Weird snag on Elk Meadows Trail

The purpose of this forum is to help people identify things they've seen while out hiking: wildflowers, trees, birds, insects, small animals, animal tracks, even geographical features like buttes or streams
User avatar
Banksia
Posts: 46
Joined: June 13th, 2009, 8:50 pm

Temp

Post by Banksia » June 28th, 2010, 7:04 pm

I saw a similar snag with those odd X-patterns near Union Creek
west of Crater Lake NP a couple of years ago. I sent pictures
to a friend who works in forestry at OSU -- and he and his
colleagues were mystified.

User avatar
Koda
Posts: 3466
Joined: June 5th, 2009, 7:54 am

Re: Elk Meadows 6-28-10

Post by Koda » June 28th, 2010, 7:31 pm

I am curious too what caused those X patterns on the snag. Thought I would share my photo of the same snag I took last march. I've never seen anything like that.
Attachments
IMG_4741_copy.JPG
lightweight, cheap, strong... pick 2

User avatar
-Q-
Posts: 1433
Joined: July 5th, 2008, 10:42 pm

Re: Elk Meadows 6-28-10

Post by -Q- » June 28th, 2010, 9:19 pm

Another pic to add to the research file....
Attachments
DSCN3116.JPG

User avatar
Waffle Stomper
Posts: 3707
Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm

Re: Elk Meadows 6-28-10

Post by Waffle Stomper » June 28th, 2010, 9:25 pm

So this tree is not unusual. Looks like we have a mystery on our hands?

Great shots and report and I'm glad you made the hike towards elk meadows. How was the Newton Creek Crossing. There was a neat log there and I wonder if it is still there.
"When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe." - John Muir

User avatar
Waffle Stomper
Posts: 3707
Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm

Re: Weird snag on Elk Meadows Trail

Post by Waffle Stomper » June 28th, 2010, 9:35 pm

Interestingly here is another post regarding what looks like the same tree.
http://oregonstate.edu/admissions/blog/ ... gyle-tree/
"When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe." - John Muir

User avatar
adamschneider
Posts: 3710
Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:02 pm
Location: SE Portland
Contact:

Re: Elk Meadows 6-28-10

Post by adamschneider » June 29th, 2010, 12:02 am

All three pictures are the same tree, right?

User avatar
Stevefromdodge
Posts: 2508
Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm

Re: Weird snag on Elk Meadows Trail

Post by Stevefromdodge » June 29th, 2010, 6:57 am

Waffle Stomper wrote:Interestingly here is another post regarding what looks like the same tree.
http://oregonstate.edu/admissions/blog/ ... gyle-tree/
That does look like the same tree, although there's no mention of where the picture was taken.

User avatar
Jabali
Posts: 154
Joined: August 10th, 2008, 1:45 am
Location: Clackamas River
Contact:

Re: Weird snag on Elk Meadows Trail

Post by Jabali » June 29th, 2010, 7:08 am

Waffle Stomper wrote:Interestingly here is another post regarding what looks like the same tree.
http://oregonstate.edu/admissions/blog/ ... gyle-tree/
I placed the two pictures side by side for comparison and they definitely are the same tree. The pictures were taken from different angles but there is enough overlap to identify and compare patterns, small branch snags and so on.

Unfortunately all the OSU post can tell us is "This one has even stumped the researchers at North America’s number one College of Forestry"!

Despite its partial regularity I doubt it is man-caused. If something had been wrapped around it then indentations should have resulted. But it has me stumped! :shock:

The Examiner article contains another picture and a discussion but no explanation.
http://www.examiner.com/x-6251-Portland ... rgyle-Tree
....where does that trail go?

User avatar
Waffle Stomper
Posts: 3707
Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm

Re: Weird snag on Elk Meadows Trail

Post by Waffle Stomper » June 29th, 2010, 7:25 am

My curiosity really has me going on this. I too don't think it s man caused regardless of the regularity. I've searched everything from bugs to to fungus to climate caused scaring and don't see anything similar anywhere. Now I'm going to pay more attention to the next tree I see. Because I think I've seen this elsewhere.
"When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe." - John Muir

User avatar
Charley
Posts: 1827
Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm
Location: Milwaukie

Re: Weird snag on Elk Meadows Trail

Post by Charley » June 29th, 2010, 8:39 am

Maybe it's a congenital defect? Like some misfiring piece of DNA that has corrupted the growth pattern of the tree?
Believe it or not, I barely ever ride a mountain bike.

Post Reply