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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Richardson accuses Kitzhaber of 'corruption' in final debate SOU student says free speech issue overblown Green Party won't back its own candidate SOU interim president leads in a different direction Man who fought police has punctured lung Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Man who fought police has punctured lung State appeals early release of juvenile killer Couple returns to 'post-earthquake' Haiti Emergency Services Family rallies help for Mexican community Politics and Elections Richardson accuses Kitzhaber of 'corruption' in final debate Green Party won't back its own candidate Jobs at core of Oregon House race Kitzhaber embattled as he seeks fourth term Five compete for three council seats Education SOU student says free speech issue overblown SOU interim president leads in a different direction Medford school officials consider costs of full-day kindergarten Foundation kicks off ambitious 'Count Me In' fundraising campaign 100 hours and counting Environment Work begins on Southern Oregon's first dedicated mountain bike trail Applegate Dam hydroelectric project dead in water Fear of orphaned cubs nixes new spring bear hunt Josephine County ballot measure would ban commercial and government pesticide use Low water exposes Emigrant Lake's past State news Nation - World Obituaries Robert Sherman Hathaway Sally Anne Musser Bob Owen Death Notices Marylen Agrell Kocks Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories NFL, others seek to stop NJ sports betting White Sox’s Abreu lands AL rookie honor Pirates win, set up title shot with Henley Steelers rally past stunned Texans 30-23 Harvin not 'perfect,' happy for chance with Jets Varsity 541 College Sports Oregon inches way back into playoff race UO’s Dargan sets the tone for improving defense Mariota keeps touchdown streak alive Royce Rolls SOU shuts down Beacons for weekend sweep Pro Sports White Sox’s Abreu lands AL rookie honor Steelers rally past stunned Texans 30-23 Harvin not 'perfect,' happy for chance with Jets Rest or rust? Manning breaks Favre’s all-time TD record Community Sports LOCAL EVENTS LOCAL RESULTS Business Latest Stories New I-5 interchange puts south Medford on fast lane to fast food County's jobless rate unchanged in September SOU interim president leads in a different direction Silvio Calabi: Acura’s 2015 TLX is two cars in one Rogue Credit Union awaits southeast Medford opportunity Real Estate News New I-5 interchange puts south Medford on fast lane to fast food Lithia buys Clovis dealership Rental vacancies increase Jackson County real estate sales, prices continue rebound Pallet Wine Co. expands in downtown Medford People In Business People in Business Transportation Frontier Airlines to end Eugene-Denver service Business Resource Fair has answers Erickson's Navy contract extended Lithia buys Clovis dealership Agriculture Hundreds look for work at Harry & David hiring fair Umpqua Holdings more than doubles net earnings Harry & David will hold hiring fair Thursday Ranchers offer livestock exchange 1-800-Flowers CEO: Labor shortage an issue for Harry & David Opinion Latest Letters to the Editor, Oct. 21 Our View: Falls for sheriff, our picks for state House Granlund cartoon: Keene NH rioting Letters to the Editor, Oct. 20 Another view: It's easy: Just stop having sex Editorials Our View: Falls for sheriff, our picks for state House Our view: Endorsements include Bates, Talbert, Hoppe Reversing course: Hoppe for judge Our view: With respect, our support goes to Bates Our View: Bearnson, Stine, Lane for Medford council Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Oct. 21 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 20 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 19 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 18 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 17 Guest Opinions Don't overlook importance of Jackson County commissioners race Measure 92 misleads rather than enlightens Oregonians have a right to know what's in their food Infill is the answer to growth issues Guest Opinion: Who’s really to blame for 2014 wildfires? Lifestyle Latest stories Dr. Elaine Heffner: Mining for good teachers Lisa Sugarman: Shower the people you love with love Get A Life: No need to over-react Silvio Calabi: Acura’s 2015 TLX is two cars in one Scenic byway showcases colors of the Cascades Food Community blog: Southern Oregon Micro and Nano Brewing Scene Fall 2014 Community blog: Eggs make for economical, unconventional curry Mobile meals perfect for autumn forays Community blog: Green beans go global from gleaning garden Kitchen Call: Pumpkin is nothing without the spice Home and Garden How to know when trees and shrubs need to go Dear Monty: Is your real estate agent a secret agent? The best way to store your books A list to help you get ready for winter How to create a fashionable painted floor cloth Health Held captive by whimsy Community blog: My New Best Selling Book Dr. Jeff Hersh: The enterovirus is not new Dr. Murray Feingold: The first successful uterus transplant Health Watch: Skip the energy drink and reenergize naturally Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs Religion Briefs Religion Briefs Religion briefs First Church of Nazarene plans cleanup Milestones and Achievements New arrivals Southern Oregon Pride parade celebrates gay marriage ruling New Arrivals Still stifling laughter 40 years after 'Young Frankenstein' Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Blog: Dark house Review: Funny 'Lion in Winter' roars to life at Camelot Theatre Yu's Yummy Yan's offers great take-out A cappella fellas sing for schools Theater's haunted house not for faint of heart Theater Camelot presents 'The Lion in Winter' 'Carnage' is short, smart, darkly funny Randall Theatre presents 'Blithe Spirit' A tribute to a great lyricist Music Moonalice plays Applegate Lodge A cappella fellas sing for schools The Farr Side: Bryan Adams releases album of influential hits Tutunov Piano Series begins at SOU Benefit for Nita Day at The Wild Goose Cafe in Ashland Community Events Review: Funny 'Lion in Winter' roars to life at Camelot Theatre Theater's haunted house not for faint of heart Third Fridays in downtown Medford Works in progress Southern Oregon Pride Festival celebrates diversity Dining Yu's Yummy Yan's offers great take-out Agave offers tasty tacos Asian cuisine for all seasons at Misoya Bistro Spoons Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Our View: Falls for sheriff, our picks for state House ... Man who fought police has punctured lung ... Central Point candidates have similar goals ... Our View: Falls for sheriff, our picks for state House ... Man who fought police has punctured lung ... Central Point candidates have similar goals ... Meanwhile, a surprise among the pines While waiting for the tree climbers to physically measure what they hoped would be the world's tallest ponderosa pine, Mario Vaden and Michael Taylor decided to search farther afield for other big trees. By Paul Fattig MailTribune.com By Paul Fattig Posted Oct. 17, 2011 @ 12:01 am Updated Oct 17, 2011 at 2:35 AM By Paul Fattig Posted Oct. 17, 2011 @ 12:01 am Updated Oct 17, 2011 at 2:35 AM » RELATED CONTENT • Land of the Giants » Social News While waiting for the tree climbers to physically measure what they hoped would be the world's tallest ponderosa pine, Mario Vaden and Michael Taylor decided to search farther afield for other big trees. Sure enough, less than a half-mile away, they found some enormous sugar pine cones. So they sighted Taylor's hand-held laser range finder on the very top of a nearby huge sugar pine, one of the few such trees in the vicinity. "We came out pretty close to 253 feet tall," said arborist Vaden, 52. "It could possibly be the world's tallest sugar pine," said Taylor, 45, an engineer by training. "But we aren't sure yet. They are going to have to climb it. It is neck-and-neck with the other one that is 255." The world's tallest known sugar pine, located in the Umpqua National Forest in the Umpqua River drainage, is 255 feet high, according to a measurement taken early this year by Taylor and Vaden. A sign at the site states that tree was 265 feet tall when previously measured, they noted. "The two are close enough that they will need to be at least measured with a laser on a tripod," Vaden said. "Either way, they are both rare." The previously known tallest sugar pine was one in Yosemite National Park that stood 269.2 feet high but died in 2009. The surprise find of the huge sugar pine reinforced his conclusion that southwestern Oregon is the home of giant trees, Vaden said. "Right here in this basin, we believe one reason is that they have some protection from the wind," Vaden said. "You have the mountains around and enough other trees to provide protection. "There is also enough water runoff to give them a continuous supply year round. A lot of tall ones we've found have seasonal streams around. We know there is going to be subterranean water around." Judging from one old tree that uprooted years ago, the top soil appears to be relatively deep, he said. "The soil isn't too rocky and has quite a bit of depth to it," he said. "We don't know how nutrient rich it is, but obviously it has enough to grow big trees. Together, all the conditions here are special." In fact, Taylor and Frank Callahan of Central Point discovered earlier this year what they call the "Meadow Monarch," a ponderosa pine that is about 254 feet high, more than seven feet in diameter at chest height and a crown spread that reaches 54 feet. Although Vaden and Taylor are generally seeking the tallest trees, many big-tree hunters look for champion "point" trees, using a formula including height, diameter and circumference. Callahan has 19 national champion trees in Oregon to his credit, making him the top big-tree hunter in the state, according to the Oregon Department of Forestry. When it comes to points, the Meadow Monarch is the biggest ponderosa in the state, Taylor said. In addition to the 268-foot champion ponderosa, the two have found three other ponderosas in the local forest that top out at 266, 262 and 259.5 feet high. All of them are believed to be more than 300 years old. The tallest previously known ponderosa pine was a big boy that stands 259 feet in the Big Pine Campground southwest of Grants Pass. "Every time we come here we keep finding something," Vaden said. "I'm convinced there are tall ones out there we haven't found," Taylor said. "We have only begun." Reach Paul Fattig at 541-776-4496 or email him at [email protected]. By Paul Fattig MailTribune.com By Paul Fattig Posted Oct. 17, 2011 @ 12:01 am Updated Oct 17, 2011 at 2:35 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. 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