My last trip out, a couple of weeks ago with my daughter, we saw this tree from a half mile away and it looked get-able without having to cut my way in. My sons, 3 dogs and myself headed out this morning to fill my truck and trailer (1&2/3 cords) We cut down 4 decent trees to fill up the truck then hooked up to trailer and headed towards the big fella. Got within 125’ easily then had to strategize to get the rest of the way thinking we would need to cut up at least another tree or two to fill the trailer. Actually only had to cut down 1 tree(8’) to gain access to the one you see below. That is the beast below. 572xp with a 20” bar sitting on top of one limb that broke off(in foreground). Didn’t have a tape measure with me but am guessing it is 50” across as shown in the picture and close to 35” in the other direction. After all was sawed and loaded that tree totaled 2-1/2 face cords. A true giant when it comes to pinion pine.
That is a good sized tree, just my pinion though. Looks like fun climbing it. Something ive never done prior to felling a tree!
Well, I know someone here is gonna take this comment and run with it but I'm gonna say it any way. I bet that pinion made a bunch of pine nuts in it's day. Now everyone, sit back, relax and enjoy the flight!
Fire in 2018. It has a quite dark bark to begin with and then goes black when a blaze comes through. The bark will tend to fall off easily after 2 years of weathering.
Pinion burns very well for a “softwood”. Quality BTUs and moderate ash. It isn’t particularly straight and can be a bear to split without hydraulics. It’s predominantly what we have here so dats what I cuts!
I hear ya. Here in Wyoming I take what I can get too. I have seen a lot of the pinion trees down in New Mexico and southern Colorado when I travel that way.
Nice work! Is that a Weimaraner in the pic. I had one years ago. Great dog, but man the stories I could tell!
It is a Weimaraner. She is such a great dog. Loyal to a fault. She had a mischievous puppyhood but being 10 she is pretty chill.
I lived in New Mexico for 30 years and never saw any pinion tree approaching that size. Heck of a find.
I regret not taking any. I also wanted to take some pics of it laying there bucked up but the boys were loading almost as fast as I could cut it.
Nice bunch of firewood in that tree. Looks like the hound pack treed a couple o varmints! First ones I seed with their own chainsaw!
Not very good, a forest fire could not burn it... Love the pups, at first glance I thought the little one was a sheep!
Most of the lower elevation forests(5000-7000’) are pretty healthy because the species are drought resistant. Some of the larger Juniper trees develop rot I the center and they typically burn all the way down.
