So, I was walking through the woods, and came upon...

[Monolith]

...a massive old pine tree here in Maine. One of its huge branches had fallen off long ago. I took a chainsaw to the branch. 75% of the logs diameter was rotted from the center out. However, within the unrotted part, I counted 102 growth rings! The density is unreal, its like 40 years per inch.

I cut a slice from further up the main branch along a smaller fork that wasn't rotted, and there were 157 rings. The tree itself is still standing, although its been topped. There are a few living branches still coming out, though. I cleared some of the runt trees around it... hopefully It'll add a few more rings to its girth before it succumbs to age! I measured its circumference at about 9 feet. Not the biggest, but ridiculously slow growing.

If anyones interested I can get some pics.

 

[RogerH]

I would LOVE to see a picture of an old survivor like that. Think of all that has happened while that tree has been alive. Longer than any of great grandparents. Wow.

Like you said, I bet that is some HARD old pine. Thx for sharing.

 

[Monolith]

Here are some pics of the wood. I'll get some shots of the tree tomorrow. I'm clearing a trail that goes right by it.

 

[sbell111]

A couple years ago, a historic bur oak fell in a nearby town. It was dated to be within 330 and 380 years old. I obtained a few logs and offer pens made from them at shows that we do locally.

 

[Jim Smith]

When I attended the University of New Hampshire over 40 years ago, I took a number of forestry courses as part of my degree. We visited one beautiful white pine that was 134 feet high with a circumference of 204 inches. Of course it's nothing compared to the giant redwoods of northern California, but it was a very large pine tree for New England.

Jim Smith

 

[Monolith]

When I attended the University of New Hampshire over 40 years ago, I took a number of forestry courses as part of my degree. We visited one beautiful white pine that was 134 feet high with a circumference of 204 inches. Of course it's nothing compared to the giant redwoods of northern California, but it was a very large pine tree for New England.

Jim Smith

Wow, thats huge!

It's weird to think that the pine I posted pictures of is actually "second growth", not old growth. It's growing right in the middle of an old field. Apparently farms in New England began being abandoned around 1810, which is probably around the time this tree started growing.

I can't imagine the size of a true old growth, primevil pine. Huge!

 

[animefan]

Aren't trees amazing. They can live through storms that could wash us away.

 

[Haynie]

Sand those rings to about 600 then rub it with oil They will really pop then.

Several years ago they were widening a road and cutting down some big trees. I went to the forest service and asked if they could get me some cookies (Tree slices for tree ring counting) to use in my classroom. The company felling the trees would not let me near the trees and would not cut the cookies for me. Those forestry folks totally came through. I got three cookies. One 4 feet in diameter, one a little less than 4 feet and the third about 2 feet. Since we are in the desert Southwest the rings were tight and clear. The kids had to prep the wood, sand it, and oil it. We were able to count back to before Columbus on the big one. 6 different classes came up to with the same years. I don't remember the exact date. The trees came from different elevations along the road, and were different ages. We charted drought cycles, compared ring sizes based on elevations, and matched up rings from cookie to cookie. It was SOOOOO COOL. Long story short those cookies almost got me fired because one had been struck by lightening. Navajos and Lightning struck wood don't mix.

 

[Monolith]

Bah. I didn't get a chance to get out there again and I had to cut the trip short and come back to MA.

I brought the wood in the pics back with me. Is this something you guys think I could interest penturners in? I'd be looking to trade a bunch of the wood for a finished pen. I just don't want to bother cutting it up if its not something anyones likely to want.

 

[keandkafu]

I wold love to work with some of that old growth pine. I had some from someplace in asia, I don't remember where, that a friend had given me, but it had the same tight growth rings. I counted over 150 on the one piece I had and it made a wonder couple of pens. I would love to do it again. PM me and let me know if you want to send some and what kind of pen you would like back.

Thanks for sharing!

Kevin

 

[Balasharc]

while we where on vacation I visited here http://www.angeloaktree.com/ has to be the biggest tree I have seen in a long time. Circumference at 28ft biggest limb circumference of 11.5ft. And I know it is well over the 1500yrs old they are estimating it to be.