Nimrod

Many of you may have heard that the TCI grove's white oak Nimrod is finally going to come down after being fatally infected with fungus carried by the exotic Asian ambrosia beetle. Here are a few photos of Nimrod from when I took the BTCC in the Founder's Grove in '05.

The mighty Nimrod


Nimrod and Dianna's branches meet up high


-moss

Considering how many people have trained and/or partied at the TCI grove, and most all have taken photos while there. . . I would assume that there are more photos of Nimrod & Dianna than just about any other tree in the state!

What is the estimated age of Nimrod???
Just wondering,
-Electrojake-

P.S. How’s the weather up there moss?
Boston says 15 degrees and 40 MPH winds - Wow!
Stay warm!
Regards,
\"Chicken George\"
Waitin' for Spring in Jersey
-Ej-

Sorry to hear about death in your \"family\". I have four white oaks in my yard - what are the symtoms of this fungus and is there any way to prevent or treat this if caught soon enough? Thanks in advance to any and all replies in the future. Sincerely Todd

One of my first high climbs lead by Abe Winters( At that time 40 feet )was in Nimrod. I thought that I had climbed a mountain. What a great view from a truely beauitful tree. Many things come and go but Nimrod will be missed. If there are trees in heaven then Nimrod will be there waiting for us. Trailwatcher

The fungus that ultimately killed Nimrod was hypoxolon canker. It is a latent colonizer that can be present on health trees for years, sometimes its entire life, and do no harm until the tree suffers a sudden stress event- such as an attack of an imprted insect, lightning strike, root loss to contruction, draught etc. Hypoxolon is not curable, if caught early and if conditions are favorable it might be managed.The trick is catching the symptoms early and pruning out the infected limbs before the fungus reaches the main trunk, and sometimes you just can't be fast enough. I don't want to give anyone the impression that the chances of survival are good; however, because this is a natural, native and yet fatal disease of forest trees.
Peace
Sadams

The infected sections of the tree were cut out quickly. For a while I thought there might have been a chance to manage the fungus. Then the bark would pop off another branch and it would be cut off. The grim part was that the branches that showed the fungus were in the tops of Nimrod- which is always a bad sign. Much better to have the low branches affected than the important top that gets the most sunlight exposure (trees eat sunlight).

Dianna, the neighboring oak, has been hit with the fungus as well. Her decline is a bit slower than Nimrod. She will probably expire in a year. It is all a bit depressing- seeing friends decline and fade away.

I will be saving sections of Nimrod for a time. There is not going to be much high grade wood, as Nimrod has a hollow. The two lower branches, the main branches that climbers used, will be saved entirely as well as some of the trunk sections and tops.

I need to get a barometer on wood people may want. I personally will get some of the local wood turners to make me some pieces. I might get a short section milled but there is not a lot of usable trunk wood for that purpose.

What do you folks want? I do not want to prolong parting out my friend Nimrod over an extended period of time. I need some ideas here, usable ones at that please.

I'm having a hard time with the loss. Nimrod was the tree where I conceived the idea of technical tree climbing and brought out the idea to the public. I do not know how many thousands of climbers went up into his branches. Nimrod only broke two branches in my relationship with him and he broke them harmlessly in the night when no one was around. He was gentle to the climbers and put up with our treading on his limbs. I'll miss him.

I really feel for you, Treeman (and everyone else who got to know Nimrod over the years). The idea of making things out of the wood to celebrate his life is brilliant. I've had some ideas:

- a carving (be it a flat panel or a round section) depicting students and teachers in Nimord's branches, or notable features of the tree, or events over the years.

- small pieces (perhaps a circular disc from a wide branch) which can be given to every treeclimbing grove that originated at TCI. That way a piece of Nimrod would be in tree climbing groves around the world, symbolising the contribution that Nimrod, Dianna and TCI have made to so many people.

Somewhere out there is another tree that will introduce new generations of people to the canopy

Michael

A couple items of interest I thought everyone would like:



Nimrod: a view from Dianna

&



Treeman


Nimrod's branches will soon reach heaven...

-Towhee

Hello Treeman;
Sorry to heard about your lost of Nimrod. It is sad to loose a \"member\" of the family!
There is a tree here in Austin that is very famous (Council/Treaty Oak)and it was poisoned but a crazy person a few years back. By luck they were able to save a portion of the tree and many of the pieces cut where made into artistic momentos that were sold at option to help cover future cost of the local forestry and care of trees in the City. There must be some local artists there that would put some of that wood to good use and make something that TCI may even be able to sell on line to people that had the fortune and opportunity to learn to climb in this great tree. (If life give you lemons, make lemonade!)

Here is a link to that tree History and photos
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/treatyoak/hist1.htm

Another site about local famous trees
http://www.austinexplorer.com/ShowArticle.aspx?ArticleID=1000
Treaty Oak
Treaty Oak is by far the most famous tree in Austin. This 500 year old giant was once one of fourteen trees referred to by local Indians as the Council Oaks. Treaty Oak in particular was revered by both the Commanches and Tonkawas. Legend states that it was under this tree that Stephen F. Austin signed a treaty with the Indians from which its name was derived. This majestic tree once sported a 127 foot spread and was considered to be the finest example of a mature oak in the world. In 1929 the tree was added to the American Forestry Association's compilation of famous and historic U.S. trees.

Hope you guys enjoy thess tree stories!

If a tree house is going to be built in memorial to Nimrod, I would suggest using his limbs, branches, wood etc. in the building of it. An arbor/ gateway door to a new climbing area, a beautiful slab table, or other commemorative uses would be wonderful. The late George Nakashima was a master of selecting and using trees and their wood to build not only beautiful furniture, but pieces such as an Altar For Peace at St. Johns Cathedral in New York. His company in Pennsylvania is still carrying on his work, and I wonder if they might be interested in helping out.

What is the storage situation there? Can I be of help?

All the best, Dogwood

I've never had the pleasure of knowing Nimrod, but I like the idea of a carving. It will allow those who knew him to remember him, and those who didn't to learn his history and of his importance to the sport.

\"Trees stretch to heaven to bring the sky within our reach.\" - Baker

Nimrod has brought more sky to more people than any other.
Remember him well.