Western redcedar: Thuja plicata - 200807

Larry Workman QIN, on July 23, said:

Western redcedar was the tree of life for the people of the coastal areas of Washington State and British Columbia. The wood, bark, foliage and roots, every part of the tree was used in some way; canoes, clothing, shelter, utensils, baskets, and dye among them.

With the arrival of the loggers late in the 1800’s it became one of the four most important tree species in the industry on the Olympic Peninsula (the other three are Sitka spruce, Douglas fir, and Western hemlock). Its most valuable attribute to the loggers was (and remains) its decay résistance and that its long straight grain allows it to be easily split into shakes, boards and poles.

Nowhere else does it reach such grand proportions as in the in moist conditions of the temperate rainforest found along the west slopes of the Olympic Mountains. Yet it can be found growing on nearby swamp lands growing as a spiked top tree known locally as rattail cedar.

It is the trees that grow on the better sites, such as in the photo, that produce trees that provoke the imagination. Most of the trees have been logged, but fortunately the Olympic National Park and several places in the Olympic National Forest have preserved these trees to inspire future generations.

HGL1, on July 29, said:

That is HUGE!!

TRingold, on July 29, said:

Larry, after the carnage you had to hike through, I can only imagine the relief you must have felt when you saw this specimen. Did you know of this trees existence prior to hiking up to it? I don't see any marked trails in my WA Topo in this area.

I was on the Willaby Creek trail about four years ago and it reminded me of a hike through the Redwoods I once took. No longer. I am glad I got to see it before this devastation, but sad to see it in turmoil.

Thank you for posting these amazing shots.

Tom

Larry Workman QIN, on July 30, said:

Hi Tom.

I had been to the tree about 20 years ago and I knew that it was health and had green bark all the way around (many of the older trees are only half alive). I wanted to see if it had survived the storm.

Fortunately most of the old growth forests in the Quinault Valley survived the storm.

Best regards, Larry

HGL1, on July 31, said:

Would be interesting to compare its diameter with other big trees in the World. Thanks!

Greetings from South Africa

Henno

Larry Workman QIN, on August 7, said:

Measurements for this tree:

Diameter: 18 feet/5.49 meters. Circumference: 56 feet/17.01 meters. Height: 195 feet/59.44 meters.

This tree is the RECORD HOLDER, but there is no one for scale in the photo.