We’ve got several on our property that are easily 150 feet tall and 4 feet wide at the base. They get massive. I’ve counted rings on some large dead Pondo’s around here that were 300+ years old.
Yes. I have at least 5 (maybe more) species of trees on my property that would be called "pine" by the underinformed, most of which are not pines at all. (BTW, that was me a few years ago too.)
Been splitting ponderosa today left over from the Spring fire. The big ones I have are 28" and are pretty wet in the middle even though they have been dead for a couple of years. But they will dry out quickly.
Lodgepole is the best pine. I burn alot of both. More work processing lodgepole, smaller trees, more limbs etc. Gota watch the twist in the pondo, the wind can really do a number on them. A patch of 12-18 diameter dead lodgepole is awsome and usually takes 4-5 trees to fill the truck. There's no shortage of pondo's that have 2.5-to 3 cords in them and it's good wood if there straight grain and the bark is off.
We were fortunate to be able to visit the area around Lake Tahoe, a number of years ago. The entire area is truly an awesome piece of God's country.
I picked Lodgepole. Ponderosa is great, just not as prevalent as Lodgepole around me. Doug Fir is good also, when I can get it. Honestly, in my BKK, I prefer Lodgepole over some hardwoods I've burned- (Black Walnut, Ash, Mulberry, Osage) just due to the coaling from the hardwoods. But, I do love that Osage regardless.
I like the coaling of most hardwoods (especially Osage). I guess it's a matter of how hard you have to push your stove.
The coaling doesn't generate enough juice for the CAT to remain really active. After a point, you end up with a deep coal bed and a cold CAT. I like those wood types in the Fall and Spring, where I can let them burn out over 24hrs and not worry about it. The Osage- a couple splits with the rest being Lodgepole, great long burn load.
I dont know of any lodgepole pine near me. But we do have ponderosas in some shelter belts. And watch out for or ponderosa when you split it, that stuff can come flying apart, almost like its spring-loaded. Here is a picture of the ponderosas I cut down earlier this spring and already have all split. This stack is about 7ft tall at its peak.
I will take the lodgepole pine. There is plenty of it in the mountains here and it is usually dry from beetle kill. I has a good btu rating and splits easy. I will mix it in with some ash or elm. I burn about 1 1\2 cord of lodgepole every year. I have also made few out door furniture pieces from too. The lodgepole here is what they call old slow growth. It can be only 14" diameter at the base but be 140 to 150 years old.
Not sure what that is. Yes there are going to be the finals once the winners are all announced. How can there be a best firewood with 12 winners??? C’mon man!!!
