Redwoods & Forest: May 2010

[mdvaden]

Douglas Fir

Lately, it's been in mind whether Douglas fir may have had more potential to rise above 400 feet than the redwoods.

Redwoods should be able to reach 400' unless drought causes the tops to die out. And for that reason, like the mid-1970s, I'm wondering if redwoods have actually breached the 400' mark. If they have, maybe not by much.

 

[Gerald_Beranek]

Re: Douglas Fir

the tallest fir I ever measured was 287. As far as reaching or breaking the 400 foot mark I'm sure that it has been done by a redwood. Montgomery woods holds a lot of potential to having one of the trees in the grove reach that mark. Because so many of the trees are young and have vigorous tops. and quite a few in the grove are in the 350 range already.

Yeah, it will happen.

 

[mdvaden]

Re: Douglas Fir

[ QUOTE ]
the tallest fir I ever measured was 287. As far as reaching or breaking the 400 foot mark I'm sure that it has been done by a redwood. Montgomery woods holds a lot of potential to having one of the trees in the grove reach that mark. Because so many of the trees are young and have vigorous tops. and quite a few in the grove are in the 350 range already.

Yeah, it will happen.

[/ QUOTE ]

The Douglas firs still have plenty to catch up now. One of the tallest in California is in Prairie Creek, at 314 tall. And Oregon's tallest is in Coos County at 327' - previously 329'.

I've been reading about a Mineral Tree D. fir which was supposed to be 393' tall.

Whether the Eucalyptus were ever really in the 400' or higher range has me sratching my head. They are amazingly fast growing. But they seem so fragile at old age, its hard to imagine them not crumbling and snapping based on how bad the big ones break up these days.

 

[Gerald_Beranek]

Re: Douglas Fir

Height is an overrated feature of a tree in my book. There are many other trees out there that are much more grand than those which are just a few feet taller.

 

[mdvaden]

Re: Douglas Fir

[ QUOTE ]
Height is an overrated feature of a tree in my book. There are many other trees out there that are much more grand than those which are just a few feet taller.

[/ QUOTE ]

The gnarly ones seem to capture my attention longer. Like the corkscrew redwood, or ones fallen over streams that have trunks sprouting in a line.

Have you ever been to the Samoa Cookhouse in Eureka?

Samoa Cookhouse Website - Eureka, CA

I just read about it in a brochure from the Orick redwoods visitor center, and it sounds interesting.

 

[Gerald_Beranek]

Re: Douglas Fir

Figured I bump this tread with a note worthy tree I found just off the Howland Hill road. There's a big flat near the Boy Scout Trail that I have yet to walk through in its entirety. Pretty brushy and no established trails through it. This tree, amongst many runner-ups in the flat, was near the road.

I'll make it back there, probably this labor day weekend, to see what else might be found on the flat.

 

[mdvaden]

Re: Douglas Fir

Very nice.

I'll catch up on this in a few days.

The other guy (not Chris) who was going to assist this coming weekend, got smacked by a big limb or small redwood. At his own place I think. No broken bones I hear - he's okay. But scratched and likey bruised. ..... So I'm zipping down tomorrow afternoon again.

Stout Grove and Howland Hill Road were shut off and locked today, by the way. Grading to occur like the next week or so.

 

[Gerald_Beranek]

Re: Douglas Fir

Yeah the road was pot holed and no doubt some people would say it needed grading, but I think it was is perfect shape to make everybody slow down and drive safer. And it just keeps the dust down too.

 

[mdvaden]

Re: Douglas Fir

Here's one I like at Prairie Creek trail about 15 minutes north of the visitor center. It's up the slope where the logs are tunneled-out.

It's about 20.5' dbh, and I don't think the trunk is less than 10' to 11' thick at any point below like 180 feet. 93 meters tall.

 

[mdvaden]

Re: Douglas Fir

That view was south looking north. Here's with the camera up the hill closer looking southward. I'm at the base.

 

[mdvaden]

Re: Douglas Fir

Gerald ...

Ever been up Redwood Creek about 2 miles upstream of Emerald Ridge Trail?

It's hard to describe, but rather amazing. Sort of like the best of the Smith River crossed with the Avenue of Giant Boulders on the Rogue River.

First time I've ever seen that area up there.

 

[mdvaden]

Redwood Creek

It's sort of like a natural version of an Olympic size swimming pool with slow current (July)

 

[mdvaden]

Re: Douglas Fir

[ QUOTE ]
Figured I bump this tread with a note worthy tree I found just off the Howland Hill road. There's a big flat near the Boy Scout Trail that I have yet to walk through in its entirety. Pretty brushy and no established trails through it. This tree, amongst many runner-ups in the flat, was near the road.

I'll make it back there, probably this labor day weekend, to see what else might be found on the flat.

[/ QUOTE ]

Kick-start - lol

Reviving several redwood topics, hopefully for some small inspiration. If a few extra of you "buzzers" head to the coast redwoods this year, that much more chance to cross paths.[/b]

So ready to get to the redwoods, I can almost taste it.

Going to do the next visit on dry days for certain, to get at least one short bushwhack in.

Been a while since G. B. posted redwood pics. Working on book maybe?

 

[RopeShield]

Re: Douglas Fir

Thanks gentleman for the pics.
Haven't made it west of Manitoba.
Do not know what is holding me back but by the pics if I visited I to would love to call it home.

Thanks

 

[mdvaden]

Re: Douglas Fir

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks gentleman for the pics.
Haven't made it west of Manitoba.
Do not know what is holding me back but by the pics if I visited I to would love to call it home.

Thanks

[/ QUOTE ]

I've been in Winnepeg, Manitoba 3 times, consecutively, as a stepstone to go to Kenora, Ontario. 3 summer vacations in a row with my mother, staying at my grandmother's.

It is a long trek from this coast to that area. We took a train and bus each time, going first up to Vancouver, B.C., then eastward. Have not been out your way since the 70s.

 

[Gerald_Beranek]

Re: Douglas Fir

Here's a couple I captured last week at the Avenue of the Giants. The leaner was a real surprise. Because it was a new tree to me. I had been by it dozens of times before and never seen it. I guess the light was just right for it to stand out. Anyway I was pleased with the find. Boy I had a heck of a time trying to get these pictures to load.

 

[Gerald_Beranek]

Re: Douglas Fir

Mario, that big tree uphill of the tunnel trees is a real dandy. I caught it in some good light a few months ago. yeah it's got to be close to 20. Not too shabby for a hillside tree.

 

[mdvaden]

Re: Douglas Fir

[ QUOTE ]
Mario, that big tree uphill of the tunnel trees is a real dandy. I caught it in some good light a few months ago. yeah it's got to be close to 20. Not too shabby for a hillside tree.

[/ QUOTE ]

I had to fight like cats & dogs last night to attach a some pics too. Did it by the book, but it went haywire. I found it was easier to delete and try again, than just select again and let it replace.

What surprised me about the big boy above the tunnel logs, was how streamlined the trunk is for such a big tree.

The big leaner you photographed ... is that on the north side of Bull Creek? Or other area? Huge park, and I've just begun to put a dent in exploring there.

Last year, I met some people from China, near the redwood that has the big dangle. Since some trees have names, should have told them it's name was 'Hung Lo"

 

[Gerald_Beranek]

Re: Douglas Fir

That leaner is just south of the "Federation of Womens Club Grove." The old highway takes a sharp turn to the east, Park at the Dungan Grove pull out. There about 150 yards directly across the road you'll find it.

It's putting on a lot of support wood right now. Indicating to me that the lean is progressing. Could be a potential wind fall in the near future.

 

[Gerald_Beranek]

Re: Douglas Fir

Here's a windfall I found last weekend between Calf and Cow Creek. A whopper. It's been down for about 4 years it appears. Damn shame I miss capturing it before it fell. Still quite remarkable even laying down.