I think he was joking about the photoshop. Its just a one liner joke now that its been said so much.

Deer hunting a place as a kid there was a stump in that woods that was enormous. I'd hate to guess its diameter but it was huge. I wonder if its still there.

I was reading a history book and it talked about a famous old tree before my time just West of me that was at a fork in the road and everyone around for centuries had used it for a land mark and for giving directions. I always thought that was kinda neat. The old stories they could tell.

Every time I see one of those giant White Oak trees I wish they could describe everything that has happen around them during their lifetime .I always hate to see them go but everything has a lifespan that comes to and end .In the area I hunt in W VA their are quite a few old giants scattered throughout the mountains .Even when the leaves are off they look beautiful as the branches reach for the sky . Thanks for your post RM Trapper .You seem to be paying your respect for something that has lived for centuries .

Good job on the take-down. Who gets all the wood from that giant?

There is a giant chinkapin oak near me referred to as the "Sacred Oak." It is estimated to be 500-700 years old, no core sample has been done to determine it's true age. It is documented as a place native Indians used to gather for various ceremonies.

Outstanding job beautiful pictures. You are the man!

The church kept the wood, they were going to split it up and give to elderly for a ministry they have. Pass-thru over have the tree was dead and they were afraid it was going to fall and hit the church or cemetery

That's cool they will do that with the wood

I use Aluminum Gecko spikes, I am not sure the Carbon fiber really offers enough weight savings to be worth it.

Not sure if you are familiar with this site or not? http://www.climbingarborist.com/ it is pretty good resource of information, I would highly recommend you look under basic climbing techniques then watch the hitch climber video, once you become familiar with a hitch climber swapping over to SRT and using acenders will come much easier. I know you old school guys can get it done on a Blakes but adopting the newer techniques and gear will help preserve your body.

Cool pics bud, nice work. I call those old trees witness trees, just think off what theyv'e witnessed. Better to cut em down and use em than falling and doing damage when they are dying.

Yea man I've been climbing for 18 years and I'm starting to feel the pains. I definitely need to upgrade to make it easier on my body. I have 3 young kids and a pregnant wife so I'm going to need to be able to climb for at least another 20 years. Lol.

I am only 28, I am getting sick of being sore, sick of being injured, hate that I cannot shoot bow right now because my shoulder is screwed up from work, I will probably never quit climbing though, it is a sickness, hard to find something that I both Love and Hate as much as climbing trees.

We have an old fella in our trapping council that does tree work,he is 70 years old and climbs trees freehand with a chainsaw and cuts them from the top down in town or around buildings-no ropes.
You should be good for a while.

400 is ancient for a white oak. Contrary to what many think most trees have a natural lifespan of just a few hundred years. Only a small handful of species like the bristlecone or sequoias survive for millinnia.
Short of allowing it to decay in place or fall if it were on an undisturbed site there's absolutely nothing wrong with harvesting mature trees nearing the end of their life.

Did you hug it first??

This is kind of like driving your car with a welding helmet on, it may work out for you but chances are pretty good that you are going to eat it sooner or later.

I climbed for 28 years and it is hard on the body I understand totally what you are saying. I can tell you always work smart even if it takes a little longer to do the job.

It would cost a lot less to have the tree guy just drop the tree in your yard and cut it up yourself/friend/somebody for firewood. Maple ain't great but it burns OK.

What is freehand climbing?

Given by whom it was written, it likely means, "to lie why looking directly into the eyes of the second party."

Art has been doing that for years.
The only ones he wont do is if there no way of not of dropping wood on a building.

Good work. Cool story on the tree.