Big Tree Climbers Needed

[Guy Meilleur]

This is an ad seeking measurers and climbers of Big Trees. American Forests will be listing the updated Big Tree Registry soon, and the effort needs the involvement of climbers who can verify clinometer measurements. I went up a live oak last weekend that was said to be 85' tall, and dropped a tape measure from the tip. It read 64'7".

Similar overstatements are not uncommon, and we want to get the real story. Serious measurers will want to learn to use a laser rangefinder; adventurous climbers may want to get involved by climbing to the tips. If you are willing to help verify the nominated trees in your state, please contact :Eye: the person on this list:

http://www.americanforests.org/resources/bigtrees/coordinators.php

More info on big tree hunting and measuring at:

http://www.uark.edu/misc/ents/ and

http://www.arthurleej.com/a-peninsulatrees.html

If you get involved, you can apply your talents toward a great campaign. Excellent PR for the business that donates your time, too.

 

[ORclimber]

I e-mailed my rep, and it came back undeliverable . Hate it when that happens.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

WDNR has a registry they are trying to rebuild.

A buddy of mine, Sean Gere, is doing a number of remeasures and finding that a lot of those that have no damamge are shorter then they were 10-15 years ago.

Some people seem to be too eager to get their names in the registry

 

[dbeck]

so you are saying people made gross guesstimates 10 - 15 yrs ago? Out of curiosity, where does the funding come from for these registries?

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Here in WI, it is your and my tax dollars. to maintain the database. The feildwork is all vollenteer duty.

Seen said there are a couple champs there in Baraboo such as the Plantanus occidantalus "LOCATED 200 FT E OF JCT OF ASH AND 8TH AVE.ON S SIDE OF STREET"

you can download the 2001 udate at http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/forestry/uf/champion/treelists.htm in either Excell or Access formats.

lokks like there are almost 40 trees listed in Sauk County.

 

[NickfromWI]

Gopher and I measured what may be the largest honey locust in WI....it's definately number 2 at least. It's right in Ripon! Go figure. You should see the spread on that thing!

I like measuring trees. It'd be a fun job. I can look at the list of champion trees (available at the WI-DNR website) for hours. I've hunted down many of the trees to find out they are no longer there

I still need to go to Madison to check out what is supposedly the largest honey locust in the state. It was measured like in the 60's..so either it is gargantuan, or dead.

love
nick

 

[TreeJunkie]

What is said to be the largest honey locust in wi? How bout your largest tree in NJ??

 

[NickfromWI]

I'll wait for Gopher to reply to this one. He's got the paperwork on it. I think it wasn't super tall...maybe only 80-85 ft, but the spread on this thing...and the trunk...WOW!!!

In WI and many other states they use a formula that takes into account DBH, height, and crown spread to give "points" to a champion tree nominee.

So the Ripon tree is an easy number two. The current number one is in Madison somewhere.

 

[Guy Meilleur]

Originally posted by NickfromWI
I've hunted down many of the trees to find out they are no longer there

This is the case elsewhere too. The fieldwork, being volunteer, isn't followed up on very often. I remeasured a tree that hadn't been done in twenty years+. The chances of other nominees moving up is often good. That's where climbers come in too-if a tape drop finds a current champ is overmeasured, #2 can move up.
A crew is going up a 167' tuliptree Wednesday in the Smokies to measure total volume, and confirm height.

Clinometers give gross guesstimates if the user is a rookie or biased or the terrain is rough. Laser rangefinders can give it to the inches, even in mountains. Worth the $180 if you are serious about it--has surveying uses too.
The live oak done last weekend was measured in total volume--Bob Van Pelt's work doing this on trees all over the world is truly amazing. There's an effort to do all trees by total volume instead of the current points system but it's not an easy task.

JPS, NC's list is being redone too--$86,000 of fed money, and they aren't even using rangefinders, saying they're content with 3-5% error. How much is WI funded?

OR and FL's contacts may have changed email addresses, or state coordinators. You can search for the individual or if that doesn't work, contact your state's urban forestry extension office.

To find out more http://www.americanforests.org/resources/bigtrees/faq.php

 

[Curtis James]

So how do I learn to properly measure? I emailed the guy in my state. I have family up in Wisconsin, one will be getting married soon.I'll have to try and fit in some tall climbs while I'm up there. I guess I'll get that list also. This is exciting.

 

[xtremetrees]

Heres the link for Georgia:
http://www.gfc.state.ga.us/Services/RuralForestry/GeorgiasChampionTrees.cfm

Our tallest pine is 179 feet tall it is a eastern white pine, Pinus strobus L.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

I emailed Ridout at WDNR, at least I think it was his addy. Not responce yet.

They have a certification program for people doing the mesurments to ensure it's done better.

I think they are having each new entry verified now.

 

[treeslayer]

starting to sound interesting. Todd, how about it? we can cover a lot of VA.

 

[Toddppm]

Maybe when things slow a little in late spring/early summer?
Does sound neat, there's a record Copper Beech right here in Fairfax for one that I know of.

 

[treeslayer]

I don't know, my spikes "might" hurt that beech!

I'll get started on contacting them.

 

[xtremetrees]

Dan
Wev've alot of efforts for trees here in Ga.
Leaders in the recreational field are home based here bro.
www.treeclimbing.com
www.treeclimbingusa.com
another i forget the name a female runs the school .
ah, here it is http://www.dancingwithtrees.com/facilitator_course.htm

That gives us 3 recreational tree climbing schools!!!
I think our state of Georgia has more recreational climbing business's than any other state.

It would be awsome if we could all get together show the this great state that we truely care about its trees.

Maybe all sleep on the Island on the coast. Or kayak into the swamps and sleep a few feet above the gators.
ha

 

[Bradley]

There have been some changes at TCI in the past couple of years. Peter Jenkins (the owner) is still active at the school and climbs all over the country. I think Peter has all the tree work he can handle and is more busy than he'd like to be at that. There have been some changes on the administrative end that could effect your e-mails being returned. If you e-mail Abe Winters at Tree Climbing USA I think you'll be guaranteed a return, likewise with Genevieve Summers at Dancing With Trees. Abe and some of his friends regularly climb some old growth Poplars in the mountains and find new trees pretty frequently. If I remember right Genevieve is an srt only climber. Steve.

 

[NickfromWI]

What are the wierd things....

 

[upatree]

Guy,
It was good to meet you. Preliminaries show that Live Oak to have a wood volume of 4,820 cubic ft! This may increase a bit as the data is digested. I'm sure Will, I and others can lend a hand in measuring a few trees. Will is a true dendrophile in my book, along with many others in ENTS (Eastern Native Trees Society).

Curtis,
If I were you I would get in contact with someone at ENTS. I am sure they would be more than happy to help you out. If that doesn't work let me know and I'll get you in contact.

Xtreme,
I gotta see that White Pine! If that is for real I want to check it out.