Tsuga Search progress report
October 2006
Submitted by
Will F. Blozan and Jess D. Riddle
Eastern
Native Tree Society
Photos
by Will Blozan; graphs by Jess Riddle
The
past six months have found us immersed in hemlock woolly adelgid treatments, proposals,
and consultations. The Tsuga Search has continued in
various degrees of focus. With the full canopy of new leaves obscuring
new finds, we focused more on climbing known trees and completing the tree and
shrub plots on previously discovered large and tall trees.
Tree
climbs
Eight
trees have been climbed and measured since the last Tsuga Search report of
February, 2006.
Date Tree Location
March
5th “Caldwell Colossus” Caldwell Fork, NC, GRSM
March
31st “Cheoah
Hemlock” Ammons Branch, NC,
USFS
April
27th “Winding
Stairs Loner” Winding Stairs Br.,
NC, GRSM
May
17th “Woolly
Mammoth” Kalanu Prong, TN,
GRSM
May
18th “Tom’s
Tower” Lowes Creek,
TN, GRSM
July
16th “Jim
Branch Giant” Jim Branch,
NC, GRSM
September
9th “Yonaguska
Hemlock” Winding Stairs Br., NC,
GRSM
September
14th “Rough Fork
Hemlock” Rough Fork, NC, GRSM
Climb data
Tree CBH Girth
100’ Height Volume ft3
Caldwell
Colossus 16’10” 8’4.5” 159.7’ 1385 ft3
Cheoah Hemlock 16’0” 9’3”* 158.0’ 1564 ft3
Winding Stairs
Loner 15’6” 7’4.5” 158.8’ 1180 ft3
Woolly Mammoth 15’1” 8’6” 153.2’ 1262 ft3
Tom’s Tower 14’4” 7’10” 163.7’
971 ft3
Jim Branch
Giant 13’1” 9’2” 166.7’ 1188 ft3
Yonaguska
Hemlock 14’7” 9’6”* 168.9’ 1367 ft3
Rough Fork
Hemlock 14.1” 8’11” 157.7’ 1202 ft3
*Interpolated from combined cross sectional area of multiple
trunks
Vegetation
plots
All
of the above trees have had tree and shrub plots completed around them. The
shorter heights of the adjacent trees confirmed that the target trees are often
in open, emergent canopy positions, even when on a steep slope. The target
trees often tower above the surrounding canopy by 20 feet and at times up to 60
feet. The tallest trees adjacent to a targeted hemlock
occurred around the Tsali Hemlock,
the tallest eastern hemlock ever recorded at 169’10”. Vegetation plots
were also completed around the Tsali Hemlock
which remains the height record holder for the species. Although this tree likely
died from drought in 1999, it remains fairly intact,
and we plan to pull an increment core to attempt to age it.
In the eleven plots with canopy tree plots completed, a total of 19
species were recorded with only eastern hemlock represented in all plots. Mountain
silverbell was in all plots but one- where it grew just beyond the plot edge. Birch
was recorded in all plots, but neither black nor yellow were found in all
plots. Basal area of the trees over 4 inches (10 cm) dbh ranged from 82 ft2
to 266 ft2 per surface acre, not
including the target tree. Shrubs covered 7 to 56 ft2 per acre,
heavily dominated by rhododendron. Only one plot, that of the Yonaguska Hemlock, contained another
hemlock over 1000 ft3 in trunk volume.
The almighty
rhododendron…
Nineteen
species were recorded in the shrub subplots. Shrub basal area ranged from 7 ft2
to 56 ft2 per acre. Rosebay rhododendron occurred in nearly all the
shrub plots. The only site to lack a significant rhododendron component was the
Long Branch Hemlock (although it did
occur sporadically within the plot). In fact, of the 113 shrub sub-sample plots
occurring on land, 92 (81%) contained at least one stem of rhododendron (seven
were in a stream or on rock). In summary, the shrub plots revealed that
rhododendron was ubiquitous (duh…). A total of 1211 shrub stems have been
measured thus far; 841 of them (70%) are Rhododendron
maximum (not including the 35 that were recorded as trees!). Rhododendron
ranged from 0 to 100% of the stems and 0 ft2 to 54 ft2 in
basal area per acre. Interestingly, of the eleven rhododendron trees we have cored,
5 were over 100 years old, the oldest reaching 134. A park height record of 30.7
feet was found in the shade of the Winding Stairs Loner.
Tree
cores
Trees cored ranged in age at BH from a 27 year old yellow birch to
a 371 year old eastern hemlock (which was an understory tree of only 13 inches
diameter). Black birch was the next oldest species at 323+ years with a 292
year old tuliptree- the only other species to exceed 200 years so far. The
black birch may be a new eastern age record for the species when confirmed by
fellow ENTS member and dendrochronologist Dr. Neil Pederson at Eastern Kentucky
University.
All plots had a solid tree at least 192 years old at BH. Core
features and age data indicate fairly large disturbances surrounding the Cheoah and the Caldwell Colossus. These events likely cleared the surrounding
trees and supplied the target tree with the boost of sunlight and canopy
dominance that resulted in the huge trunk volume.
Introducing
the frame mapping technique
The
Cheoah and Yonaguska hemlocks have provided us with new insight into the
morphology of eastern hemlock. These trees, with fused trunk sections, provided
us with the opportunity to apply the “frame mapping” technique described below to
obtain cross-sectional area of distorted trunk sections.
The
Cheoah Hemlock, which grows outside
of the Smokies on USFS land near Highlands, NC, turned out to have set the bar
even higher with regard to how big eastern hemlock can get. This complex tree had
a huge crown with multiple leaders and subordinate reiterations. The main
trunks were easy to measure but the fused sections where they fork posed a challenge.
Wood volume is calculated by measuring the girth at the “ends” of round trunk
sections. The measured sections are selected based on changes in the trunk
shape or profile and the resulting “pieces” added together to calculate the
volume of the entire tree. The fused sections, however, are anything but round
and a direct girth measurement over-estimates the area and subsequently the
volume of the section.
Lacking
high-tech gadgetry like our western Tsuga Search advisor,
Dr. Robert Van Pelt, we resorted to a low-tech but surprisingly functional
system using two, six foot stakes. In this case we used very stiff bean
poles from a garden store. The set-up goes like this:
With two
climbers, each on opposite sides of the tree, an area of fusion is selected to
be measured. A rectangular frame is erected
around the section of truck to be measured.
The poles make up opposite sides of the frame, and lengths of thin rope
pass through holes at either end of the poles to form the other two sides. Shortening
the ropes draws the poles tight against the trunk and clamps the frame in place.
The frame then serves as the basis for an imaginary Cartesian coordinate system
perpendicular to the long axis of the trunk. One pole is chosen to represent
the x-axis, and the origin is chosen such that the y-axis is tangent to the
trunk. Once the origin is fixed, we move along the pole and with a stiff
carpenters tape measure the perpendicular distance from the pole to the edge of
the trunk; thus each point we measure to the trunk is assigned an x-value, the
distance along the pole from the chosen origin, and a y-value, the distance
from the pole to the trunk. Using those coordinates, we can plot the outline of
the trunk and calculate the area using formulas in an Excel™ spreadsheet. We measured
at changes in the trunk profile and to the nearest 1/8th inch. Graphing of the
data illustrates the cross-sectional profile of the fused trunk. See example
below.
Using
this technique we also re-climbed the Yonaguska
Hemlock on Winding Stairs Branch to complete a frame mapping of the fused
codominant leaders. This resulted in the most accurate volume of this dead
giant. To our surprise, the shortcuts taken during the first climb in 1999
significantly overestimated the volume. It no longer reigns as the largest
confirmed eastern hemlock in the Smokies. This title now goes to the Caldwell Colossus.
New
insights into hemlock morphology
It is very clear that a large hemlock has to be a canopy dominant
and quite tall. It likely must also have had a long period of time in an
exposed, low competition or high light canopy environment. The foliar area
clearly is linked with the mass of the tree; a big crown can capture lots of
energy to make lots of wood. Multiple trunks (bifurcations) and large
reiterations may play an important role in the ultimate size of the tree. The
largest known tree, the Cheoah Hemlock, has multiple tops and is far larger than a
comparably sized single-trunked bole such as the Caldwell Colossus. The Yonaguska
Hemlock with its relatively modest diameter has two leaders at 100’ up, but
the combined cross-sectional area is equal to a single stem 9’6” in girth. A
girth this size has never been documented in a single-trunked tree (although
see “Close calls” below…). Essentially, bifurcation of the tops may allow more
branches to be produced with minimal investment in more wood.
Hence, it may be no surprise that the Cheoah Hemlock is the largest known hemlock. Basically, the growth
and environmental conditions are ideal; a very tall, dominant tree with an immense
crown, bifurcated tops, and multiple reiterations in a high rainfall climate = massive tree.
Likewise,
the Jim Branch Giant with its slim 13’1”
girth but extreme height was larger than either of us thought. It simply
tapered so slowly that its modest trunk was still able to rack up lots of
cubes. In fact, of all the climbed trees
having a single trunk at 100’ its 9’2” girth at this
height is the largest we’ve documented. Furthermore, its multiple trunks above
110’ certainly allowed it to broaden its crown and provide the photosynthetic area
needed to amass the wood so high in the tree.
Search
areas
New
searches have been completed on Surry Fork, Buck Fork, Chapman Prong, Eagle
Rocks Prong, and in the vicinity of the Gabes Mountain and Maddron Bald trails.
The immense trees found in 1998 on Buck Fork proved to be elusive and were not
relocated on a scouting trip in late July. This trip did yield a new potential Tennessee
State Champion white ash which is also the tallest known white ash in Tennessee
at 148’. A huge hemlock on Chapman Prong will be revisited with the monocular
in spring 2007. Other than that tree no new hemlocks have been discovered that
merit further measurements or climbs.
Close calls…
A
large hemlock on the Gabes Mountain Trail was visited and measured with the
monocular. Its impressive 16’1” girth was not maintained far up the trunk so
the tree only scaled ~973 ft3. A vigorous tree growing on an unnamed
tributary between Indian Camp Creek and Jones Branch nearly made it into the
“160 Club” with a total height of 156.8’. This young tree had a spire top and
with treatment may continue upward. This tree is the tallest hemlock known from
the Greenbrier District. Two large hemlocks were revisited
on the Middle Prong of the Little Pigeon River and determined to be too
small for the project.
Most
significantly, however, we just missed a giant tree
on Little Bald Branch in Cataloochee. It had fallen, and by “reconstructing”
the broken pieces and measuring the remaining snag it appears that this tree
could have been a new Smokies record. The girth was impressive at 15’10” but
what was so shocking was that the portion of the trunk at ~100 feet up was
10’1” in girth. Assuming a typical taper and extending the CBH to the ground
this portion alone would amass nearly 1300 cubic feet of wood. Above 100 feet
the tree split into multiple tops and it had a massive reiteration below 100
feet that would add more to the total volume. Total
volume could easily have been over 1400 ft3!
Monocular
update
The
climb of the Winding Stairs Loner, Tom’s Tower, Jim Branch Giant, Woolly Mammoth and the Rough Fork Hemlock afforded us the opportunity to better assess the
accuracy of the monocular. Presented below are the monocular data and the climb
data with the percent error indicated. We are still
within the 5% error goal we set out to achieve, assuming the climb data to be the most accurate. We believe much of
the error is due to the limitations of the rangefinder, including difficulties
of determining precise distances to the target and the few measurement points conducive
to a reflective bounce. One of the rangefinders was discovered to read a yard long which would increase the
value obtained and over-estimate the volume (and height). The Woolly Mammoth was measured from a much
greater distance than the other three trees which would reduce the influence of
the extra yard. Tom’s Tower, the Rough Fork Hemlock, and the Jim Branch Giant were measured from only
one side, but the results are nonetheless satisfactory. The Woolly Mammoth and the Winding Stairs Loner were both measured
from two or more sides. Note: the Jim
Branch Giant was measured with a “target quality” scale within the
rangefinder (not specifically designed for diameter estimations) and although
the numbers below indicate no error, the girths obtained do not match those of
the actual climb; we were just lucky!
Tree Monocular
volume Climb volume Diff
Winding Stairs Loner 1228
ft3 1180
ft3 +3.5%
Tom’s Tower 993
ft3 971 ft3 +2.3%
Woolly Mammoth 1270
ft3 1262
ft3 +0.6%
Jim Branch Giant 1188
ft3 1188
ft3 0.0%
Rough Fork Hemlock 1220
ft3 1202 ft3 +1.5%
In response to these errors, we have purchased a new rangefinder,
a Nikon ProStaff 440™
which has so far proven exceptionally accurate. One change in protocol we may
establish in our monocular field methods is using a single baseline measurement
to the base of the tree and a single laser shot distance to the highest portion
of the trunk that is clearly visible. We have been measuring distance to every
portion of the trunk measured which takes more time and likely does not result
in significant gains in accuracy. By using only the two distances we can minimize
errors in the sections in-between and simply interpolate the distance based on
the angle obtained from the clinometer. An added advantage is being able to
measure a portion of the trunk visible to the monocular but not directly measurable
by the laser, as happens when fine branches obscure a
shot to the trunk. Of course, this will only work with trees that are
straight and not forked. See diagram below.
With
this idea in mind we mathematically applied this change in protocol to two trees
we have already measured, one that has not been climbed and another that has
been climbed. The tree that has not been climbed had a suspiciously high volume
based on the monocular data. We suspect (and have since confirmed) that the
laser was erratic and reading long. By applying the procedure above, a much
more realistic volume estimate was obtained since it was based on two relatively
solid measurements that do not compound errors.
We
also re-ran the calculations on the Woolly
Mammoth using the new protocol. The initial measurements were done by
measuring the distance to each measurement point. In the study of the new
protocol we simply used the basal and top measurements and interpolated the
others as in the diagram above. The adjusted monocular estimate was but three
cubic feet less than the climb data.
Volume
modeling examination
A
great deal of time and effort is needed to traverse
the field conditions often encountered in the hemlock forest of the Smokies.
Thus, we have been very interested in minimizing monocular and tree climb
efforts while still gathering accurate results. Fortunately, we are in
possession of a data set that will allow examination of the number of
measurements needed to obtain satisfactory results and minimize time
staring through the monocular or hanging aloft. The Sequoyah Hemlock, climbed in 1998, was measured in increments of 3
feet from the top to the base. The resulting 47 data points can now allow us to
randomly or non-randomly select measured points on the tree and calculate the
volume based on only these selected points. By
comparing results we can determine if additional measurements are more accurate
or if just a few will suffice. Again, we are assuming that the climb data is
the most accurate representation of the actual volume of the tree.
We
devised multiple scenarios based on random or set measurement intervals of nine
feet. For all scenarios we kept the basal measurements consistent as we would in
the field. Results ranged from a minimum of 1162 cubic feet and a maximum of 1219
cubic feet by random selection of grouped intervals. The trials fell within our
goal of 5% or less overall difference from the climb and suggests the more
measurements the better.
Measurement
intervals calculated Climb Difference
Random
1 of 3 min. 1177 ft3 1188
ft3 -0.9%
Random
1 of 3 max. 1201 ft3 1188
ft3 +1.1%
Random
1 of 5 min. 1162 ft3 1188 ft3 -2.2%
Random
1 of 5 max. 1219 ft3 1188
ft3 +2.6%
Since
nine feet is close to what is often measured in the field, we ran some tests by
keeping the nine foot interval but starting it at three or six feet from the top. These data turned out to be surprisingly
different but still within 2.3% of the climb results.
Measurement
intervals calculated Climb Difference
9
feet constant top 1180 ft3 1188 ft3 -0.7%
9
feet constant 3’ from top 1215 ft3 1188 ft3 +2.3%
9
feet constant 6’ from top 1170 ft3 1188 ft3 -1.5%
The trunk profile was rather scalloped when graphed at
three foot intervals (see chart below). One scenario tended to select the inner
points (narrowest) and the other selected the outer, or wider points. Basically, the volume differences were determined by which
change in profile was selected. The advantage of climbing a tree is
being able to literally sight down the trunk and pick up
profile changes to measure.
Fall/Winter
plans
We
plan to visit, climb and complete plots on previously located or climbed trees.
These include plots for the Gabes
Mountain Hemlock, the Sequoyah
Hemlock, the Dunn Creek Hemlock, and the unnamed tall tree off Porters Creek.
Little Bald and Big Bald Branch off Caldwell Fork will be more extensively
searched this fall after leaf drop. This area may prove to be the epicenter of
tall hemlocks. At that time the Caldwell
Colossus will be checked for recovery growth and retreated.
We
also plan to devise a basal or footprint mapping technique based loosely on the
frame mapping in the canopy. Dr. Van Pelt feels we may be under or over estimating
the amount of wood in the base of the tree. We are well aware of this but are
challenged by the field practicality of the technique and great expense in time
with minimal gains in accuracy. We will investigate some ideas we have in mind
and present them in the next update if they prove successful.
Lichen garden
in the Rough Fork Hemlock
September 2006
Current ranking of the ten largest climbed eastern hemlocks
October 2006
Tree CBH Height Volume ft3
Cheoah Hemlock 16’0” 158.0’ 1564 ft3
Caldwell
Colossus 16’10” 159.7’ 1385 ft3
Yonaguska
hemlock 14’7” 168.9’ 1367 ft3
Long Branch
hemlock 16’0” 143.6’ 1294
ft3
Woolly Mammoth 15’1” 153.2’ 1262 ft3
Rough Fork
Hemlock 14’1” 157.7’ 1202 ft3
Sequoyah
Hemlock 15’8” 144.0’ 1188 ft3
Gabes Mountain
Hemlock 16’3” 121’ 1188 ft3
Jim Branch
Giant 13’1” 166.7’ 1188 ft3
Winding Stairs
Loner 15’6” 158.8’ 1180 ft3
Median tree
dimensions 15’8” 158’ 1262
ft3
View from the Woolly Mammoth overlooking Kalanu Prong,
TN
May 2006
Graphed tree profiles based on tree climb data
October 2006
Profile graphs
and forked tree composites by Jess Riddle
Forked tree profile and
stem map: Cheoah Hemlock
Forked tree profile
and stem map: Yonaguska Hemlock
Forked tree profile
and stem map: Jim Branch Giant
Tree profiles: all
trees[1]
>1180 ft3
October 2006
Tree profiles: climbed trees > 163’ and measured for
volume
October 2006
Eastern hemlock tree
climbs as of October 2006
A reiterated limb on “Tom’s Tower”, May
2006
Climb
of the Woolly Mammoth May 17th, 2006
This huge tree grows on the western face of Woolly
Tops Mountain, a rugged, spruce covered peak topping out at 5463 feet. Since
this tree is vastly larger than any other in the area we dubbed its pet name, the
“Woolly Mammoth”.
Just about 25 feet north of
the stream, the Mammoth has enjoyed
little crown competition on the south side which has resulted in a huge mass of
limbs and a slight but pronounced lean towards the creek. In one section, two
huge limbs jutted out of the trunk just inches from each other in the same
direction (tusks, perhaps?). One of these turned up and splayed out into a
complex of small reiterations.
Views from the stout top
were incredible; high vistas of cloud-laden spruce, fresh greens of new sugar
maple and basswood leaves, and the newly opened display of yellow buckeye
blooms and moss covered boulders as viewed from above.
The hemlocks however, were not in fresh green spring
plumage as the hemlock woolly adelgid has a firm grip on the area. The mammoth
was covered head to toe with adelgid and portions of the crown had begun to
decline. Surprisingly though, the top was still growing in places and flower
buds were about to break.
Climb of the Caldwell Colossus March
5th, 2006
In the dim light of the last
day of a 2002 survey in upper Caldwell Fork, ENTS tree hunters stumbled upon a
massive hemlock over 16’ in girth and lasered the height to 159.9’ tall.
Thoroughly impressed, we vowed to return and climb it. We named it the
“Caldwell Colossus”, a name that would prove well justified. The arrival of HWA
sparked a renewed interest and sense of urgency to document the tree. So, on a
cold March day, accompanied by two park staff, we ventured into the realm of
the Caldwell Colossus.
While traversing the canopy,
I noticed that the Colossus had about
one square foot of green growth which was entirely reinfested with HWA.
The surrounding trees were
likewise defoliated, gray, or dead. NPS staff treated the Colossus and numerous
surrounding trees in the hopes that they will recover.
The volume calculations based
on the climb data indicated a wood volume of 1385 ft3. This is the largest non-forked specimen known of
the species and currently the largest hemlock thus far documented in the
Smokies.
Climb of the Cheoah Hemlock, March
31st, 2006
Having gained more experience with hemlock
morphology, Jess and I knew that this tree would re-write the books about
eastern hemlock dimensions. The perfect habitat and reiterated crown coupled
with massive girth and height led us to conclude we had a new champion even
before the climb. As I ascended, with Jason Childs assisting, I was floored by
the immense mass of wood I was climbing on and the expanse of the interior of
the crown.
The sheer width of the crown
was astonishing and trunks and limbs had fused together into a matrix of wood. The
single leader that the tape was set on scaled 1231 cubic feet by itself, making it one of the top five
hemlocks thus far documented. The multiple tops and reiterations scaled another
333 cubic feet for a grand total of 1564 cubic feet! This is nearly 12% larger
than any other hemlock thus far documented, and as such firmly secures the
title of the largest eastern hemlock ever accurately documented and furthermore
claims the title to the largest evergreen conifer in the eastern United States.
Fortunately, the USFS allowed
for the treatment of this tree on June 6th, 2006.
Climb of the Winding Stairs Loner April 27th,
2006
For this climb, we were
graciously assisted by Bob Weber, a two-time ISA World Tree Climbing Champion
and hemlock preservation enthusiast. Bob has been tireless in his efforts to
control HWA in western NC.
The climb revealed the Loner to stand 158.8’ tall and contain 1180 cubic feet of wood. Its
impressive girth was not maintained to the degree to achieve the status of a truly
huge tree, but given successful HWA treatments it should continue to get more massive.
This tree is also one of the
most accessible of the big, tall hemlocks. It is literally just a few minutes steep
walk off the unpaved entrance road into Cataloochee, and grows in one of the
few remaining green groves of hemlock remaining in Cataloochee Valley. For this
reason we have recommended aggressive soil treatments to try to preserve large
sections. This same creek once contained the tallest and the second largest
eastern hemlocks in the Smokies, and at one time grew four hemlocks over 160’.
Upper and lower Winding
Stairs Branch may contain some of the finest hemlock forests remaining in
salvageable condition in the NC portion of GRSM. Fortunately, a portion of this
grove has begun to be treated that includes the Winding Stairs Loner.
Climb of Tom’s Tower May 18th, 2006
The search for this tree was
a direct result of a record in Will’s notes from 1997. We jokingly named the
tree for Tom Remaley, the NPS hemlock woolly adelgid supervisor, but it has since
stuck. It seems fitting, as Tom is the “champion” of the Smoky Mountain
hemlocks and leaving a vast legacy of preserved forests for the future.
It rained as soon as we arrived
for the climb but we waited and the day turned out gorgeous. The base is just
11’ from the waters edge and the tumbling, rocky torrent of Lowes Creek made
communication difficult due to the noise. Once I was in the tree, I was
rewarded with grand vistas of almost uninterrupted old-growth forests.
Tom’s Tower
is no longer growing but has retained much of its crown and should respond well
to treatments before its second flush of a new crown. Every limb up to 3 inches
in diameter- including bark- was entirely covered in new woolly adelgid (second
brood of the spring).
Virginia creeper was found
to have grown to 130.5 feet up the trunk.
The Tsali Hemlock revisit June 8th,
2006
Since the Tsali
Hemlock was the tallest eastern hemlock ever accurately documented, we felt
it was more than justified to include this tree in the Tsuga Search. It was
also climbed in 1998 by Will and Brian Hinshaw for volume, thus completing the
needed data set for the project.
We returned to the standing
snag of the Tsali hemlock to complete the vegetation plots around the tree. We
also gathered more detailed basal measurements to refine the existing data and
standardize the volume with our current volume protocols.
Although it is sad to see the tree dead, the loss of
foliage allows for a better view of the complex crown. This tree was likely
very old, and of the trees we have finished canopy tree plots on, Tsali is
surrounded by the tallest neighboring trees- up to 154’.
The Tsali
snag June 2006
< Jess setting up a basal
reference.
Climb of the Jim Branch Giant, July 16th, 2006
The Jim Branch Giant was
discovered in 2002 on a hunt for big and tall hemlocks. Hemlock woolly adelgid
had just been discovered in the Park, and a new sense of urgency was instilled
into the search. The Jim Branch Giant caught our eye not out of large size but
incredible height. The tall appearance of the tree was enhanced by the lack of
trees obscuring a view of nearly the entire tree.
Laser readings from 2002 gave
a range of height of ~162 feet regularly but an occasional 167 foot reading
would show up after many measurements. Perplexed by the wide range in height
the tree was climbed in 2003 to perform a tape drop. Sure enough, the top of
the tree was rather flat and had a “nested” top which was not easily hit by the
laser bounces. Total tree height turns out to be 166.7’ which is the fifth tallest
hemlock documented via climbing.
The tree was climbed again
in July 2006 to obtain volume measurements. The tree was found to have the largest
trunk diameter at 100 feet of any single-trunked tree (at 100’) we have yet
climbed. Basically, for the first 100 feet the tree loses just fifteen inches
in diameter. The relatively massive upper trunk coupled with the multiple trunks
yield an extraordinary volume of 1188 ft3 for a tree only 13’1” in circumference!
This tree was treated in
October 2005 and new growth had appeared in various places in the canopy. The
decline in the surrounding trees after just four years of adelgid infestation was
appalling. However, most trees had begun their second flush of new growth and
all the trees surrounding the Jim Branch Giant have been treated as well. The
trees treated in November 2002 looked like heads of rich green broccoli against
the dingy gray of the untreated trees.
Climb of the Yonaguska Hemlock, September 9th, 2006
This tree has long reigned
as the largest hemlock in the Smokies and was a subject of the documentary
film, “Unspoiled Country” shot in 1999. During that filming it was measured to
the incredible height of 168’11” making it the second tallest hemlock known. It
was measured for volume in 1998 but the enormous fused section where two large
stems originated posed a serious problem. We had employed some shortcuts which
were less than ideal as viewed through the eyes of the Tsuga Search. Since the
recent development of the frame mapping technique allowed us to more accurately
measure such features we decided to climb the tree one more time to frame map
the fused section before the tree falls. The tree died in 1999 presumably from a
series of intense drought years, yet remained stable enough to perform one last
climb.
It turns out the shortcuts we had taken in the first
climb significantly overestimated the fused section. Jess and I set up four frame
maps and determined the trees volume to be 1367 ft3, a full 35 cubic feet smaller than the previous
climb suggested. The title of largest hemlock in the Smokies is now passed on to
the Caldwell Colossus.
The Yonaguska Hemlock is a great example of how a non-exceptional trunk
diameter can still amass serious volume if it possesses several critical
components. This tree had it all wrapped into one- slow taper, extreme height and
multiple trunks. We were fortunate to have found and documented the tree before
it fell. It is also comforting to know the tree did not die an undignified
death from hemlock woolly adelgid.
Climb of the Rough Fork Hemlock,
September 14th, 2006
This tree has been on our minds since its discovery
in 1996. It is growing in the flats filled with gorgeous old-growth hemlock
just upstream of the campground on Rough Fork.
Although its estimated height was around 160’ the modest girth lead us
to believe it too small for the Tsuga Search. However, a monocular assessment
indicated a large upper trunk with slow taper so we decided to climb it. It
turned out to be the sixth largest eastern hemlock documented in the Smokies to
date!
Of particular note is the
fact that this trees canopy is almost entirely composed of reiterations,
resulting in one of the most complex crowns thus far traversed. It also proved
to be a slow, tedious ascent as the tree was extremely thick with widely spaced
limbs and twisted reiterations- at times full of large, loose debris fallen
from above.
The top was dead and one
leader was broken so it may have been taller in the past. Previous measurements
from the ground indicated a height around 161’.
The view up Rough Fork and
the surrounding ridges was devastating as adelgid induced decline and mortality
was abundant. However, the Rough Fork Hemlock was full of new growth and had
signs of recovery throughout the crown. NPS staff treated the tree on the same
day as the climb.
Special thanks
We would like to take this
opportunity to express our gratitude for the numerous volunteers
and NPS staff members that have supported the Tsuga Search. Our work is made so
much easier by these people, not the least of it by providing an
environment of hope for the last vestiges of the ancient eastern hemlock
forests. Our most sincere appreciation would go to the staff at Great Smoky
Mountains National Park. The vision and support that Kristine Johnson and Tom
Remaley have for this project is nothing less than phenomenal. Their assistance
ranges from arranging additional field assistance to providing housing, good
food and most exciting- partial funding. Of course, none of this would be
possible without the direct financial backing and support of Will’s company, Appalachian
Arborists, Inc. Many thanks go to co-owners Brian Hinshaw and Jason Childs for
their endorsement of the Tsuga Search Project and field support.
The list…
Dr. Lee Frelich, University
of Minnesota, for project advice,
Dr. Robert Van Pelt,
University of Washington, for technical advice,
Robert Leverett for the assistance
with the frame mapping calculations,
Robert Leverett and Monica
Jakuc for setting up the ENTS for
donations,
Ed Frank for posting updates
to the ENTS website,
Muffi Brown for the tree
core mounting board equipment,
Bob Weber for help on the
climb of the Winding Stairs Loner,
Jack Romeyn for assistance
on the Jim Branch Giant climb,
Josh Kelly for help on the Cheoah Hemlock plots and Buck Fork recon
trip,
Carl Blozan for helping Jess
on the Cheoah Hemlock vegetation tangle,
Jason Childs for the frame
mapping help in the Cheoah Hemlock,
Jesse Webster and Mike
Zumwalt for treating the Caldwell
Colossus,
Dan Bryson for help with the
Jim Branch Giant tree plot,
Wes Bintz for assisting on
the Rough Fork Hemlock plot, and
Amanda Parks and Tina Köerner
for help with treatments and plots on the Long
Branch Hemlock.
We also extend sincere
gratitude to the Highlands Ranger District for allowing for the treatment of
the Cheoah Hemlock. The result of
this simple action will become strikingly important in the coming wake of
mortality from HWA. The losses of the great hemlocks
will be more than devastating to all associated with the species. Having
preserved what may be the largest eastern hemlock in existence is in and of
itself remarkable, but in contrast to what little will remain in a few years it
will be all the more important. The legacy of this single tree will be
more fully understood as time goes on.
Will Blozan and Jess Riddle
Submitted October 12, 2006