BY KAREN BOSSICK

The Idaho Native Plant Society of the Wood River Valley is inviting the community along on a time-honored tradition—to see a big tree.

Or, to see several big trees, that is.

Every year the chapter journeys to some of the biggest and oldest trees in Idaho. And, yes, it involves bragging rights to see if they can find the biggest one in Idaho, or even the nation.

This year they’re heading to the Harriman Trail 10 miles north of Ketchum to visit a small grove of large Engelmann Spruce.

Participants will be able to help document their height, girth and crown width using specialized forestry equipment. And they’ll discuss the trees’ health and how they grew so big and continue to thrive.

The trip leader is Jay Dorr, who has a bachelor of science degree in Forest Resource Management from the University of Idaho. Dorr recently retired from the Sawtooth National Recreation Area after more than 40 years as Trails Manager, Crosscut Saw coordinator, Lead Blaster and Air Quality Manager.

He will be assisted by Jim Rineholt, recently retired forest for the SNRA, who will show participants how to measure the spruce trees.

The hike will be mostly level walking on paved roads or improved paths, save for a little clambering over deadfall for a very short distance around the trees.

Participants can meet to carpool at:

Hailey Park and Ride on Bullion Street, ready to leave at 9 a.m.

Lake Creek Trailhead, 3.4 miles north of Ketchum, to leave at 9:30 a.m.

Participants can also park at the pullout along Highway 75 near Cathedral Pines, ready to put boots on the ground at 9:45 a.m.

BIG ASPEN

Last year the chapter measured a quaking aspen near Fish Creek in the Carey area that Jim Rineholt says is still the state champion of Idaho. It is just slightly smaller than the national champion, which is in Michigan.

The aspen has stayed the same height in recent years--at 87 feet. But its circumference is 114 inches, having grown 11 inches in 15 years. Unfortunately, the trunk has a lot of rot so it will likely soon give way to a new champion.

WANT TO GET INVOLVED?

The Idaho Native Plant Society’s Wood River Chapter is very active, leading field trips to a variety of locales from Slaughterhouse Canyon to Bald Mountain. It also joins other chapters from around the state for annual plant wildflower conventions held from Stanley to Coeur d’Alene.

And some members helped Sun Valley Resort’s Betsy Mizell collect lupine and other seeds on Bald Mountain Saturday for replanting in the Olympic area where trees were harvested this summer as part of the resort’s health forest initiative.

Learn more at https://idahonativeplants.org/wood-river/.