Canister Tree Types

[MattC]

Okay, here's a weird one for y'all. This is something I thought of the other day while doing North Dome and Sherill. Can anyone name the correct species of all the trees to which the Catskill 3500 Club (or other) canisters are nailed?
I've only bagged a handful of canisters so far, and my tree identification skills are definitely still in the larval stage, but I thought this might be a good quiz for you more experienced woodsfolk. Or maybe this is just an example of the weird stuff I think about when I hike alone.

Matt

Hiking-the most fun you can have with you gear on.

 

[Tom Rankin]

Are you asking if we know the tree species of each and every canister tree, or are you saying that in every case the tree is the same species? From photos I have, I can guarantee that the tree species are different, but I do not have photos of every canister.

Btw, I live in Poughkeepsie. What are your hiking interests, other than the obvious, the Catskills ? My wife and I are both hike leaders over there. I'm #1503.

 

[Mark Schaefer]

The only canister tree in the Catskills I can specifically remember is the one on Table. Actually the canister was removed in 1975 after the Long Path opened in 1972. It is a balsam fir. You can still see three of the four metal anchors from the former canister. The trunk diameter is just under a foot, but the tree is stunted just over your head in a maze of twisted horizontal branches. It appears that any twig that dared grow too high was soon blunted sideways by the high winds on the summit.

I suspect balsam fir is a fairly common canister tree in the Catskills. The 3500 club probably just chose any mature and healthy tree that appeared closest to the summit.

 

[snowshoe]

Mark, I like the way you think. Now I have to reclimb all those peaks again and see what tree type the canisters are on. Now I have another excuse for my wife on why I need to climb all those peaks. Darn.

I never thought about identifying the tree species and usually when I hike I will try to identify some of the trees along my rout. Just never thought about the canister trees. Guess I am always too busy reading the logs.

 

[MattC]

Are you asking if we know the tree species of each and every canister tree, or are you saying that in every case the tree is the same species? From photos I have, I can guarantee that the tree species are different, but I do not have photos of every canister.

I was asking the former. I too am sure that they're all different. I was basically just seeing if anyone else besides me thinks of weird, esoteric stuff like this. Also, knowing the specific tree types might help slightly when looking for canisters on certain summits.
Btw, I live in Poughkeepsie. What are your hiking interests, other than the obvious, the Catskills ? My wife and I are both hike leaders over there. I'm #1503.

We've actually met twice in Poughkeepsie-the Pete Fish lecture and at EMS club night. I also did Overlook with Dawn a few weeks ago, and will be doing Halcott with in a week. I just started hiking the Catskills in August and am pretty focused there right now. For the 35, I still need:
West Kill, Halcott, Rusk, Vly, Bearpen, Lone, Rocky, Balsam Cap, Friday. I'll probably be doing the last two this Sunday with the club. I'd like to hike Saturday as well, but haven't decided what to do yet. I'll probably save West Kill until I do the rest of the 'whacks. I also still need all four winter requirements.

Next year I'll be looking to head up to the ADKs again. I might also be up for the occasional trip to other parts of the NE. I enjoy going up the Shawangunks quite a bit, for obvious reasons. Due to my proximity, I tend to hike in the 'Gunks when I can't get up to the Catskills. Lastly, since I'll be snowshoeing and using crampons for the first time in my life this winter, I'll probably be practicing 'shoeing on easy stuff like Shaupaneak Ridge, Black Creek Trail, and even the Highland and Walkill Rail Trails. Hell, I'll snowshoe around New Paltz on those really snowy days.

Matt

 

[woodstrider]

The cannister on...

Rocky is on a Balsam
On Friday is on a spruce (red?)
On North Dome is a Balsam