National Champion Pecan in Cocke County, TN

I thought some of you guys might like to see a photo of the national champ pecan. that's our 65' bucket truck parked on the driveway next to the tree installing cables to support the giant lead that leans toward the house.

The tree is 136' tall. So my bucket operator is about 70' from the top.

I'm going out with the regional urban forester soon to climb it and measure it from the top with a tape.

It will be an interesting challenge to drop tape it with the highest branches on the left leader. Looking forward to seeing what the measurement is. I've been using a laser rangefinder and clinometer to measure trees and I'm in the process of debunking a height claim for a well known tall tree in my area. People hate it when you tell them their tree is shorter than claimed.

That pecan is one heck of a tree.
-moss

Hey Moss,
I'm pretty sure that the left leader looks taller but the middle is actually taller. Left lead looks taller because it's closest to the lense. I'm going to reserve judgement until I get in it. I don't think the measurement is going to change much. I only suggested the tape measurement so I could climb the thing.

So tell us how you are going to get a high line set. Big-Big Shot? Cross bow (your excuse to get one). Compound bow (Ditto excuse). Or multi pitch climb? Center leader ascent or are you going lateral too?

Beware old stubs from breaks (pecan trees shed during mast years- excessive nut production). I've known a few climbers to take a fall from branch failure due to the brittle nature of this species of wood.

How do the crotches look? Tight V's or good U's? Any swellings around branch connections, indicating included bark? I've seen this defect (weak branch connections)in many pecan trees here in the south.

Do your pecan trees have that flaky bark like we have here in Georgia?

And lastly- will you take some downward photos when you reach the high point?

Treeman,
I'll set either with a throw or bigshot to the mid canopy around 65' and then do pitches to the high forks which are fairly open on the main leader all the way up. As best that I can tell I have agood TIP about 10' from the very tips of the upper canopy so I'll attach the tape to a painter's extension pole from there. I'm going to stick to the center leader and not do any lateral movement and won't get too much into any weak forks for exactly the reason you stated. This tree does have some broken limbs from heavy mast in the outer canopy, mostly out away from the center but up in the upper third- if that makes sense; however it does not have many, if any that I recall, included forks surprisingly. I think this is one of the reasons this tree is so big and old. It's a real genetic marvel. An Arnold Schwarzenegger of the Carya genus! Eets really pumped up!

Sure I'll take some photos and I'll have my groundie take some from below as well to get that perspective of how small we are-really.

Treeman I hope this finds you well and happy, say hello to Patty for me>
Peace,
Longfellow