An exciting post to the Eastern Native Tree Society email list today. On July 1, '06 Michael Taylor and Chris Atkins discovered and have since confirmed (using laser measuring devices) the world record largest 2 trees. These are Coast Redwood in Northern California exceeding the height of the previous record tree by 4 feet. The two record trees measured in at 374.3' and 371.2 with a third tree at 363.4'.

The discovery was additionally notable because the trees are growing on steep slope instead of the flatter terrain that usually produces the giants.

I removed the preachy part of my post about rec climbers being respectful of the record trees and staying away from them. I think that the people involved in discovering and studying these trees are concerned that the trees could become magnets for peak baggers so I'll leave it at that.
-moss

I am glad they found some more tall trees. I question the accuracy of laser measuring tools however. How accurate are they really? My experience with trees measured from the ground have been off by 10 to 15 feet. They were not measured by laser devices I must admit. For me a true measurement is with a climber and steel tape. A telescoping pole finishes the job. Maybe I am just old fashioned or not up to speed with new technology. Maybe I just want to measure those big trees myself. That is probably the real issue here.

Keeping the big tree locations secret is a good idea. Peak bagging the giants is a real threat to these really old trees.

They're getting very good at measuring with lasers, the techniques are constantly being refined and backed up by climber measurements. A climber in the tree is going to be the most definitive and I agree, I'd rather be up there doing the measuring.

Most of the Engineering Surveying and Measuring of distances and elevation today is being done with laser equipment. As an old school trained "Surveyor" I see how the advancement and accuracy of the new technologies is far better than the suff we used 30-40 years ago. The accuracy is way far better. I do not know what these scientists used but I will trust this better that any measure done with a steel tape. My 2 cent.

Here is the tree measuring page on the Eastern Native Tree Society web site:
ENTS tree measuring

At least one the people (Robert Van Pelt) who participated in measuring the record redwoods is a member of ENTS and uses related or the same techniques.
-moss

Moss, do your resources ever end?
A _link_ to a tree measuring template. . . C 0 0 L
You’re like the Leatherman Tool of the TCI forum,
(or maybe a Swiss Army Knife).

In other off-topic news. . .
Your addition to the “Who’s Who in Tree Climbing” page is very nice!
_link_: www.treeclimbercoalition.org/whoswho/index.cfm

Hopefully, Tree Climbers Coalition will keep that page up & running. It has always been one of my favorite sources for quick bio information on fellow climbers.

Regards,
Electrojake