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ENTS, WNTS, Others;
Monica's and my wonderful new friends Paul and Beverly Dittmer
took us to see two immense cottonwoods on the property adjacent to
Cathy Crum's in Durango. I'm reasonably sure the trees are Fremont
cottonwoods. One is certainly a double and the other is possibly a
double. Statistics for the two trees are:
Tree Girth Height Crown Spread Instrument
Possible single 24.3' 97.0 94.5' TruPulse 200 &
Forestry 550
Double 25.1' 110.5 90.0 est TruPulse 200 & Forestry 550
I have 4 attached images of the two trees. Image #1 shows the
possible single from one side. Attachment #2 shows the same tree
from the opposite side. Attachment #3 shows Monica and Beverly in
from of the possible single for perspective. Attachment #4 shows the
possible single from a 90 degree rotation perspective and from a
greater distance. Attachment #5 shows the double with Monica, Paul,
and Beverly
From these images what do the rest of you see in terms of the
possible single tree being a single or double? On the pith test, the
results are inconclusive, although from the photos, the structure
does look more like a double than when you are actually standing in
front of the tree.
I shot the double using our sine-based procedure to get the 110.5
feet. I originally got 104 feet, but found a higher top farther into
the crown.
After settling on 110.5, I then shot the tree using the old baseline
and clinometer method and got 123.5 feet. The 13-foot error incurred
from the clinometer method is actually not as much as I was
expecting. I explained to Cathy what the difference in the two
methods was.
Anyway, I'd very much appreciate input from those of you with a
keen eye for doubles. Regardless of what the eventual pronouncement
is, both these trees/tree structures are magnificent and well worth
protecting.
Bob
[Edward Frank, July 2, 2009]
Bob,
Very nice tree. You have a better perspective looking it in
person, but looking at the photos the cottonwood looks like a
double.
The yellow lines are a projection straight down thec enter of
each trunk. They do not intersect above groud level. The red line
marks an area where it looks as if the two are abutting and fusing
together. This is best shown in the decayed section in the second
photo. I would call it a double, but that is just my opinion.
I want to point out that I tend to classify things on what I
think is the most likely rather than taking a conservative approach
and calling everything for which there is a doubt a double.
EEd Frank
Continued
at:BR>
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