It was quite a
climbing experience in the sense that there were very few trees surrounding
it so the ground (or rather fallen trunks and young saplings) were in view
at all times. One side of the tree had very few limbs and the sense of
height was strong due to the open space. Long range views over Caldwell Fork
were awesome.

Survivor - Stitch of tree

First Ascent

I carried a pole up with me because the top was so thin and mostly dead
(HWA). The tape drop revealed the height to be 172.1’, breaking the former
height record by 2.3’! The former record of 169.8’ has held since 1998 when
Brian Hinshaw and I climbed the “Tsali Hemlock”, also in Cataloochee. This
tree brings the average height of the top ten eastern hemlocks known to
169.8’. The range in height of the top ten is only 3.7’, and eight of these
trees are in the Smokies. The volume of the ancient Survivor tree is 884
cubes as determined by incremental girth measurements. CBH is modest at
11’7”, but the extreme height and slow trunk taper (8’1” at 100’) allows it
to be relatively large for its diameter. However, as far as volume goes,
this tree is just over ½ the size of the largest known.

Tape Drop

Tippy-Top at 172.1 feet

We have two more trees to climb on this ridge that have been lasered over
170’. I plan to climb one tomorrow and the other next week. These two other
trees, though similar in height, couldn’t be more different in size. One
will be the smallest tree in the project by volume (<500 cubes) whereas the
other will be in the top ten for volume with more than 1300 cubic feet of
wood, perhaps 1350 or more. They also are different in health; the small one
is already essentially dead from HWA but the larger tree still has a fairly
full crown and may recover with HWA treatments.

The grove is dead

Blowdown from above

Will Blozan

President, Eastern Native Tree Society
President, Appalachian Arborists, Inc.