There is an excellent article in the current anniversary issue of The New Yorker magazine by Richard Preston entitled “Climbing The Redwoods” (unfortunately the article is not online).
Preston is working on a book about tree climbing and spent some time in the Northern California redwoods with Stephen Sillett and his wife Marie Antoine—researchers on the faculty of Humboldt State University in Arcata California. The huge upper canopy of these 2000 year old redwood trees is a vast uncharted environment. The article talks about the scientific research professor Sillett is working on, as well as discusses the tree climbing techniques he uses. Author Preston became interested in tree climbing and has attended a school devoted to teaching a safe “rope and harness” style of tree climbing. The Tree Climbers International Inc. organization is based in Atlanta Georgia and offers classes and information on tree climbing. You can become a member for $20 a year and subscribe to their online newsletter. Check the website for the class schedule.
[I was unaware that writer Preston was the best selling author of "The Hot Zone" until reading the byline info in the front of the magazine after completing the article. ]
Seriously, I am another Stephen Sillett 40 years of age. Graduate in Anthropology and IT administrator living in North Wales UK. Amazed to find YOUR Stephen Sillett,
Give my regards to the other Stephen Sillett who appears to have climbed alot higher than I ever will, I get vertigo.
Great Website and I will be looking out for more articles regarding the Silverculturalist.
The article you mentioned, may still be online.
For this comment box, I put my Grove of Titans redwood page link in the box. If done right, either my name is a link, or there is one in sight.
On my page, about half way down, is a hyperlink to a copy of that article, or one near identical, stored on another website.
Within the tree climbers network, there is a climbing school out near our neck of the woods too…
http://www.treeclimbingnorthwest.com
To be sure, here’s my page link written…
http://www.mdvaden.com/grove_of_titans.shtml
There is another link to a second article as well, about the Day of Discovery, also about Dr. Steve Sillett and Michael Taylor.
M. D. Vaden of Oregon
Steve, You had photos of other plants (huklberry)growing high up in the canopies of giant redwoods. Has anyone found the pacific yew tree growing up in the redwoods ? these two species of trees have overlapping habitats (both on the extreme west coast of california) and the berries of the yew tree are carried by birds and the seeds are are then deposited, some in trees. Both of these trees will grow for thousands of years. I also saw another photo where there is an exchange of nutrients between the host and the guest plant. I have heard that it is common for the yew tree to be growing next to a redwood. The lumbering companies would cut down the yew (which was considered worthless) just to get to the redwood for harvesting for profit. The yew tree is now considered very valuble because is contains TAXOL. I just wonder has anyone found a yew tree growing up in a redwood ?
George Seuss