Maryland Big Trees Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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The cache container is a small flat camoed waterproof
container attached with a camo string. Please replace the cache
container as found to avoid discovery by muggles. Bring your own
pen. First to find geocoin in cache.
Trees are the oldest and largest living things. There are several
in this state reported to be more than four centuries old. These
trees bore witness to the birth of our country. Maryland residents
have shown a universal interest in "Big Trees," since Marylands
first State Forester (1906-1942) Fred W. Besley compiled the "
Noted Tree List" for Maryland in 1925. This first list had 450
trees nominated. All of the trees in this list had to be measured
by a member of the Maryland Forest Service.
As the "Noted Tree List" grew, it became apparent to Mr. Besley
that there should be a permanent, published record. He started an
intensive search for big trees of all species growing in Maryland,
and a statewide contest was held, greatly increasing the
nominations for "Big Tree Champions." In 1940, The American
Forestry Association, through it's national magazine, inaugurated a
Big Tree contest for the entire USA, using the same system of
measurements as the Maryland contest. In that first Big Tree List,
Maryland led all other states in the number of champion trees.The
search continues to the present time and the list is published
every year.
Each year hundreds of trees across the state are measured and
nominated. To evaluate the relative size of a tree, the girth in
inches and the height and crown spread in feet are added together
to arrive at a number of points for each tree. This number is then
used for comparison of tree sizes in each species. This system of
measuring gives the trunk, the most important part of the tree,
much better weight by giving the girth in inches. The formula is:
Total Points=Circumference (inches) + Height (feet) + 25% of the
average Crown Spread (feet).
Do you know the location of a Big Tree that you would like to
nominate?
• To nominate a tree please visit the Maryland Association of
Forest Conservancy District Boards at this location:
(http://www.cecilfb.sailorsite.net/MD_Big_Tree.htm).
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Rlr yriry.
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