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| FR 231 to Barney Tract, AZ | | -
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| | FR 231 to Barney Tract, AZ | | | |
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FR 231 to Barney Tract, AZ
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| Hiking | 6.00 Miles |
200 AEG |
| | Hiking | 6.00 Miles | 3 Hrs 30 Mns | | 1.71 mph |
| 200 ft AEG | | | | |
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none
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| no partners | | I hiked FR 231 from the look out to section 31's NE 1/4 where there is a 160 acre old growth private in holding called the Barney Tract. It's not fenced or posted, and the cows go moo out there, so I cut some transects to take a look. I learned of this as being old growth that is mostly un-logged in an NAU home page posting last summer. I had been on the two track that leads to it a couple of times, but never explored the stand. Interestingly, the satellite images we have on HAZ have quite a few browning crowns in the stand. I wonder when the image dates from? It is also easy to pick out as it is a little different from the surrounding stands.
This private in holding has been grazed, and was over grazed in the late 19th century but never really logged. Because of this, the old trees, some of which may be over 300 years, are still there. Following the 1919 seed crop and the ensuing decades of fire exclusion, the young trees filled the gaps and now, a second even aged cohort occupies most of the old gaps. A lot of the old trees are snags now, and many or down. But, the wood for many is intact enough to get some data from, as cookie cuts are everywhere. Fires, like 2009's Taylor Fire, have been nearby, but this has been spared. I believe some level of restoration is on going, but who know what will happen. Thinning the young trees would be nice. A fire of some sort is necessary. Hopefully they'll rake around the old trees.
I took the two track (778) through the seed tree cut and proceeded west on the property line to the west side of section 31. Turned north and went up to the NW corner of 31 before going east. Crossed a draw and headed south before turning east again. I came out on the two track and went north and past a large tank. A little beyond that, turned back. Once back in the Barney Tract, I made two separate lines, about 150 feet each, into the stand. I went out and back to the AB Young.
This area has a lot of large old trees. Many have died and fallen, but those that remain are really nice. Surprisingly, duff build up isn't as thick as I expected. Many are probably over 100 feet tall, and are about the tallest ponderosa pines I have seen outside of a canyon, drain, draw, or other moist area. Almost all have a lean to one side. Some are beasts, and are massive, with a nearly full length crown extending to the ground. Most, have some degree of decline setting in, and some have a small crown with a mostly clear trunk. Lots of trunks have multiple fire scars, but some appear to have none. It's been about 130 years since the last fire before cattle came in the 1880s, so the reproduction has no such scars. It's easy to tell the difference between the old growth and the young trees, as most of the old ones are over 3 feet in diameter and are orange barkers with some yellow bellies. Arizona was Spanish when these got going.
Spooked up 4 mule deer in the seed tree cut. Lupines are getting ready to explode on 231. It must have been an entirely different world when the forest was composed mostly of old trees like this. Being close to the Rim, they're bigger than they would have been in drier areas, but this area must have been really impressive 130 years ago. Tall pines, green grass, and really open. Rare today, almost the complete opposite. |
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Wildflowers Observation Moderate
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