McConnells Mill State Park, PA    Anthony Kelly    Jan 25, 2006 19:53 PST  ENTS, I made a post Dec 2, 2005 concerning an old-growth area I'd found in McConnells Mill State Park in Western Pennsylvania near the town of Portersville. The park contains the very scenic, steep-sided Slippery Rock Creek Gorge in and around which are scattered numerous stands of old-growth. In that Dec 2 posting, my first to the ENTS list, I listed girth measurements for a number of trees, but no heights. At the time I had neither a laser rangefinder nor a clinometer. In mid-December I purchased a Nikon Monarch 800 laser rangefinder and a Suunto clinometer. I spent the most of my free time over the Christmas/New Year's week practicing using both and studying Will Blozan's "Tree Measuring Guidelines of the Eastern Native Tree Society." By Saturday, January 7th I felt confident enough to take my laser and clinometer to McConnells Mill to get height measurements on some of the trees I'd found on my many earlier visits. I went back the next day Sunday, January 8th and again this past Sunday, January 22. I mostly measured trees that I remembered as being particularly tall, most of them tulip poplars. There are still plenty other tall trees there that I haven't got to yet. Red Oak       13'9" 103.5'   (Big one from my pictures) Red Oak       12'2"    112.9' Tulip Poplar 10'11"    148.3' (146.1') Tulip Poplar 6'3"      138.6' Tulip Poplar n/a       137.8' Tulip Poplar 9'8"      133.9' Tulip Poplar 10'10"    130.9' Tulip Poplar 9'8"      129.6' Tulip Poplar 6'9"      127.5' Tulip Poplar 9'8"      125.5' Tulip Poplar n/a       125.1' Tulip Poplar n/a       122.6' Tulip Poplar 10'0"     121.7' Tulip Poplar 9'5"      113.3' Tulip Poplar 9'6"      108.5' (snag) White Oak     11'1"     99.7' White Oak     11'6"     95.1' White Oak     11'4"     91.4' The three tallest tulips I didn't get to until darkness was fast setting in. Considering their great height I would have prefered to take several measurements of each. They are about a mile's walk through the woods from where I parked, so I only had time to make a single measurement of all but the tallest one. That tree I measured twice. First getting 146.1', then 148.3'. The two measurements were done from different positions and probably off of different branches. Due to the haste in which I had to measure the three trees, consider these height numbers to be tentative. I should qualify all of the above measurements by saying that I am still a beginner with a number of questions regarding the finer points of tree measuring technique. I also have to say that my laser is as yet uncalibrated. (I have been scrupulous, though, about only taking readings at clickover points.) The above said, however, barring some significant problem with my laser, I feel confident that these height measurements represent at least fairly good "ballpark" figures. I have to thank Dale Luthringer for answering many of my measuring questions through a number of emails that we've exchanged. He's given me reassurance on a number points. I will be returning to McConnells Mill this coming Saturday, January 22 with Ed Frank and Carl Harting. I look forward to remeasuring some of these trees with them. It will be a chance to check the accuracy of my previous measurements and sharpen my measuring skills. Also, there is a tall cucumbertree not on the above list whose I height I'd like them to verify before I post it. The trip will also be a chance to show some other ENTS people this amazing place. I look forward to posting the results of our trip. Anthony Kelly   Home