The Introduction to Dendrology series of caches is an opportunity to learn something about the vegetation of California in it's natural environment. Look for ITD series all over the state along with the Intermediate Dendrology (ID) series and the Advanced Dendrology (AD) series as it develops over the coming months. Calocedrus decurrens, commonly known as incense-cedar, is not a true cedar at all. When Europeans first began to explore the New World, they would see similarities to species of animal and plants they knew in the Old World. Thus common names were given that did not hold up to biological investigation. The incense-cedar is one such plant. There are no true cedars in the New World outside of the Deodara cedars and Lebanon cedars that are commonly used in landscaping. Two other species of Calocedrus are found in Asia.
Incense-cedar is common throughout California, occupying ultra-mafic substrates in the coastal ecological zones, growing abundantly in the Sierra and Cascade ranges, and sprinkled in the high mountains of Southern California, often in isolated pockets. Incense-cedar has awl-shaped needles that form into sprays that are planar. The cone is a small pendant (~1") that splits and peels much like the profile of a peeled banana, releasing the seeds into the shady forest floor. Incense-cedar is very shade tolerant and has become quite abundant in many forests due to removal of fire from the natural cycle of the forest. Incense-cedar has fibrous bark of a distinctive orange-red colour. The bark grows thickly upon the bole of the tree, acting as insulation against the natural forces of fire and ice. As the trees mature, the bark begins to form deep furrows that tends to channel fire into a focused area, often burning into to the cambium and xylem of the tree. As such, many mature, or old-growth cedars, have basal fire scars. A nearby cache (GCJZQ9), in fact, shows the extremes that incense-cedar can take fire damage and yet survive. Another attribute of cedar that gives it economic value as a timber tree, is the tree's heartwood. All New World cedars use their heartwood to store the tree's biological waste. These tanins build-up to create very rot resistant wood. This wood is valuable for fencing and deck wood, offering an affordable alternative to the more popular redwood timber. Ironically, older trees' heartwood is subject to a fungal rot specific to incense-cedar. This rot is commonly known at pecky-rot, as it creates pockets of decay within the wood. Pecky cedar was once a popular paneling wood; it provides a rustic look along with the desirable cedar smell. This smell is something everyone who has used an wood pencil will remember, as wood pencils are made from incense-cedar wood because it can be sharpened from any angle without splintering. Incense-cedar can live over 500 years. The largest individual grows in the Marble Mountains Wilderness is twelve feet in diameter and 152-feet tall.
The cache is located in an area where incense-cedars are large and "wolfish". This is a term to describe a tree that is large and far from the classical conical perfect shape that the timber industry prefers. Many of the cedars in the area show multiple tops, basal fire scars, bushy crowns, and strange bulges and growths caused by epicural growth (effectively tree cancer). Look for the tree that has such growths that are free of bark; they look much like the skeletal remnants of a horse's hoof.
The cache is in a ziplock baggy to give extra protection during the winter months. It is not far from a major trail, one that you'll likely be walking if you're doing the nearby multi-cache (GCGY1E). The cache is filled with the usual goodies but is on the smaller side (4"x4"x3).
I hope you enjoy the cache and appreciate the beauty of the Tahoe area. If you try to tackle this cache during the snowy months, be prepared! A shovel and metal detector may be useful!