| NEW
WORLD'S TALLEST TREE DISCOVERED |
abi-@u.washington.edu |
| Jul
10, 2006 08:42 PDT |
ENTS,
Chris Atkins and Michael Taylor have been systematically search
all old-growth redwood forests for tall trees over the last few
years. They have measured 131 trees over 350 feet tall. Last
year one of these trees (Stratosphere Giant)broke the 370 foot
barrier.
On July 1st, while scouting in a remote area within Redwood
National Park, they found a grove of what they thought were tall
trees. Being a major bushwack, they had only laser and no
tripods. On Friday, they returned with Steve and I in tow, four
lasers, three tripods, etc. to see how tall these trees were and
if they were other contenders.
We first bushwacked up a sttep ravine to the tallest they had
seen, which took us an hour to go about 700 feet through the
dense brush. We set up on one side of the ravine where the top
was visible and then crossed the ravine with the prism to near
the base of the tree. The tree has a live, vigorous top and is
located on a steep side slope about 60 feet above the creek. The
tree is 374.3 feet tall!
Nearby are two dead-topped trees, one 371.2 feet tall and the
other 363.4 feet tall.
So, in a single day, the two tallest known trees in the world
were measured. Even more significant than that, the previous
height record was shattered by 4 feet! That achievement has not
occured for nearly 70 years!
Without a doubt, this was the most significant day in history
when it comes to tall tree measuring - and I am super-stoked
that I was there to see history made!
I am still completely baffled at how these trees could be so
tall while on a steep slope so high above the creek, when all of
the other tall trees are on flats! Just amazing!
What this also means is that large areas that were once
considered not able to produce tall trees will now have to be
considered.
Summary
Helios 374.3
Icarus 371.2
Daedalus 363.4
Cheers,
- BVP
Bob Van Pelt
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