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The Wild Trees, by Richard Preston

Started by johnlilly · 10 months ago

I picked this book up not because I wanted to read about trees, but because I really enjoyed Preston’s debut book, The Hot Zone, about ebola. His other stuff hasn’t been as good, but I enjoyed this book — it’s about the biggest living organi ... Continue reading »

6 comments

  • The book was quite good.

    And I went ahead and found the grove of titans.

    If I filled the link box right, either my name, or a text link should hyperlink to a page about my experience looking for those largest trees mentioned in Preston's book.

    Still keeping the location secret, but did share one image. Was really raining the day we took the photograph of the Del Norte Titan. Found it, as well as the grove.

    There are many trees there not as big, but equally as enjoyable.
  • Desperately seeking the location of the grove of titans. Would appreciate anyone's assistance. Can I climb one of these trees without getting my head chopped off? I need to see them up close, & then looking down, from the top. I'm practicing climbing down in florida. by the way, the world's oldest tree is right here, by me. It's called "The Senator Tree," & has a girlfriend by his side, "Lady Liberty." He's 3500 & she's 2000. This information is not in any books you can find in any library or college, I might add.
  • This is the best book I've read in 5 yrs. The audio version is mesmerizing. Clearly, the passion of discovery is contagious, due to Preston's mastery of the art of creative writing & spiritual matters. I'm taking a wk off to come out there & investigate it for myself, all the way from Florida. I'll be there in early May. My favorite line in the book is at the end...... "Don't ever stop; keep going.... & If someone tells you something is impossible, do that thing first & prove that it IS possible, & then keep going...."
  • About Becki Weaver's request...

    You probably read my earlier post, about finding the grove. Page is:

    http://www.mdvaden.com/grove_of_titans.shtml

    I also visited Atlas Grove.

    Seeing that you wish to climb them, I would not be able to help you. If anyone was going to twist my arm, I'd have to be certain that they would not climb the trees or post the location on the internet.

    Although they are tucked-away, your chances of getting caught climbing them are not small. Because there is research occuring every now and then.

    People around there are so concerned about the trees, and the endangered bird species, that they would almost certainly report you to the park ranger.

    By the way, part of Preston's book is misleading about where the Grove of Titans is located. I can't share the details, except to say that some details in the book don't seem to match the location.
  • ...seriously don't be a dope, climbing these trees for purposes other than care and research is a selfish and downright dumbass thing to do. besides, it takes expert climbing skills as the first branches can be 100+ feet up
  • The only purpose I have in finding the grove, is for purposes of taking photos, for a painting, or maybe a story. One must actually be INSIDE the forest to truly experience it's majesty. Simply reading about climbing the trees, with Steve Sillett's brilliant new climbing method, was enough to light up the fires of my imagination, although I guess you didn't realize I was only dreaming of one day actually climbing the trees, my friend......To be in the forest, and have any intention other than appreciation or study, with a desire for preservation, in my view, is insanity. I love the trees, and the forest, as well as all the forests of the world. The lovers of these trees, forests, and the life within, along with their counterparts around the world, need to ban together and stand strong against the industries that would destroy them. You may not realize this, dear reader, but every time you frequent a fast food restaurant & eat a hamburger, you are fanning the flames that result in the "slash & burners" in 3rd world countries. Where the only jobs people can find are to cut down the rain forest & replace it with cattle, so the beef can be sold back to the US to satisfy America's demand for fast food.

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