Guest guest Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/08/14/BAGBCKHTNC1.DTL & type\ =science The 'Grandfather' of Oakland's redwoods Jim Herron Zamora, Chronicle Staff Writer Monday, August 14, 2006 Despite its name, Oakland was historically known for its redwoods until the late 1800s when those giant trees were logged as part of the building boom that followed the Gold Rush. All those ancient redwoods are long gone -- but one. On Sunday, a group of 30 people got a peek at Oakland's last old-growth redwood -- a 500-year-old tree nicknamed " Grandfather " by local preservationists -- after hiking a steep, remote canyon below Merritt College. The Oakland Heritage Alliance, a nonprofit group devoted to local history, is hosting tours of the city's redwoods to inform residents about the trees' local history and inspire locals to protect the second-growth redwoods that sprouted after the Gold Rush loggers left. Most of the hikers never got close enough Sunday to touch the 250-foot tall Grandfather, which is more than 26 feet in circumference, because it juts out from a steep slope above the York Trail behind Leona Lodge. Those hardy climbers willing to scramble up the rocky cliff had to dodge several large patches of poison oak. Nearly all the hikers settled for looking at the tree from a fire trail on the ridge above the tree or looking at it from below on another trail that hugs the steep, narrow bank of Horseshoe Creek. " There's no trail (to the tree) because no one goes there -- it's just too out of the way, " said Dennis Evanosky, a historian who guided the tour with naturalist Richard Schwartz. " It takes a lot of work to find this tree. You can spot it from the ridge if you know what you're looking for, but it's hard to reach. " The tree apparently survived the logging boom in the 1800s because of its remote location and because it is near so many large rocks. " I think that the loggers looked at this tree and figured that the way it would go down, it would shatter on the rocks (below) and be useless, " Evanosky said. The existence and exact location of the old-growth redwood is a mystery even to many longtime Oakland hikers. There are no trail maps of the area, which sits on patchwork of undeveloped property owned by the city of Oakland, Merritt College and some private owners. " I grew up in the Oakland hills and I've heard about this tree for years, but never been about to find it, " said Jim Schaufele, who hiked with his wife and his brother. When Europeans first arrived in California in the 1700s, a huge stand of redwoods extended across the spine of the Oakland hills and back several miles into what is now Moraga and Lafayette, Schwartz said. The most famous were the Navigation Trees, so named after Capt. Frederick Beechey of the British Royal Navy wrote in 1826 that a ship trying to land in San Francisco's port could locate Blossom Rock, which was only visible during low tides, by lining up the northern tip of Yerba Buena Island with the two trees that were " too conspicuous to be overlooked " on top of the East Bay hills. Blossom Rock has since been destroyed. When Oakland was part of Rancho San Antonio, the Mexican government struggled with keeping out illegal U.S. residents who would cut the protected redwoods and sell the lumber to passing ships. After the area became part of the United States and the Gold Rush began, the hills swarmed with loggers who sold the timber to builders in San Francisco. A photograph taken in 1852 from Telegraph Hill in San Francisco still shows the Navigation Trees. But by 1855 the Navigation Trees had been logged. The loggers often removed the stumps, using the wood for roof shingles and smaller boards. But that the prevented the Navigation Trees and other giants from regenerating. Except for the Grandfather tree, all of the redwoods left in the East Bay are believed to be second growth, sprouted from the roots or stumps of logged trees. About 10 years ago, Evanosky and other volunteers took seeds from the Grandfather tree, grew seedlings and have replanted about a dozen of them along Horseshoe Creek near Campus Drive. " Those trees are 10 or 12 feet tall, " Evanosky said. " We're keeping them going. " -- See the trees The next tours of Oakland's hidden redwoods will be from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17, and Saturday, Sept. 23. For reservations, call the Oakland Heritage Alliance at (510) 763-9218, or go to www.oaklandheritage.org. " NOTICE: Due to Presidential Executive Orders, the National Security Agency may have read this email without warning, warrant, or notice. They may do this without any judicial or legislative oversight. You have no recourse nor protection save to call for the impeachment of the current President. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 I loved reading about this lone proud tree. standing tall with the memories of his long gone family. I am glad that there are other people replanting his seeds and he gets to see his children not ready to die yet.. silent witness to human follies over the centuries. , fraggle <EBbrewpunx wrote: > > http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/08/14/BAGBCKHTNC1.DTL & type\ =science > > > The 'Grandfather' of Oakland's redwoods > Jim Herron Zamora, Chronicle Staff Writer > > Monday, August 14, 2006 > > > > Despite its name, Oakland was historically known for its redwoods until the late 1800s when those giant trees were logged as part of the building boom that followed the Gold Rush. > > All those ancient redwoods are long gone -- but one. > > On Sunday, a group of 30 people got a peek at Oakland's last old-growth redwood -- a 500-year-old tree nicknamed " Grandfather " by local preservationists -- after hiking a steep, remote canyon below Merritt College. The Oakland Heritage Alliance, a nonprofit group devoted to local history, is hosting tours of the city's redwoods to inform residents about the trees' local history and inspire locals to protect the second-growth redwoods that sprouted after the Gold Rush loggers left. > > Most of the hikers never got close enough Sunday to touch the 250-foot tall Grandfather, which is more than 26 feet in circumference, because it juts out from a steep slope above the York Trail behind Leona Lodge. Those hardy climbers willing to scramble up the rocky cliff had to dodge several large patches of poison oak. > > Nearly all the hikers settled for looking at the tree from a fire trail on the ridge above the tree or looking at it from below on another trail that hugs the steep, narrow bank of Horseshoe Creek. > > " There's no trail (to the tree) because no one goes there -- it's just too out of the way, " said Dennis Evanosky, a historian who guided the tour with naturalist Richard Schwartz. " It takes a lot of work to find this tree. You can spot it from the ridge if you know what you're looking for, but it's hard to reach. " > > The tree apparently survived the logging boom in the 1800s because of its remote location and because it is near so many large rocks. > > " I think that the loggers looked at this tree and figured that the way it would go down, it would shatter on the rocks (below) and be useless, " Evanosky said. > > The existence and exact location of the old-growth redwood is a mystery even to many longtime Oakland hikers. There are no trail maps of the area, which sits on patchwork of undeveloped property owned by the city of Oakland, Merritt College and some private owners. > > " I grew up in the Oakland hills and I've heard about this tree for years, but never been about to find it, " said Jim Schaufele, who hiked with his wife and his brother. > > When Europeans first arrived in California in the 1700s, a huge stand of redwoods extended across the spine of the Oakland hills and back several miles into what is now Moraga and Lafayette, Schwartz said. > > The most famous were the Navigation Trees, so named after Capt. Frederick Beechey of the British Royal Navy wrote in 1826 that a ship trying to land in San Francisco's port could locate Blossom Rock, which was only visible during low tides, by lining up the northern tip of Yerba Buena Island with the two trees that were " too conspicuous to be overlooked " on top of the East Bay hills. Blossom Rock has since been destroyed. > > When Oakland was part of Rancho San Antonio, the Mexican government struggled with keeping out illegal U.S. residents who would cut the protected redwoods and sell the lumber to passing ships. After the area became part of the United States and the Gold Rush began, the hills swarmed with loggers who sold the timber to builders in San Francisco. > > A photograph taken in 1852 from Telegraph Hill in San Francisco still shows the Navigation Trees. But by 1855 the Navigation Trees had been logged. The loggers often removed the stumps, using the wood for roof shingles and smaller boards. But that the prevented the Navigation Trees and other giants from regenerating. > > Except for the Grandfather tree, all of the redwoods left in the East Bay are believed to be second growth, sprouted from the roots or stumps of logged trees. About 10 years ago, Evanosky and other volunteers took seeds from the Grandfather tree, grew seedlings and have replanted about a dozen of them along Horseshoe Creek near Campus Drive. > > " Those trees are 10 or 12 feet tall, " Evanosky said. " We're keeping them going. " > > > > -- > See the trees > The next tours of Oakland's hidden redwoods will be from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17, and Saturday, Sept. 23. For reservations, call the Oakland Heritage Alliance at (510) 763-9218, or go to www.oaklandheritage.org. > > > " NOTICE: Due to Presidential Executive Orders, the National Security Agency may have read this email without warning, warrant, or notice. They may do this without any judicial or legislative oversight. You have no recourse nor protection save to call for the impeachment of the current President. " > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 Hi Anouk I always feel a little sad for trees that are completely by themselves. If they can touch the leaves of another tree that is okay, but to be totally isolated must be bad. Jo , " Anouk Sickler " <zurumato wrote: > > I loved reading about this lone proud tree. > standing tall with the memories of his long gone family. > > I am glad that there are other people replanting his seeds > and he gets to see his children > > not ready to die yet.. silent witness to human follies over the > centuries. > > > , fraggle <EBbrewpunx@> wrote: > > > > > http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi? f=/c/a/2006/08/14/BAGBCKHTNC1.DTL & type=science > > > > > > The 'Grandfather' of Oakland's redwoods > > Jim Herron Zamora, Chronicle Staff Writer > > > > Monday, August 14, 2006 > > > > > > > > Despite its name, Oakland was historically known for its redwoods > until the late 1800s when those giant trees were logged as part of the > building boom that followed the Gold Rush. > > > > All those ancient redwoods are long gone -- but one. > > > > On Sunday, a group of 30 people got a peek at Oakland's last > old-growth redwood -- a 500-year-old tree nicknamed " Grandfather " by > local preservationists -- after hiking a steep, remote canyon below > Merritt College. The Oakland Heritage Alliance, a nonprofit group > devoted to local history, is hosting tours of the city's redwoods to > inform residents about the trees' local history and inspire locals to > protect the second-growth redwoods that sprouted after the Gold Rush > loggers left. > > > > Most of the hikers never got close enough Sunday to touch the > 250-foot tall Grandfather, which is more than 26 feet in > circumference, because it juts out from a steep slope above the York > Trail behind Leona Lodge. Those hardy climbers willing to scramble up > the rocky cliff had to dodge several large patches of poison oak. > > > > Nearly all the hikers settled for looking at the tree from a fire > trail on the ridge above the tree or looking at it from below on > another trail that hugs the steep, narrow bank of Horseshoe Creek. > > > > " There's no trail (to the tree) because no one goes there -- it's > just too out of the way, " said Dennis Evanosky, a historian who guided > the tour with naturalist Richard Schwartz. " It takes a lot of work to > find this tree. You can spot it from the ridge if you know what you're > looking for, but it's hard to reach. " > > > > The tree apparently survived the logging boom in the 1800s because > of its remote location and because it is near so many large rocks. > > > > " I think that the loggers looked at this tree and figured that the > way it would go down, it would shatter on the rocks (below) and be > useless, " Evanosky said. > > > > The existence and exact location of the old-growth redwood is a > mystery even to many longtime Oakland hikers. There are no trail maps > of the area, which sits on patchwork of undeveloped property owned by > the city of Oakland, Merritt College and some private owners. > > > > " I grew up in the Oakland hills and I've heard about this tree for > years, but never been about to find it, " said Jim Schaufele, who hiked > with his wife and his brother. > > > > When Europeans first arrived in California in the 1700s, a huge > stand of redwoods extended across the spine of the Oakland hills and > back several miles into what is now Moraga and Lafayette, Schwartz said. > > > > The most famous were the Navigation Trees, so named after Capt. > Frederick Beechey of the British Royal Navy wrote in 1826 that a ship > trying to land in San Francisco's port could locate Blossom Rock, > which was only visible during low tides, by lining up the northern tip > of Yerba Buena Island with the two trees that were " too conspicuous to > be overlooked " on top of the East Bay hills. Blossom Rock has since > been destroyed. > > > > When Oakland was part of Rancho San Antonio, the Mexican government > struggled with keeping out illegal U.S. residents who would cut the > protected redwoods and sell the lumber to passing ships. After the > area became part of the United States and the Gold Rush began, the > hills swarmed with loggers who sold the timber to builders in San > Francisco. > > > > A photograph taken in 1852 from Telegraph Hill in San Francisco > still shows the Navigation Trees. But by 1855 the Navigation Trees had > been logged. The loggers often removed the stumps, using the wood for > roof shingles and smaller boards. But that the prevented the > Navigation Trees and other giants from regenerating. > > > > Except for the Grandfather tree, all of the redwoods left in the > East Bay are believed to be second growth, sprouted from the roots or > stumps of logged trees. About 10 years ago, Evanosky and other > volunteers took seeds from the Grandfather tree, grew seedlings and > have replanted about a dozen of them along Horseshoe Creek near Campus > Drive. > > > > " Those trees are 10 or 12 feet tall, " Evanosky said. " We're keeping > them going. " > > > > > > > > > -- ------------ > > See the trees > > The next tours of Oakland's hidden redwoods will be from 10 a.m. to > 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17, and Saturday, Sept. 23. For reservations, > call the Oakland Heritage Alliance at (510) 763-9218, or go to > www.oaklandheritage.org. > > > > > > " NOTICE: Due to Presidential Executive Orders, the National > Security Agency may have read this email without warning, warrant, or > notice. They may do this without any judicial or legislative > oversight. You have no recourse nor protection save to call for the > impeachment of the current President. " > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 i guess that would only be a " problem " with trees use to growing in the forest/woods, no? there's lotsa species of trees that grow in the desert, grasslands, etc, that are lone sentinels... in the new york mountains, of the mojave desert in SoCal...there's a place called caruther canyon..it splits the side of the mountains... when you climb it to the top..there's this last stand of ancient white pines...all by themselves... remnant of a much earlier age from when the area was wetter.... >heartwerk <jo.heartwork >Aug 17, 2006 11:45 PM > > Re: The 'Grandfather' of Oakland's redwoods > >Hi Anouk > >I always feel a little sad for trees that are completely by >themselves. If they can touch the leaves of another tree that is >okay, but to be totally isolated must be bad. > >Jo > " NOTICE: Due to Presidential Executive Orders, the National Security Agency may have read this email without warning, warrant, or notice. They may do this without any judicial or legislative oversight. You have no recourse nor protection save to call for the impeachment of the current President. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 I know what you mean, it just dont look right does it? Even just two together looks more natural and somehow happier? maybe I just lost my marbles........... The Valley Vegan.............heartwerk <jo.heartwork wrote: Hi AnoukI always feel a little sad for trees that are completely by themselves. If they can touch the leaves of another tree that is okay, but to be totally isolated must be bad.Jo , "Anouk Sickler" wrote:>> I loved reading about this lone proud tree.> standing tall with the memories of his long gone family. > > I am glad that there are other people replanting his seeds> and he gets to see his children > > not ready to die yet.. silent witness to human follies over the > centuries. > > > , fraggle wrote:> >> >> http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/08/14/BAGBCKHTNC1.DTL & type=science> > > > > > The 'Grandfather' of Oakland's redwoods> > Jim Herron Zamora, Chronicle Staff Writer> > > > Monday, August 14, 2006> > > > > > > > Despite its name, Oakland was historically known for its redwoods> until the late 1800s when those giant trees were logged as part of the> building boom that followed the Gold Rush. > > > > All those ancient redwoods are long gone -- but one. > > > > On Sunday, a group of 30 people got a peek at Oakland's last> old-growth redwood -- a 500-year-old tree nicknamed "Grandfather" by> local preservationists -- after hiking a steep, remote canyon below> Merritt College. The Oakland Heritage Alliance, a nonprofit group> devoted to local history, is hosting tours of the city's redwoods to> inform residents about the trees' local history and inspire locals to> protect the second-growth redwoods that sprouted after the Gold Rush> loggers left. > > > > Most of the hikers never got close enough Sunday to touch the> 250-foot tall Grandfather, which is more than 26 feet in> circumference, because it juts out from a steep slope above the York> Trail behind Leona Lodge. Those hardy climbers willing to scramble up> the rocky cliff had to dodge several large patches of poison oak. > > > > Nearly all the hikers settled for looking at the tree from a fire> trail on the ridge above the tree or looking at it from below on> another trail that hugs the steep, narrow bank of Horseshoe Creek. > > > > "There's no trail (to the tree) because no one goes there -- it's> just too out of the way," said Dennis Evanosky, a historian who guided> the tour with naturalist Richard Schwartz. "It takes a lot of work to> find this tree. You can spot it from the ridge if you know what you're> looking for, but it's hard to reach." > > > > The tree apparently survived the logging boom in the 1800s because> of its remote location and because it is near so many large rocks. > > > > "I think that the loggers looked at this tree and figured that the> way it would go down, it would shatter on the rocks (below) and be> useless," Evanosky said. > > > > The existence and exact location of the old-growth redwood is a> mystery even to many longtime Oakland hikers. There are no trail maps> of the area, which sits on patchwork of undeveloped property owned by> the city of Oakland, Merritt College and some private owners. > > > > "I grew up in the Oakland hills and I've heard about this tree for> years, but never been about to find it," said Jim Schaufele, who hiked> with his wife and his brother. > > > > When Europeans first arrived in California in the 1700s, a huge> stand of redwoods extended across the spine of the Oakland hills and> back several miles into what is now Moraga and Lafayette, Schwartz said. > > > > The most famous were the Navigation Trees, so named after Capt.> Frederick Beechey of the British Royal Navy wrote in 1826 that a ship> trying to land in San Francisco's port could locate Blossom Rock,> which was only visible during low tides, by lining up the northern tip> of Yerba Buena Island with the two trees that were "too conspicuous to> be overlooked" on top of the East Bay hills. Blossom Rock has since> been destroyed. > > > > When Oakland was part of Rancho San Antonio, the Mexican government> struggled with keeping out illegal U.S. residents who would cut the> protected redwoods and sell the lumber to passing ships. After the> area became part of the United States and the Gold Rush began, the> hills swarmed with loggers who sold the timber to builders in San> Francisco. > > > > A photograph taken in 1852 from Telegraph Hill in San Francisco> still shows the Navigation Trees. But by 1855 the Navigation Trees had> been logged. The loggers often removed the stumps, using the wood for> roof shingles and smaller boards. But that the prevented the> Navigation Trees and other giants from regenerating. > > > > Except for the Grandfather tree, all of the redwoods left in the> East Bay are believed to be second growth, sprouted from the roots or> stumps of logged trees. About 10 years ago, Evanosky and other> volunteers took seeds from the Grandfather tree, grew seedlings and> have replanted about a dozen of them along Horseshoe Creek near Campus> Drive. > > > > "Those trees are 10 or 12 feet tall," Evanosky said. "We're keeping> them going." > > > > > > > >> --> > See the trees > > The next tours of Oakland's hidden redwoods will be from 10 a.m. to> 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17, and Saturday, Sept. 23. For reservations,> call the Oakland Heritage Alliance at (510) 763-9218, or go to> www.oaklandheritage.org. > > > > > > "NOTICE: Due to Presidential Executive Orders, the National> Security Agency may have read this email without warning, warrant, or> notice. They may do this without any judicial or legislative> oversight. You have no recourse nor protection save to call for the> impeachment of the current President."> >>To send an email to - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 Hi Peter I think you're just sharing your marbles with me :-) JO - peter VV Friday, August 18, 2006 7:54 PM Re: Re: The 'Grandfather' of Oakland's redwoods I know what you mean, it just dont look right does it? Even just two together looks more natural and somehow happier? maybe I just lost my marbles........... The Valley Vegan............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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