Pearson's Falls, Saluda NC    Will Blozan
   Sep 20, 2007 19:59 PDT 
ENTS,

My company was contracted to treat the hemlocks at Pearson's Falls, a
wonderful botanical preserve near Saluda, NC. I wanted to follow up on a
post a few months back by James Parton about a large beech that fell there
and gather some other tree heights to give an "ENTS" perspective of the
forest. Due to a miscalculation in the amount of chemical I needed to
complete the job, a 1.5 hour delay while more chemical was being purchased
allowed for some concentrated measuring.

Here is the history of the property:

http://www.pearsonsfalls.com/

During my first visit to the property a triple-stemmed white oak kept
catching my eye. I commented on it, and estimated it would easily reach
120'. A solid laser shot revealed it to be substantially taller: 132.1'.
This tree was directly adjacent to the parking lot. I have never parked
under a 130' white oak before! Nice. I took notice of the hickories also
growing near the parking lot. They proved quite respectable as well,
reaching over 120'. I then went up the trail to the falls. I only measured
trees along the trail due to the steepness and concern for the rare species
protected on the site. However, I was not disappointed considering the young
age of the forest. I overheard the resident caretaker indicating the site
was never logged but I am not convinced of that. Most trees I saw were young
in character but some older trees certainly were scattered about. I suspect
the site was selectively cut along the creek area I was surveying. The
slopes above the creek could very well have never been logged.

Anyway, in the short time I had I was able to measure 19 tall-looking trees
of 13 species. I also measured the fallen beech mentioned by James Parton
back in August:

-------------------------------------

"Ents,

Has anyone out there ever heard of an American Beech reaching 200 feet
in height? While visiting Pearson's Falls outside of Saluda N.C. about 6
weeks ago, I talked to one of the employees who works there. She told me
that a huge beech had fallen there back during the spring and that it
had been estimated at 200 feet tall. She said it had been put in the
local paper and may have been in the news. I know that there are some
large old trees in the forest around there. The land has been owned by
the Tryon Garden Club since 1931 & has been protected since then. It's
only access point that I know of is the short Pearson's Falls Trail,
though the Palmetto trail is close by. I found the stump of the huge
beech which had rotted out at the center & is about 3 feet in diameter.
Another large beech is located nearby & is over 100 feet tall but well
under 200 feet. Judging by the fall damage I believe the tree, though
tall was well under 200 feet, probably in the 120 to 140 foot range. I
tried to find a record of it being publicized, using the Internet but
have found nothing. Has anyone else found anything on the Pearson's
Falls Beech?

James Parton"

-----------------------------------------

As expected, this debris from the tree-still intact- measured not 200' but a
mere 103' feet in length. The beech immediately adjacent to the fallen giant
was 103.1 feet tall. The tallest tree I could find was a respectable
but-not-a-beech tuliptree at 143.1 feet. A 200 feet beech? Not at Pearson's
Falls. In fact, that 103' beech was the TALLEST I could find along the trail
(the fallen "200 foot" tree fell across the trail). Did anyone think to
simply measure the fallen trunk? Standing trees are intimidating enough to
measure by a novice- but a fallen tree? Simple, easy, definitive; end of
story.

IMG_1859a.JPG (68756 bytes)

I was able to come up with a preliminary Rucker Index of 124.5 for the site;
quite low for rich, southern Appalachian site. I think I got it nailed down
fairly well and don't expect significantly taller trees to be found due to
the topography of the site.


132' White Oak at Pearson's Falls, NC		 Tuliptree        143.1'

Pignut           136.9'

White oak      132.1'

Biltmore ash   126.6'

E. hemlock     122.3'

Cucumbertree 121.7'

Black oak      121.4'

N. red oak     117.6'

Bitternut        115.3'

W. basswood 107.6'



Other trees:

Slippery elm   91.1'

Pignut           127.1'

E. hemlock     115.6'

Biltmore ash   112.9'

          "        114.1'

Sugar maple 102'

A. beech        100.3'

          "        103.1'

Diameters were not impressive due to the young age of most trees.

Will Blozan

President, Eastern Native Tree Society
President, Appalachian Arborists, Inc.
RE: Pearson's Falls, Saluda NC   James Parton
  Sep 20, 2007 21:06 PDT 

Will,

Very good, mystery solved! My guesses were also over by at least 17
feet. Theirs was very off by nearly 100 feet! I would love to have one
of those lazers and learn how to use it. If it takes much math, I got a
calculator! ( Laughing ). How much does one cost? I take it that it is a
handheld device, something like the lazer pyrometers we use at work,
except it uses the lazer to measure height/distance instead of heat. How
much does one cost?

Hey, you have a really cool job! Much better than a General Electric
Diecaster!

James P.
RE: Pearson's Falls, Saluda NC   Joshua Kelly
  Sep 22, 2007 14:32 PDT 

Will,

My impression of Pearson's Falls (from 05'), was that the area around the
parking lot had been totally altered, and that many of the sugar maples and
beeches up the trail seemed old. I don't remember if there were lots of
young poplar along the creek or not. The history of the site is pretty
interesting (saved from logging by a Garden Club circa 1930), and I'd like
to know more.

Josh
RE: Pearson's Falls, Saluda NC   Will Blozan
  Sep 23, 2007 10:22 PDT 

Josh,

I suspect it was saved from another wave of logging, and the relic big trees
are still there today.

Will