Open season starts September 16 for climbing trees. Not just any trees, but giant coastal redwoods, or Sequoia Sempervirens as they are known to the handful of scientist who currently study in them. Things were different in 1987 when a group of college students ascended one of these giants on a dare. As far as anyone knew, the redwoods had never been climbed.
Brothers Scott and Steve Sillett and best buddy Marwood Harris were on fall break in 1987 from their respective universities. Traveling the National Parks of Oregon and California in a beat-up, blue Honda Civic, they stopped for a break in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. This trio, as always, was low on funds. They decided to ditch the car to avoid permit fees, and hiked into an unpopulated part of the park.
When the meager trail narrowed, Steve ran ahead and began bushwhacking a new path. By the time the others caught up, Steve was staring at one of the largest trees he had ever seen. Marwood and Steve began circling the tree as Scott scouted out a campsite in the redwood grove.
With a little nod between men, Steve murmured, “I’m lusting for this tree.” He took a running jump and landed 8 feet into a neighboring redwood. This redwood was young and it took Steve ten minutes to reach the top as Marwood followed suit.
Transitioning to the giant tree would be tricky. Steve began to sway on the smaller tree’s leader, a top part of any redwood which resembles an arm stretching to the sun, with the idea to catch a limb on the giant’s trunk.
Scott was in a panic at the bottom. He understood a man might die from a 15 foot fall, and here was his brother and friend 50 feet in the air. At this height a falling man will become an inverted arrow with no way to protect his head or spine from certain tragic consequences.
Scott was now out of his mind as he watched his brother swing the smaller tree close and jump 8 feet of open space. Steve grabbed onto an epicormic branch (a flimsy, fan-shaped spray of needles) that developed out of a scar on the larger tree’s trunk. It held.
Once aspiring botanists Steve and Marwood entered the redwood’s canopy, they recognized it as a never before seen habitat.
The Wild Trees by Richard Preston is a remarkable piece of narrative nonfiction from the author of The Hot Zone.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
The Wild Trees (copy)
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20 comments:
OH! I have this on a list . . . somewhere. :)
This sounds like a very interesting story!
Wow. Sounds interesting.
Joy, this would be a good one for your nonfiction five challenge! :)
April, I expected more science, but was rather pleased with the narrative aspect. :)
It was, Holly! There was a love story, too. Which is very unusual in a book on trees. :P
I love trees :) Do you think I would like this story?
I'm not sure Brittanie. It is less nonfictiony with a slight love story, so I do think it appeals to straight fiction readers; unfortunately, a true-science searching, nonfiction reader will be disappointed.
Looks like a really cool book, though I'm a bit put off by that last comment. I was expecting a pure non-fiction account after reading your review.
This sounds so good! I have to put it on my hold list at the library.
It is narrative nonfiction, Jeane. A chance to tell a story along with the facts makes for an entertaing book and I liked it. It is hard to hand the book to another person knowing they only want to read about redwoods, climbing, and the unknown habitat newly discovered. Let's say, if one has to have footnotes, this book will disappoint.
You might like it after reading 50 pages. I expressed to my friend yesterday about the speed at which I sped through the book. It takes me an hour to read 50 pages of nonfiction normally, but I found myself reading this book in half the time. I pay close attention when reading NF, but with the narrative NF I took my learning at a piecemeal pace.
Hey, I wrote the booktalk like the book! I told you the story of three college students two of whom were the first (recorded) to climb a giant redwood. I gave you the date (1987), the car they drove (blue Honda Civic), the name of the park, the possible loss of life at 15 feet, and the position of a body falling through space. I even gave you a quote, but I used a story to convey these facts.
I'm going on, aren't I!?! The sex in the canopy, 300 feet in the air, was a little much... ;D
Great Vasilly! Enjoy! :)
Well, you've made a good point. I do often absorb factual stuff better when it's part of a good story. Think I'll give this one a try.
I'm dying to read your thoughts when you do get to it, Jeane! :)
I guess it's better to lust for a tree than a woman whose boyfriend/husband is a criminal.
Sounds very interesting!
Thanks for your offer for evacuation.
I might take you up on it. Hurricane season has a month and a half to go.
Yeah, WW100. Trees have a history of avoiding the law. ;D
I have some rels in Houston/Galveston that are currently taking a beating w/ Ike. But yes, we are due north off of I-55 in an erosive-chic town. I would say that describes our 1873 home, too. ;)
I loved The Hot Zone (although the ending was a bit of a let-down . . . it just kind of ended . . . very anticlimactic) and this one's on my wish list. I'm glad to see a second thumbs-up!
I like trees too...They are our friends...
Bookfool - In this book he actually gets more complicated/sciencie towards the end as a way of answering all those questions readers accumulate during reading. I haven't read THe Hot Zone,but I want to now! :)
I really want to travel out and see them after reading the book, Paul! ;)
I've read both The Wild Trees and The Hot Zone. Preston is an engaging writer. The Wild Trees is fascinating. Read it along with Ecology of a Cracker Childhood by Janisse Ray, about saving a different kind of tree on the other side of the country.
Who knew our trees were having such problem, Deborah. Thanks for stopping by and commenting! :D
Just finished reading The Wild Trees a seond time, and updated my full book review. If you have already read the book, the review may have a curve ball:
The Wild Trees review by M. D. Vaden
A link under the page title provides related information.
MDV
Oregon
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