==============================================================================
TOPIC: Bear Tree
http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees/t/61a3691c45c16af0?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Sat, Nov 15 2008 7:38 am
From: dbhguru@comcast.net


ENTS,

Yesterday I spent part of the day in MTSF walking around with a DCR employee showing him different sites of historical, cultural, or ecological value; groves of stately trees; discussing the statistics of individual trees; and discussing with him what we in FMTSF and ENTS have learned about sites, groves, and individual trees in MTSF. The walk and talk was a gratifying experience for me because although we get sufficient respect from DCR for the work we do, I'm not always sure that what we're learning about the sites, groves, and individual trees in terms of the values they incorporate gets sufficiently absorbed by the local DCR employees who may be asked questions by the public and feel embarrassed when they don't have the answers. To help close this information gap FMTSF will soon rejuvenate a project to develop a series of trail guides for MTSF. It has been an onn again off again project, mostly off. Hopefully, we'll follow through this time. However, it will be up to DCR
to get the brochures reproduced.,We'll do all the design and interpretive work and turn the result over to them. The brochures will be limited to sights along the trail network. There is a need to protect the off trail sites from too much visitation.
One stop we made on yesterdaay's excursion was at the site of the Bear Tree in the Algonquin Grove. The Bear Tree is the single largest tree in the Algonquin Grove. Its dimensions as of yesterday's measurements are:

Girth: 11.0 feet at 4.5 feet above midslope position
Height: 153.5 feet

Looking at the rate of taper on this tree, I believe that F = 0.38 is sufficiently accurate to capture the taper and be used in volume estimates. Using this F value, the estimated trunk volume is 562 cubic feet, slightly less than the Jake Swamp Tree in the Trees of Peace.
In July 2002, the Bear Tree's circumference was measured at 10.4 feet. Its height then was around 151 feet. Using these early measurements in combination with the current ones, I believe the Bear Tree is putting on wood at the whopping rate of 11 cubic feet per season. This seems like a lot, but I'll soon present more data in the FMTSF annual report to DCR that confirms growth rates in this range of other white pines in MTSF. In general, growth rates of the dominant Mohawk pines appears to be in the range of 6 to 12 cubic feet per year.
I do not believe that the above stated rate of increase among pines in the age range of the ones in MTSF is understood to be happening by silviculturists. I could be mistaken about that, but it has been my impression that they believe that the great whites slow down considerably after about 120 years of growth. That is not proving to be the case with the Mohawk pines as well as other stands of pines that I have been monitoring. Are we seeing a bonafide manifestation of climate change?
On a slightly different tack, Andrew and Taylor selected a very worthy tree with which to commune during the recent ENTS rendezvous. I envy them their experience. BTW, the Bear Tree is so named because of a large male black bear that once used the tree as a territorial marker. It was a large animal, maybe 400 pounds. I like to think that a bit of the bear's spirit lingers there in the vicinity of the big tree and that the secluded nature of the place where the pine grows contributes to the remaining imprint. Just so mid-morning ramblings

Bob

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Sat, Nov 15 2008 9:35 am
From: Andrew Joslin


Indeed. My impression from being in the tree was that it was the
tallest and heaviest by volume in the immediate area. The Bear Tree
seems to be in an optimal growing location by its proximity to the
nearby steep slope. The groundwater is practically gushing out at the
base of the slope, and the surrounding ridge is blocking prevailing
winds to further encourage height. Like many older white pines The
Bear Tree has locations in the upper crown where the top was broken
in years past and a new leader took over. The result is side limbs of
impressive girth which only increases the character and quality of
the tree. I hope a bear returns to reclaim it as a preferred scratching post.

The attached photo is a beard of moss hanging off a boulder at the
base of the nearby slope, it's loaded with water like a kitchen mop.
-AJ