Hey Robert Koscik, where the heck have you been? At 41 I decided to fulfill a midlife crisis - quit my soul-sucking job and began the process of starting Green Cascadia Adventure Guide Service, focusing mainly on the wild areas within the Clackamas River Ranger District.  It has been a lot of work to say the least!   Although I am humbled by wiser and experienced people such as the individuals on this forum, or those that have grown up dedicating their lives to "Our District", I decided that there was nothing else I'd rather do with my time then to get out there at every possible chance and contribute what I can to make our small part of the Oregon Cascades a little better.  After all, the clock is indeed ticking.  "How many more years can I do this?" I often think.  But working with such a great bunch of hardworking, often retired guys with boundless energy has been my inspiration. I have a website and a blog going, please take a look!  And thanks to all of you who told me it could be done, in spite of myself. http://www.greencascadiaguides.com http://greencascadia.blogspot.com/

Is that Don standing by that big tree on your homepage? It looks like his hat. That tree looks massively huge! I hope your business venture is wildly successful.

That IS Don, man you have a good eye!  He's also featured on a brochure and all over the web pages.  I guess we see a lot of each other out there.  Good thing he's such a HANDSOME FELLER. Thank you for the well wishes, I do hope it takes off.  It has been so much work but I can't imagine anything more rewarding.  If my permit gets approved (Mid-June they tell me now), I will be 1 of 2 people with a guide service in the Clackamas District, quite an honor.  

That tree Don is standing next to in the picture looks huge. Is that the biggest tree in the area, and where is it?

I'm not sure of exact directions, but it's between the Hot Springs Fork and Baty Butte, inbetween clearcuts of course.

Maybe it's the tree Don marked on this map?  

Yes that's the one.  Where the heck did you get that map?  I guess Don posted it somewhere.

Yeah, Don posted it a while back. I don't know how I remembered it.   Hey Don, is that the biggest tree you've seen in these parts?

I think Don's district map has all sorts of little hidden gems on it.....

Kirk Tolstrup said:

Yeah, Don posted it a while back. I don't know how I remembered it.   Hey Don, is that the biggest tree you've seen in these parts?

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It is the biggest tree I have seen so far in the district. I haven't measured it or even determined which species of tree it is yet, for the limbs are so far up the tree you can't see the needles. It is found just west of Blister Creek a few hunderd feet above the 7010 road. There is a large 6-8 foot boulder on the lower side of the road that is covered in moss where you want to park. Across the road is an old spur road that will take up to the tree and beyond. I say beyond for once you have seen the big tree continue up the road to a house sized rock that is cracked in half allowing you to walk between the pieces, or climb up the log that allows you to get on top of the rock. It looks like it would be a nice place to camp. Here are some more photos: Here is one with Bob and the tree. Here is one looking up the trunk. This is the boulder you want to park by to locate the spur road that goes to the tree and beyond. Don

I'll have to take a gander when I get down that way. My first impression of the tree is that it's a Douglas Fir.

If it's a Douglas Fir, there should be lots of telltale cones around the base.   Good luck on your guide service!