Pike Knob, Pendleton County,  WV  
  

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TOPIC: A visit to Pike Knob, Pendleton County West Virginia
http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees/browse_thread/thread/02553c40cf0ae664?hl=en
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== 1 of 6 ==
Date: Thurs, Oct 16 2008 10:45 am
From: turner


ENTS:
Recently I spent a day on North Fork Mountain at Pike Knob. This site
is well know for supposedly having the southern most stand of Red
Pine. Pike Knob is just one of many knobs along North Fork Mountain
which stretches 30 plus miles from near Cabins, WV southwestward
toward Snowy Mountain near Cherry Grove. It also is the divides the
drainages of the South Branch of the Potomac River from its North
Fork. US 33 betwwen Franklin and Judy Gap is the only highway that
crosses the Mountain. The Northern end of the Mountain is consistently
above 3,000 feet while the southern end has many areas above 4,000
feet and maxing out at Kile Knob at 4,588 feet. Wiki info can be
found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Fork_Mountain and the link
to the nature conservacy site gives very good directions how to get
there. Pike knob was once the site of a fire tower. From the east side
of the mountain one can drive to about 3,000 feet elevation and park
(limited). It an easy hike up the abandoned turnpike road to the
saddle while pulling about 700 feet elevation gain. I found the WV
champion Black Cherry just to the left of the road before it headed
down the other side and promptly measured it .

175" CBH    76' Ht.   79' ACS or a total of 270 Big Tree Points.

 The tree had not been
remeasured since 1976 but alas it is a fused multi -stem tree. Oh Well
A spindley tree nearby caught my eye and it was a Hophornbeam trying
for sunlight.

23" CBH    56' HT   16' ACS or a total of 83 Big Tree Points

According to the Map I had I was on USFS property but saw no marker
whatsoever. Continuing on to Pike Knob required another 500' elevation
gain and entering the Nature Conservacy Preserve which was marked.
Approaching the top Red Pine was very much present with alot of
reproduction in disturbed areas and the more mature trees looking
vigourous. I measured 6 Red Pines With the biggest one being:

60" CBH      59' HT

I did not realize it at the time but apparently the USFS has
identified and set aside ten acres as Old Growth Red Pine. When I go
back I will check in as to exactly where it is because i did not see
anything that hinted at old trees. However this is based and
absolutely no experience with Red Pin except in plantations. Pike
knob (as is all of North Fork Mountain) is very dry (it is in the rain
shadow of slightly higher mountains to the west) and has been swept by
fire numerous times and has probably been heaily grazed in the not to
distant past. A Chestnut Oak stuump near the top had 80+ rings with a
diameter of 10" inside the bark. Some of the 2-3' diameter knarly and
stunted ones may truly be old growth.
This stand has been used in some genetic studies to which I have lost
the link but will post if I can find it.
The hike up despite the elevation gain is pretty easy and you are
rewarded with great views especially to the West with 3,000 foot
elevation difference to the valley floor.
TS

http://www.thenatureconservancy.com/wherewework/northamerica/states/westvirginia/preserves/art1211.html 

== 2 of 6 ==
Date: Thurs, Oct 16 2008 12:33 pm
From: "Edward Frank"


Turner,

Thanks for the report. I have not seen Red Pine myself except for those left from plantations maybe 70 years old. (Maybe before I knew what they were.) Do you have a digital camera? If you go back, it would be nice to get some photos. Here is one link to an article that talks some about Red Pine Genetics in WV:

http://www.amjbot.org/cgi/content/full/92/5/833 

Ed


== 3 of 6 ==
Date: Thurs, Oct 16 2008 4:42 pm
From: turner


Ed: Yes that is the article/link concerning genetics of various Red
Pine stands. Thanks. I found it very interesting. When I go back I
will take my photographer/wife for pictures.

== 4 of 6 ==
Date: Thurs, Oct 16 2008 5:06 pm
From: "Darian Copiz"


Turner (is that right?),
I went up to Pike Knob this past June. Too bad I missed the black cherry.
I had heard about it, but didn't know it was so close to the trail. I agree
that many of the pines don't look that old, although some of them around the
fire tower foundation have quite a bit of lichen on them and are a bit more
gnarly. For anyone else who visits the site, make sure you go just a little
north on the ridgeline (and down) where you come to an open meadow (Nelson
Sods) with open views all around. Unfortunately I got caught in a downpour
and didn't end up spending much time there.

Darian

== 5 of 6 ==
Date: Thurs, Oct 16 2008 5:43 pm
From: "Edward Frank"


Turner, Darian,

I would be interested in finding out about the status of the red pine stands there in West Virginia. This website: http://www.ancientforest.org/flb14.html  says that there aren't any old-growth stands in West Virginia - they are listed as extirpated.  There are red pine, but no old-growth.

This site shows some an example of an old red pine: http://www.ottertooth.com/Temagami/Sites/chini5 .htm in Ontario.

Ed Frank