Orange Trail

There were seven of us and the weather was perfect – sunny skies and a comfortable temperature.  We measured some big trees – two oak, two beech, and the “Rancocas Tree” – the tree that Hurricane Irene took down last summer.   “Big Trees” and “Rancocas Tree” are ongoing topics, discussed in the links provided.  We checked on the beaver damage at Yellow Trail 7 – another ongoing topic which will be photographed over time.   Ralph Berglund walked on past the end of Trail 7 in order to take these two lovely photographs across the Rancocas.  Earlier in the walk he had taken pictures of the walkers and of herb and Maggie measuring a 34-inch beech.

Two geese stand at the point where Sandy Run enters Rancocas Creek

The reflected trees are at Camp Dark Waters

l to r:  Maggie (hidden), John, Judy, Herb, Barbara, Vince

Maggie and Herb measure a big beech

Big Trees at Medford leas

This post will be the location for data on the big trees of Medford Leas.  First we provide two links that are relevant to the topic. 


http://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/forest/community/bigtree.html 
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Division of Parks and Forests provides this  page about New Jersey Big Trees.  It includes info on how to measure a tree in order to nominate it as the Chamption Tree of its species.   It also provides a registry of champion trees in New Jersey.  It is interesting to compare the Medford Leas Big Trees. to the state Champtions.


http://mdc.mo.gov/landwater-care/homeowners/how-old-tree 
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) provides this page with information on how to estimate the age of a tree based on its diameter 4 1/2 feet above ground times the "growth factor" for the species.   For example the growth factor for American Beech is 6 so a beech that is 30 inches in diameter at that height would be approximately  180 years old. 


On "The Island"  there is a sign in front of the stump of the Bitternut Hickory that reads, "This tree, once considered the New Jersey State Champion, suffered a lightning strike in the fall of 1997.   The sign does not give the size of the former champion. The NJ Big Tree Registry says that the current champion Bitternut History has a circumfereance of 12'6"  - thats a diameter of 48 inches.

next