| MTSF,
Clark Ridge Area |
John
Eichholz |
| Mar
19, 2004 06:51 PST |
Bob, others:
I guess I was over there when you were over here. I went to MTSF
Clark
ridge area yesterday to try and confirm the new BC above 120',
and the
SM at 129' I am happy to report success on both. Actually, the
SM
remeasured to 129.7, and even to 132 except I think that was a
clinometer glitch. I shot carefully the first time to 41-42 yds.
clickover, then for the life of me from the same spot (as
evidenced by
my impression in the snow) after setting the pole I got 40-41
yds.
There was a light snow falling, and a recent 6"-12" on
the ground. I
used a pole for proper base elevation on these heights. The
range
finder seemed quite stable, except for the SM glitch. As most of
these
shots required peering through a small hole in the canopy, I am
glad for
any field time I can get before leaf-out. I have photographed a
few of
these crown shots of top trees and if I can get some scanner
time I will
post them as a curiosity.
I also started combing the area for bitternut hickory, as I see
quite a
few there with a wide range of ages. I found a beautiful, 5.7'
cbh with
a straight, columnar trunk rising 2/3 the way to the crown, to
121' h.,
and a couple pole type. The skinniest was 110' tall and 2.9'cbh,
for a
h/d ratio of 119. The list follows (Bob -- separate detail to
you off
list).
species height CBH h/d ratio
Bitternut Hickory 109.97 2.9 119.13 h/d
Bitternut Hickory 113.47 3.7
Bitternut Hickory 106.33 3 111.35 h/d
Bitternut Hickory 121.35 5.3
Black Cherry 120.71 4.2 this is the reconfirm height. The BC-
recap
list had 117.25'
Black Cherry 101.00 3.2
Sugar Maple 123.43 8.6
Sugar Maple 129.10 7.7 could be 129.7'
Sugar Maple 123.42 9.5
Sugar Maple 113.48 7.3
This area (less than 5 acres) continues to draw me back. Next to
the
hickories stands a 135' white ash, the tall black cherries, the
tallest
american elm in the forest at 115'+, and the 129' sugar maple.
Everything that grows there does well. The surrounding Clark
ridge
probably still holds many surprises.
John |
|