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A Tree Post For The Ages……

This picture we call “Entwined Trees” was taken many years ago on the Bristol Hills Trail (A branch trail of the Finger Lakes Trail System) and it has inspired us to keep a look out for other “interesting” trees over the years.  It hangs in our office at home as a reminder of symbiotic love.

Since we started hiking on the North Shore of Minnesota we have been intrigued with their tree population.  The species and the way they grow and/or die.

If it weren’t August we would say these trees are covered in frost.
Best we can figure the death of these trees was drowning by beaver pond.

There are many birch trees in the area and most stands seem to have the taller birches “lopped off” toward the top for no apparent reason.  We actually have met a few folks that make homemade birch syrup.  We have not tried it but folks claim it is a totally different flavor than maple syrup.

The entire North Shore is “littered” with sheared of birch trees. Must be something about the prevailing winds that shears them off?
Here is an up close view of those lopped  off birches.
Not sure what to call this but the roots system is awesome!
Talk about a far reaching root?
This tree must provide some shelter to a lucky animal during a storm.

The hemlock population seems to be thriving.  Their roots make our hiking very difficult though.

This cedar is attempting to make a friend but the other cedar wants nothing to do with him.
The beginning of some special relationship?
We have seen many downed trees that refuse to go quietly. This poor fellow has fallen over a creek but has new limbs reaching for sunlight.
This is an example of the root systems we have to hike over every day. Not sure if the trees mind us trampling their roots as we walk by but very rarely, one or two of them seem to make a creaking sound of approval?
Many a tree seem to be sheltering a rock or two with their root system.
We called this “Squid”
Here is another view of our favorite tree on the North Shore
Hanging on for dear life. The drop off is a few hundred feet.
An example of the scrub growth we see as we climb in altitude. The highest point on the SHT is only around 1900 feet. Lake Superior is at around 700 feet.
Many days the trees seemed to be enveloped in a dense, eerie fog coming off the lake.
Do we call this “the embrace” or “the kiss”? Notice the SHT trail blaze on the left one (or is it the right?)
The “Bilingual Tree”. Nothing too special but it is planted just about on the Canadian border at the Northern terminus of the SHT. It is also the Eastern terminus of the Border Route Trail through the Boundary Waters.
Just a wee bit of hand holding going on here.
Long distance relationships are hard for trees too.
Don’t know how these twin trees manage to hang on? The hundred foot drop off is not shown here.

 

3 Replies to “A Tree Post For The Ages……”

  1. Your great pics remind of some of the oddities I have run across while traversing my acreage.
    I have seen trees that were snapped off as a result of a tornado.

  3. Looks like you are making good progress on the SHT. Hopefully the weather has been good to you guys. The rain has stopped here but we are in for a couple of hot days. I have been enjoying your posts and your pictures. Does it seem strange not to be rushing back to start school next week? My summer is quickly coming to an end but it was a good one. Eric and I spent a nice, but wet weekend in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Our “hikes” were on the beach and in downtown Portsmouth. Keep on hiking and posting, I look forward to you next adventure. Hi to Laurie!

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