new girth records for Cook Forest   Dale J. Luthringer   Sep 22, 2003 12:23 PDT  Bob, I tried to get back into the Indian Springs area on Saturday to try to wrap up the white pine tally study, but I was stopped by a couple of “chatty” hunters. It was a nice talk, and I’m thankful that they did find me. Since I didn’t have enough time to get to my original destination, I thought I’d try a small chunk of woods I hadn’t walked before. It’s not far from Indian Springs, and is in the same general woods as our record height white oak. I only measured a few trees but we found two new park girth records. The day’s tally follows: Species            CBH     Height   Comments Am. beech        9.6        102.1+ Am. beech        10.1      105.1+ Am. beech        9.2        ~100 Am. beech        11.1      110.3    nice beech, new park girth record, no sign of die back, directly on Bridle Trail Black cherry      10.2      123.1+ (not bad, but Cook Forest has better, lost ½ its crown in July microburst) E. hemlock        13.9      116.6    gorgeous single stem, nice gnarl factor, new park girth record Dale RE: new girth records for Cook Forest   Robert Leverett   Sep 22, 2003 13:39 PDT  Dale:    Good job! Both American beech and black cherry grow larger in Cook Forest and western PA in general than in western Massachusetts. Beech reaches equal height in Mass, but not black cherry.    Regional variations continue to be of great interest to me. At this point I have measured 4 hemlocks in Massachusetts to over 130 feet, 2 in Ice Glen, 1 in Little River Gorge, and 1 in MTSF. There may be a few more, but it is crystal clear that they reach greater height development in western PA. What's the reason? I have no idea? The regional variations will keep us busy though for a long time. Thank goodness, we've got Lee to sort it all out.    What about the 2nd 100-foot yellow birch? Still, they're rare as hen's teeth. Bob   Home