Turner, Thanks for the report. I have not seen Red Pine myself except for those left from plantations maybe 70 years old. (Maybe before I knew what they were.) Do you have a digital camera? If you go back, it would be nice to get some photos. Here is one link to an article that talks some about Red Pine Genetics in WV:
http://www.amjbot.org/cgi/content/full/92/5/833 Ed Join me in the Eastern Native Tree Society at http://www.nativetreesociety.org and in the Primal Forests - Ancient Trees Community at: http://primalforests.ning.com/ ----- Original Message ----- From: turner To: ENTSTrees Sent: Thursday, October 16, 2008 1:45 PM Subject: [ENTS] A visit to Pike Knob, Pendleton County West Virginia ENTS: Recently I spent a day on North Fork Mountain at Pike Knob. This site is well know for supposedly having the southern most stand of Red Pine. Pike Knob is just one of many knobs along North Fork Mountain which stretches 30 plus miles from near Cabins, WV southwestward toward Snowy Mountain near Cherry Grove. It also is the divides the drainages of the South Branch of the Potomac River from its North Fork. US 33 betwwen Franklin and Judy Gap is the only highway that crosses the Mountain. The Northern end of the Mountain is consistently above 3,000 feet while the southern end has many areas above 4,000 feet and maxing out at Kile Knob at 4,588 feet. Wiki info can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Fork_Mountain and the link to the nature conservacy site gives very good directions how to get there. Pike knob was once the site of a fire tower. From the east side of the mountain one can drive to about 3,000 feet elevation and park (limited). It an easy hike up the abandoned turnpike road to the saddle while pulling about 700 feet elevation gain. I found the WV champion Black Cherry just to the left of the road before it headed down the other side and promptly measured it . 175" CBH 76' Ht. 79' ACS or a total of 270 Big Tree Points. The tree had not been remeasured since 1976 but alas it is a fused multi -stem tree. Oh Well A spindley tree nearby caught my eye and it was a Hophornbeam trying for sunlight. 23" CBH 56' HT 16' ACS or a total of 83 Big Tree Points According to the Map I had I was on USFS property but saw no marker whatsoever. Continuing on to Pike Knob required another 500' elevation gain and entering the Nature Conservacy Preserve which was marked. Approaching the top Red Pine was very much present with alot of reproduction in disturbed areas and the more mature trees looking vigourous. I measured 6 Red Pines With the biggest one being: 60" CBH 59' HT I did not realize it at the time but apparently the USFS has identified and set aside ten acres as Old Growth Red Pine. When I go back I will check in as to exactly where it is because i did not see anything that hinted at old trees. However this is based and absolutely no experience with Red Pin except in plantations. Pike knob (as is all of North Fork Mountain) is very dry (it is in the rain shadow of slightly higher mountains to the west) and has been swept by fire numerous times and has probably been heaily grazed in the not to distant past. A Chestnut Oak stuump near the top had 80+ rings with a diameter of 10" inside the bark. Some of the 2-3' diameter knarly and stunted ones may truly be old growth. This stand has been used in some genetic studies to which I have lost the link but will post if I can find it. The hike up despite the elevation gain is pretty easy and you are rewarded with great views especially to the West with 3,000 foot elevation difference to the valley floor. TS --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Eastern Native Tree Society http://www.nativetreesociety.org You are subscribed to the Google Groups "ENTSTrees" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
