Hypothetical Arbo Report: Drive Through Redwoods

[mdvaden]

Here is something I cross-posted on the TB forum. Curious to see what folks come up with ...

 

This week I was looking at the information and height data for the 3 drive through redwoods in California.

 

You know the ones - carved out for vehicles to drive through.

 

A thought came to mind .... what if a tree like those was in an urban area, and an arborist had to take care of it or provide an arborist report for it?

 

If those trees were on a commercial property or park in an urban area, and you did a report, any idea what kind of comments you would write based off what you can see in images? Or having visited?

 

This page mentions all 3.

 

About Drive Through Redwoods

 

The Chandelier Tree is in Leggett. The Shrine Tree is in Myers Flat. And the Tour Thru Tree is in Klamath. (California communities)

 

Would you ever be willing to write on a report that these trees were safe to stand under? Prediction?

 

There are a ton of images online for all 3 if you Google for photos.

 

At the moment, I'll at least add that I would not be willing to remain the owner of one of them.

Edited September 1, 2010 by mdvaden

[David Humphries]

Thought provoking post Mario.

 

Do you know how long these trees have been cut ?

 

 

 

 

.

[mdvaden]

Thought provoking post Mario.

 

Do you know how long these trees have been cut ?

 

Wikipedia has a short entry saying 1930s.

 

Chandelier Tree - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

It could be thought-provoking. Was hoping more chime in just for the fun of it. Forget what month it was, but I was leaving one of these thinking "if someone in the city cut a proportionately huge hole in their tree and I had to offer an opionion or recomendation, what would I say?"

 

Also, I'm pretty sure that the holes have been trimmed slightly wider to allow more vehicles of bigger size. (more money).

 

At least with photos of the Shrine Tree, and having been there, it's evident where more has been shaved off. So there's not much if any wound wood beginning to reinforce the perimeter of the cut.

[mdvaden]

Here ... found these pics in my file ...

 

The Shrine Tree is the most battered looking out of all 3. Sort of hollow up the middle, and you should be able to see the cable holding it from leaning more.

[mdvaden]

Here is the Tour Thru redwood in Klamath, California. Nicer looking. Still a big hole though. Not as decayed, but a pinhole of daylight does show in the ceiling of the tunnel in this one.

[mdvaden]

A closer crop of the wound at the base on the right. Looks like its dead wood meeting the soil there.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

some realy interesting photos and a thought provoking thread.

 

had these trees been in a euro state, well it just wouldnt be allowed..... period!

 

what is interesting is the reiteration of what will eventualy become a new set of roots in the last image, very nice example of a veteran overcoming dysfunctional/dead zones.

 

the shrine tree looks o.k, little crown, essentialy just a very light wieght cylinder, id drive through it (if i was a yank) but as I am a euro, i would stop the drive throush mulch it and fence it off!

 

have the others full crowns or are they also topped?

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Mario, im planning a trip to climb a redwood on my 40th birthday and to experience the old growth in its true and wild ness state, where is the least tourist like spot that would give a good experience of these giants and their ecology/habitat?

[mdvaden]

Mario, im planning a trip to climb a redwood on my 40th birthday and to experience the old growth in its true and wild ness state, where is the least tourist like spot that would give a good experience of these giants and their ecology/habitat?

 

You would want to go to atreestory.com and email Beranek for ideas. He may even know of legal group gatherings for that purpose since its illegal to climb in the redwood parks.

 

Also, with that Shrine Tree, I'm not sure how light or how heavy it is, but it's heavy enough to have leaned more and for them to put that cable on it.

 

Wouldn't suprise me if it collapsed in the next 10 to 20 years. These redwoods are open to public all year during the day. If they never cut them down, any eventual collapse can only occur at day or night. 50/50. If daytime, then its a matter of whether a person or car is under it. Or near it.

Edited September 2, 2010 by mdvaden