Today’s target was a white oak that had been struck by lightning. It was about 50-55’ tall. I got my back cut a little low and it wanted to fall the opposite direction from my intent. A wedge, strap and a come-a-long got it moving in the right direction. It looks like the lightning strike happened just last year. It had blown the bark off half of the tree but it was still alive.
All kidding aside. I’ve actually heard that a tree struck by lightning won’t burn once cut down. I’ve never actually believed it. Anyone ever heard of this?
No, but if you drop off one those trees at my place, I'll do a scientific study and try my hardest to burn it and will report the results of the data back to the club.
Yes, I've heard that several times. But then, I've heard more about the pine being so bad that you dare not even touch a match to it once it has been placed in a stove or fireplace. So, I had to try both and much to my surprise, the old wives tales were once again screwed up.
Back in Jr high we had an outdoors ropes course for gym class one year. As part of the course we had to light a fire with one match only. I found a pine with a lightning strike, and the wood in the strike would come off in long straws that were brittle and dry. My group had no problem getting a fire going with one match!
i think its cool how trees try to heal themselves from a wound. I always stop to admire the cross section when i cut though it. Pic from a tree i bucked in March. The "round" was shaped like a mushroom!
