groupb,
Assuming you are in the Arcata/Eureka area, I would suggest a trip up to Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park (45 minutes north just past the town of Orick), or Humboldt Redwoods State Park (45 minutes south). Looking for trees that are big, tall, complex? Well, these two areas have it all in abundance!! Several researchers are currently out doing remeasures, sample removals, isotope analysis, water stress measurements, etc., but a legal climbing adventure with them is not an option due to permitting issues. Its actually nearly impossible to legally climb in these forests unless you're a researcher, and even then it can be difficult to get the permits. Its just the rules that we have to follow.....if we get caught doing something outside of what our permits allow then we run risk of being excluded from our research areas.
foxglove