Big Tree (Washington tree) explained

The Big Tree (also known as the Trout Lake Big Tree) was a massive Ponderosa pine tree in an old-growth pine and fir forest in southern Washington state,^[1] at the southern base of Mount Adams. The area is managed by the Mount Adams Ranger District of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The tree was 202feet tall^{[2] [3]} with a diameter of 7feet,^[4] and was one of the largest known Ponderosa pines in the world.^[1] After stress by attacks from mountain pine beetles^[4] its death in 2015 was confirmed the following year.^[5]

Accessibility

From the small farming community of Trout Lake, the Big Tree Interpretive Site can be accessed via Forest Road 80 and 8020. The interpretive site offers the opportunity to view or picnic at the base of the tree.^[4]

Age

Its age was unknown, partially because of rot in its center sections.^[5]

Despite having immense tracts of old growth conifers, the State of Washington is one of two states that lacks a state coordinator to find, track and keep current records on important trees.^[6]

See also

• List of individual trees

Further reading

• Book: Champion Trees of Washington State . Robert . Van Pelt . . 2015 . 9780295997452.
• Book: Washington Big Tree Program, 1994 . Robert . Van Pelt . . 1994.

External links

• Trout Lake Big Tree – Wicky Creek Shelter Loop 05-22-16

46.0588°N -121.5296°W

Notes and References

1. Web site: Big Tree Loop . 6 April 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131224123748/http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.aspx?trailid=SGW009-087 . 24 December 2013 . dead .
2. News: Richard . Terry . Big ponderosa pine near Mount Adams lives up to its name: Big Tree (video) . 6 April 2013 . . September 30, 2011.
3. Book: Gifford Pinchot National Forest (N.F.), Land and Resource(s) Management Plan (LRMP): Environmental Impact Statement . 1990 . Gifford Pinchot National Forest . 490 . November 26, 2016.
4. Web site: Big Tree Interpretive Site . 6 April 2013.
5. News: One of the oldest, biggest pines in the Pacific Northwest is dead . . November 25, 2016 . Dameon . Pesanti . A mammoth conifer, the Big Tree contained about 22,000 board feet of lumber — enough wood to frame almost one and a half 2,400-square-foot homes. Although it was one of the oldest and tallest trees of its kind, and for decades the centerpiece of an interpretive site for travelers headed to Mount Adams, the Big Tree died with little fanfare last year. "It's probably well over 500 years, gauging by the size," he said. . November 25, 2016.
6. Book: Keepers of the Trees: A Guide to Re-Greening North America . April 30, 2010 . Ann . Linnea . Lyanda Lynn . Haupt . 9781616080075 . . November 26, 2016.