Bob, The key to subzero measuring is insulating the core with 4-5 layers of wool or synthetic clothing (no cotton!!) without any nylon or polyester shells and definitely no gore-tex or other wind/moisture barriers on any part of the body except the feet/boots. Example: synthetic long underwear top, knit acrylic/wool sweater, acrylic knit vest, polar fleece jacket. This allows best breathability and dryness so that condensation won't form on electronics kept under the outermost layer. Synthetic long underwear bottoms and thinsulate pants lowers are required. Breathable knit cap on top, wool or synthetic fabric NON-GoreTex fingerless gloves over polypropylene or thermax glove liners. If it's windier than 5mph, then stay home when it's colder than -5F. Keep the laser and clinometer around the neck under the outermost zippered layer for quick access. Use the more expensive lithium batteries in all electronics so that they work well in the cold. Alkaline batteries do not work well below freezing and are practically useless below zero.
Paul ----- Original Message ----- From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Sent: Saturday, January 02, 2010 10:54 AM Subject: Re: [ENTS] Re: The Ramble Grove_Asheville NC James, Well, north is relative. At my latitude, we grab opportunities when they arise and just limit our exposure, time wise. Farther north, in Lee's neck of the woods, I think measuring gets suspended entirely. He and Paul will have to confirm that observation, but trying to get a laser to work in sub-zero is not a smart idea. Maybe they have techniques like keeping the laser inside a garment next to the body, whipping it out, taking a quick shot and submerging it again. Bob ----- Original Message ----- From: "James Parton" <[email protected]> To: "ENTSTrees" <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, January 2, 2010 9:26:16 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: [ENTS] Re: The Ramble Grove_Asheville NC Bob, I was hoping for an outing tomorrow, but cold hands may be a real problem. How do northern ents cope? That button on the Nikon 440 is too small to use adequately with heavily gloved hands and try writing down data with heavy gloves on. I have learned that pulling off your gloves, even for a short time is not usually a good idea! James. On Jan 2, 8:20 am, Bob <[email protected]> wrote: > James > > Good job. I sympathize with you on the freezing hands problem. > That was what curtailed my tree measuring in Montpelier. > > Bob > > Sent from my iPhone > > On Jan 2, 2010, at 12:35 AM, James Parton <[email protected]> > wrote: > > > > > ENTS, > > > Today I finally got back to do some measuring of a nice White Pine > > grove that I found while on another hike back in January 2009. The > > grove is located between the Blue Ridge Parkway and Hendersonville > > Rd ( Hwy 25 ) near where the parkway crosses over 25. I call it the > > Ramble Grove because of the nearby Ramble housing development > > located nearby. > > > http://www.nativetreesociety.org/fieldtrips/north_carolina/20090125-b... > > > The grove is dominated by Eastern White Pine but also contains > > Tuliptree and Pitch Pine with American Holly as an understory tree. > > A few oaks and shortleaf pines are found here too, especially near > > the borders of the grove. Large Poison Ivy vines also climb to great > > heights into the trees. I found one huge vine that was two feet in > > circumference! Why do some forests have large Poison Ivy vines while > > others lack Poison Ivy all together? Poison Ivy seems rare in most > > older growth forests I visit while it seems more common in younger > > forests. Especially near populated areas. Does anyone know why? I > > would guess this grove to be young judging by the trees youthful > > appearance and many branch stubs on the trunks of the pines. I would > > guess the grove at 60-80 years old. > > > The tallest tree found today was a respectable White Pine that was > > 143..2 feet tall and 6' 3" in girth. Tall and slim. The largest > > overall was a Tuliptree that was 138.3 feet tall and 8' 9" in girth. > > > Also a hollylike plant was found in the forest that I believe is an > > invasive species. Can anyone identify this " mystery holly " for me? > > I have seen it as an ornamental in people's yards. I think my dad > > has one.. I don't think it is a true ilex. > > > Here are todays measurements > > > cbh Height > > > White Pine 6' 3" 130.3' > > > White Pine 8' 0" 122.6' > > > White Pine 6' 2" 136.5' > > > Tuliptree 8' 9" 138.3' > > > White Pine 6' 3" 143.2' ! > > > Pitch Pine 5' 6" 114.3' ! > > > It was a good day but my hands were about frozen when I got out of > > the woods! > > > James Parton > > > -- > > Eastern Native Tree Societyhttp://www.nativetreesociety.org > > Send email to [email protected] > > Visit this group athttp://groups.google.com/group/entstrees?hl=en > > To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] > > <Ramble_ Woods.jpg> > > <Ramble_Grove.JPG> > > <Poison_Ivy.JPG> > > <Mystery_Holly.JPG> > > <143.2ftWP.JPG>- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text - -- Eastern Native Tree Society http://www.nativetreesociety.org Send email to [email protected] Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees?hl=en To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] -- Eastern Native Tree Society http://www.nativetreesociety.org Send email to [email protected] Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees?hl=en To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] -- Eastern Native Tree Society http://www.nativetreesociety.org Send email to [email protected] Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees?hl=en To unsubscribe send email to [email protected]
