Those don't look like eab larvae tracks, and the bark doesn't look like ash either. I've seen a lot of eab killed ash in the last year or so. Unfortunately.
Ive hoarded quite a bit of EAB infected ash with the bark falling off that i can recognize them easily. The end grain does have a catalpa look to it though.
I agree Poplar (Tulip), stinks when burning. I don't mind it in the stove, but I don't use it in the firepit because of the smell when burning.
Or stinker? Been a long time, doubt it makes a big difference when it’s dry but haven’t had a lot of poplar recently. I have a nice stack of cottonwood to burn this coming year, I haven’t noticed much of a smell when splitting but have had some stink in the past from fresh-cut cottonwood.
If tulip poplar (a maple) smells anything like red maple when it is burning (a gross, earthy, moldy, acrid, almost creosote-like smell) then it's not enjoyable to be downwind of that's for sure. Course, everyone's smell-taste buds/ olfactory capabilities are not equal. So smoke smell from a fire that might be gross and awful for one person might not be for another. Ok now, back to the debate
Ok, after burning thus stuff for several weeks, the jury is in. Bark or no bark, it stinks. Greasy, oily smell outside. Be sure to check wind direction. Phew. Smells worse than BL. But, BL has btus. This stuff, not so much. Decent shoulder wood, but I'll be glad when it's all gone.
