"Are we there yet?" The hike is a relatively easy, steady grade upward and goes for two miles leading some to ask "are we there yet" evey quarter mile. It was like having the kids in the back seat as you do the long drive to the relative's house over the holidays.

To get to the good trees, there's one major stream crossing which I'm calling Tumbling Creek (ask Jeff and Joe about this).

We tossed a line into the lowest TIP (75 feet) and used Joe's 9mm to climb SRT. With it starting to drizzle Joe was happy to lead the way as Jeff and I huddled under a tarp. I followed next as Joe played director, followed by Jeff. We all worked our way up to 130+ feet. We looked at two different leads that would advance us another 20 feet but decided that if was more relaxing to sit and enjoy the view.

Joe starting the climb.....













Joe at 130+.......




Jeff at 130+......







Some moss in the tree......




End of the climb but two more miles of "are we ther yet?"

Epic climb! Great shot of Jeff out on a limb.

Nearest big tuliptrees are at least 2.5 hrs drive for me. Maybe it's going to have to be the new normal for commute distance to climb.
-AJ

Video from Cochran Creek (AKA: Tumbling Creek). Called Tumbling Creek because two of us tumbled into the creek I won't name names other than to confess that I was one of them! Very cold!

http://youtu.be/7yuJIR4pepQ

Joe - nice job with the video. I thought it gave a good representation of the tree and its environment. It's a beautiful place. My favorite shot is of you limb walking with a brief glimpse of the creek below.

Moss a 2.5 hour drive seems too long when you have all those great white pine near by. Now that I've finally got a pair of split tails, I'm seeking out more whites pines....it's nice to top out.

I can count the number of large woods tulips I've climbed on one hand so I am drawn to them

Eastern Mass. is outside of the natural range of tuliptree, we have them around but they're all planted park or yard trees. There is a small sliver of natural tuliptree habitat in western Mass. their range expands quite a bit in central and western Connecticut.

Jim, I take it that using split tails will make white pine climbing a bit easier for you since you won't need to retie your system every time you advance, and in a tall white pine that could be quite a few pitches.

Great job on the video Joe!
-AJ

Thanks guys for a great climb report and video to boot. The area is gorgeous and the poplar makes me drool. Were the tulip flowers out when you climbed? My favorite picture is the one looking down the trunk as Joe is ascending. The understory and the towering trunk rising up from it reminds me of pictures of the Eucalyptus regnans trees in Australia.