October, 2020
Reader Robin mentioned that there are a number of massive trees near this very campground that are world record holders for size. We found one of the trees! It’s not just near the campground, it’s right on this campground/resort that’s on the edge of Lake Quinault. This particular tree is well-marked and well-known. It was just a 3-minute walk away from my campsite.
Here’s my campsite, looking towards the lake.
And, when I simply pivoted in place, turning 180 degrees to look the opposite direction, away from my truck/trailer, then the view was this …
The RED arrow in the photo above points to a dark path through the trees at the far end of the campground … the path that, supposedly, we were told, led to this world record holding monstrously large tree. Hmm, but that dark path looked awfully dark to us … ok, you go first … no, you go first … oh no, please, after you. In the end, we went in together, and we were fine. We lived to tell the tale. 🙂
We saw the tree before we read the sign. But my photos simply don’t show how huge this tree is. We were amazed at how large the tree was, truly amazed.
The tree we spent time with today is a Sitka Spruce, lots of them around the State of Washington, and most of them are not large enough to notice really. Sure some are tall, but “nothing to write home about” as they say.
But THIS tree … wow. With a circumference of 58’11”, that means the diameter of the tree was 58’11” divided by pi. Quick now, do the math. That means the diameter of tree, probably very near the base, was 18.75 feet, almost 19 feet thick.
I’m 5’8″ tall, just 4″ shy of 6 feet tall. So three of me could lie end to end, head to toe, and still not fill the trunk of this tree from one side to the other.
Ok, here’s a photo of the whole tree.
Almost 200 feet tall, almost 19 feet in diameter, and 1,000 years old. Keep in mind that the blue/white sign at the bottom of the tree was significantly taller than I was. Keep in mind that your car is probably just 7 feet wide, or so. The trees around this tree were large trees, full grown, yet some looked like saplings compared to this Sitka Spruce.
This is the largest Spruce tree in the world.
The photo above is zoomed in on the tree trunk where the lower branches start. Even the branches are massive.
The branches are so large and so heavy that in wind storms, and with ice and/or snow, many of the branches have broken off causing live burls to form where the injury happened.
Photo below … looking straight at a live burl with a bit of the original branch still sticking out.
Look at the skin … I keep thinking of it as skin … look at the bark on the tree in the photo above. It’s some where around 1,000 years old.
Further yet up the tree, you can see obvious broken branches and the start of more live burls.
I was so impressed by this old soul.
Check out that blue and white sign again above if you didn’t already to read about the other record holding trees here … not just on the Olympic Peninsula, but right HERE, right here in this valley of the Quinault River, where water is so abundant that everything grows almost beyond measure.
After we spent a good bit of time with this Sitka Spruce and after we had admired her appropriately, and blessed her many times over, we took a different path on our way away from her. Our path away led over a small foot bridge, then out to the road, then back to the campground and the cabin. Just to prove how abundant water is around here, a creek flowed quietly under that foot bridge. How rich, and how perfect.
Holy cow.
I think I said those very same words, Kristin.
Holy smokes, we thought Montana was big, this tree is bigger! I was sitting here figuring out how big our LARGE living room is. It’s a whole lot smaller than the base of this tree. This is really impressive. Sweet photo of your truck and trailer Ann, thanks. 🙂
I find it difficult to remember, today, how large this tree was/is, but comparing it to your living room … and finding the living room smaller … is a really good way to do it.
Thanks for the nice words about that photo. I love it too. 🙂
Must admit that sometimes Canada thinks we’re bigger and better than anything in the USA, and sometimes we are 🙂 … but that tree is super. Hope you get back to that area and find the other record-holding trees too. We’d love to see them.
We hear that the border may be opening soon, maybe this June. We have so many places in the USA to go see from your blogs, Ann. Thank you!
Jim
I’d bet money that I’ll be back to that area, and I will absolutely find those other trees and make my report here in this blog for sure.
Yes, I hear that the Canada/USA border will open June 21/22. I bet the Canadian snowbirds will be pouring through the border crossings and making a beeline for the southwest USA. And I bet USA folks will be clambering at the border for entry into Canada. I’m going to sit out the masses and just wait until things calm down a bit.
I agree, Jim … there are many things about Canada that are bigger and better than the USA. Let’s keep on camping and finding what’s good in both countries! 🙂
Impressive tree! I thought only Redwoods made burls, but obviously other trees do too. The last photo of the water is really nice, the reflection of the trees make it a perfect photo.
We hear so much about Redwood burls. Like you, I used to think they were the only trees that made burls. Obviously, Sitka Spruce trees make burls!
Glad you like that last photo. I look at it and it makes me feel so peaceful.
Holy cow is right!! Wow.
Ha! Indeed! 🙂
You found her!
One thousand years old….
how many plagues and pandemics has that lovely, strong
tree lived through?
Oh the stories she could tell.
I laughed when you and Jan wrestled with who would go first down
the dark and dangerous path…. strength in numbers.
Yes! Thank you, Robin! I would never have known. Yes, 1,000 years old. Plagues and pandemics and wars and earthquakes and maybe a few folks with chainsaws and a glint in their eyes. I wish she could speak English and tell us her stories, or I wish we could speak HER language and listen to her stories.
Ah, the dark and dangerous path … it was really scary. 🙂