall trees.

 

[Gerald_Beranek]

Had some visitors from Norway drop in for a couple of days. So I took them to Montgomery Woods for a little walk through the trees.

Montgomery Giant. I measured the tree in 1981. Was 360 then. 30 years ago. I wonder how much it has grown.