Re: Weird Tree Photo
[Re: Trapper7]
#7316031
07/28/21 07:24 PM
07/28/21 07:24 PM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,582 sometimes PA sometimes ME
ebsurveyor
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,582
sometimes PA sometimes ME
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Trail trees, trail marker trees, crooked trees, prayer trees, thong trees, or culturally modified trees are hardwood trees throughout North America that Native Americans intentionally shaped with distinctive characteristics that convey that the tree was shaped by human activity rather than deformed by nature or disease.[1] A massive network of constructed pre-Columbian roads and trails have been well documented across the Americas, and in many places remnants can still be found of trails used by hunters and gatherers. One unique characteristic of the trail marker tree is a horizontal bend several feet off the ground, which makes it visible at greater distances, even in snow. Even today, modern hunters look for horizontal shapes while hunting deer, elk, and moose.[citation needed] Dr. Janssen noted in 1941: Among the many crooked trees encountered, only a few are Indian trail markers. The casual observer often experiences difficulty in distinguishing between accidentally deformed trees and those ... purposely bent by the Indians. Deformities may occur in many ways. A large tree may fall upon a sapling, pinning it down for a sufficient length of time to establish a permanent bend. Lightning may split a trunk, causing a portion to fall or lean in such a way as to resemble an Indian marker. Wind, sleet snow or depredations by animals may cause accidental deformities in trees. However, such injuries leave scars which are apparent to the careful observer, and these may serve in distinguishing such trees from Indian trail markers.[2]
Large trees that exhibit deformed growth and distinctive forms bent in a vertical plane are sometimes labeled trail trees, marker trees, thong trees, or signal trees by enthusiasts. Historically, these unique trees were commonly known as Indian trail trees. Proponents of trail tree lore claim these unique forms are culturally modified trees used to mark trails or important places. Distinctively bent trees have long been noted throughout the Temperate Deciduous Forest of eastern North America.[3] The extent to which indigenous peoples used such trees as navigational aids, and whether such trees were formed by anthropogenic or natural means is controversial.[4][5]
These distinctively shaped trees have been photographed and documented in the Great Lakes Region by scientists and historians since the early 1800s.
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Re: Weird Tree Photo
[Re: Cragar]
#7316039
07/28/21 07:32 PM
07/28/21 07:32 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,492 james bay frontierOnt.
Boco
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,492
james bay frontierOnt.
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Ever seen a nurse stump tree ? This happens when a tree starts its life on a rotting stump or broken off part of a tree. Over time it's roots seek the ground. Then the stump rots away. I've seen a couple in the woods here. Kinda weird. Nature finds a way. That would make an interesting piece of furniture.
Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
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Re: Weird Tree Photo
[Re: logger coffey]
#7316084
07/28/21 08:50 PM
07/28/21 08:50 PM
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 4,316 East Texas
BTLowry
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 4,316
East Texas
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I like rumors and legends, but i seriously doubt that crooked tree is more than 40 years old. ^^ THIS ^^ I believe there are trees that were used for that exact thing, but this is not one of them
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Re: Weird Tree Photo
[Re: Ditchdiver]
#7316152
07/28/21 10:15 PM
07/28/21 10:15 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 455 SE Missouri.
Pirogue
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 455
SE Missouri.
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Indians and pioneers would use trees like that as trail markers. They created them. I believe that they cut them a certain way to make them bend, pointing in the direction that they chose. Even if they did(which according to experts is doubtful) bend trees as markers. ...that tree isn't nearly old enough.
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Re: Weird Tree Photo
[Re: Trapper7]
#7316273
07/29/21 03:45 AM
07/29/21 03:45 AM
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Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 7,348 W NY
Turtledale
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 7,348
W NY
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[quote=Pirogue
Even if they did(which according to experts is doubtful) bend trees as markers. ...that tree isn't nearly old enough.[/quote] We use to do it as kids and teens. Some of those trees still stand in my parents woods
NYSTA, NTA, FTA, life member Erie county trappers assn.,life member Catt.county trappers
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Re: Weird Tree Photo
[Re: Trapper7]
#7316561
07/29/21 02:35 PM
07/29/21 02:35 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 15,697 MN, Land of 10,000 Lakes
Trapper7
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 15,697
MN, Land of 10,000 Lakes
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I have no idea how old the tree would be as I'm certainly no expert on trees. I just thought it was an interesting tree.
We are told not to judge all Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but are told to judge all gunowners by the actions of a few.
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Re: Weird Tree Photo
[Re: Swamp Wolf]
#7317295
07/30/21 12:01 PM
07/30/21 12:01 PM
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,934 SE WI
DuxDawg
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,934
SE WI
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I like rumors and legends, but i seriously doubt that crooked tree is more than 40 years old. Yep^^^ And that was caused by damage to the tree and it continued to grow.... ...some folks do have a great imagination...lol Exactly
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." -Edmund Burke "We are fast approaching... rule by brute force." -Ayn Rand
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Re: Weird Tree Photo
[Re: ebsurveyor]
#7317303
07/30/21 12:12 PM
07/30/21 12:12 PM
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,934 SE WI
DuxDawg
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,934
SE WI
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Trail trees, trail marker trees, crooked trees, prayer trees, thong trees, or culturally modified trees are hardwood trees throughout North America that Native Americans intentionally shaped with distinctive characteristics that convey that the tree was shaped by human activity rather than deformed by nature or disease.[1] A massive network of constructed pre-Columbian roads and trails have been well documented across the Americas, and in many places remnants can still be found of trails used by hunters and gatherers. One unique characteristic of the trail marker tree is a horizontal bend several feet off the ground, which makes it visible at greater distances, even in snow. Even today, modern hunters look for horizontal shapes while hunting deer, elk, and moose.[citation needed] Dr. Janssen noted in 1941: Among the many crooked trees encountered, only a few are Indian trail markers. The casual observer often experiences difficulty in distinguishing between accidentally deformed trees and those ... purposely bent by the Indians. Deformities may occur in many ways. A large tree may fall upon a sapling, pinning it down for a sufficient length of time to establish a permanent bend. Lightning may split a trunk, causing a portion to fall or lean in such a way as to resemble an Indian marker. Wind, sleet snow or depredations by animals may cause accidental deformities in trees. However, such injuries leave scars which are apparent to the careful observer, and these may serve in distinguishing such trees from Indian trail markers.[2]
Large trees that exhibit deformed growth and distinctive forms bent in a vertical plane are sometimes labeled trail trees, marker trees, thong trees, or signal trees by enthusiasts. Historically, these unique trees were commonly known as Indian trail trees. Proponents of trail tree lore claim these unique forms are culturally modified trees used to mark trails or important places. Distinctively bent trees have long been noted throughout the Temperate Deciduous Forest of eastern North America.[3] The extent to which indigenous peoples used such trees as navigational aids, and whether such trees were formed by anthropogenic or natural means is controversial.[4][5]
These distinctively shaped trees have been photographed and documented in the Great Lakes Region by scientists and historians since the early 1800s. Buwahahaha!! SMH!! Amer Indians were all forced onto reservations by the late 1880's, 150 years or so ago. Stop and think how large 150+ year old trees would be, how few such trees have survived all the construction, forest clearing, disease, weather, etc . Now look at that trunk diameter and realize the tree in the OP's pic is VASTLY too young. Common sense isn't just rare these days, it's obviously extinct.
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." -Edmund Burke "We are fast approaching... rule by brute force." -Ayn Rand
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Re: Weird Tree Photo
[Re: Trapper7]
#7317416
07/30/21 02:49 PM
07/30/21 02:49 PM
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Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 3,076 Wyoming
cmcf
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 3,076
Wyoming
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Lumberjack. Nailed it. I see a bunch of trees just like that cutting firewood. And all ages too from saplings still being held down but reaching for the sun to dead and down. They are so common among lodgepole there is a company south of town makes furniture with them.
“The world is governed by very different personages from what is imagined” B. Disraeli
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