[Update] When Humboldt Says ‘Tree in Roadway,’ This Is What It Means (The Avenue Is Closed, No ETO)
Caltrans crews were on scene near Pepperwood shortly after dawn, where this redwood demonstrated why “tree in roadway” means something a little different here than it does in most places. [Photo: Caltrans District 1]
A redwood apparently took inspiration from Gandalf and planted itself squarely across both lanes near Pepperwood about 4:50 a.m., bringing traffic on Highway 254 to a halt and forcing locals and tourists alike onto Highway 101.
The photos from Caltrans District 1 help explain why. In most places, a “tree in the roadway” means a few branches and a quick cleanup. In Humboldt County, it can mean sending a crew with chainsaws to battle what appears to be an Ent stretched endlessly in either direction.
As of 8:45 a.m., the road remains closed between Barkdull Road and Jordan Road–near Shively–and there is currently no estimated reopening time.
Drop your best caption in the comments.
Caltrans crews are hard at work removing the redwood that shut down a stretch of the Avenue of the Giants this morning. The workers on top provide a helpful scale reference for anyone wondering whether the closure was really necessary. [Photo from Caltrans District 1]
Join the discussion! For rules visit: https://kymkemp.com/commenting-rules
Comments system how-to: https://wpdiscuz.com/community/postid/10599/
Caltrans dude better call for a bigger chainsaw …
I agree. Looks like a Tonka Toy saw.
The second photo includes a more appropriate chainsaw.
That’s actually a huge saw in the first photo, you can just barely see the tip of the bar coming out of the bark beneath him.
Agree!
Aye. One handed control? Better get thee to a training session
that ain’t no consumer bar either! that puppy looks to be over 6 feet long…
And he’s one-handing it.
“If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?”
of course
“If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?”
Yes… All the same rules of physics apply. It doesn’t need a stoned out hippy to worry about reality.
A silent tree-fall makes no sound.
Where is Schrodinger when you need him?
Hey! Respect your elders!
Hey. . .I’m 85 years young. Does that make me an elder or an older youngster?
the car running into it would.
Looks like the tree finally decided to branch out into traffic
Cool pic. Posted it to one of my Bay Area forums to give the chowder heads down there a klew.
Sad part is this just an average size Redwood. A large one would be much bigger.
I hope someone is figuring out what caused it to fall. She looks old enough to have deeper roots than that. If we have a problem, the sooner the better to fix it.
IMHO:
You are kidding ?
Why not take a walk in the old-growth forest ?
Downed trees are everywhere.
When you cut roots of old growth to build or widen roads, the redwoods lose those roots connected to other redwoods which keep them standing. It is inevitable that these trees will first die off at the top and then fall due to lack of stability. Nothing will stop Caltrans who is the process of destroying thousand years Old Growth in Richardson Grove State Park by cutting half way around their roots and along 199 they will log old growth because they do not care if these old growth redwoods will die as long as they can shove the longest OVERSIZED Interstate trucks into our already clogged Eureka and small neighboring cities. Also, redwoods over 3,000 years old fall in winter storms too.
Ummm, so much of your post is derived form propaganda of the ecofreaks and climate conspiracy fools. Dont be a CCF. Or an EF.
Don’t be an Ent. Be a Gandolph.
The truth is the vast majority of Old growth redwoods are in remote areas of National and State parks protected from logging. Sacrificing a small number of these trees to assure we have safe appropriate highway system is worth it. There will be many more natural windfalls of these giants in areas rarely viewed by mankind.
Redwood roots are shallow, and they do not grow deeper.
Where are the protesters to keep them from chopping up this tree?!?!?
LET THE DEADFALL LAY!
You tell em rickhead.
Got to be some ‘endangered’ species living in that tree !
Don’t worry, The late night cutting crew the rangers have been looking for won’t be able to miss this bait.
Gravity and tree wrestle quietly.
Only while the tree is winning.
You can’t park there!
I hope that they are going to use that wood… That would be beautiful wood… Don’t just let that rot…
YEARS AGO,
Up in the Oakland hills I-13 runs thru a grove of redwoods. Late one night a giant redwood fell across all lanes and some poor sap unbeknownst what was ahead goes barrelling up the hwy in the pre dawn dark at 60mph & slammed into the tree killing himself instantly. Another redwood tree took one more life.
!
It’s a GASOLINE powered chainsaw. I am going to tell the Governor that you need an electric one with solar photovoltaic charging.