Chasing a giant Whitetail this November found me in a tract of land I’ve never placed a boot. I took a quick break to gather my thoughts next to an old Pine. It is my belief this giant White Pine was left in a past logging operation to re-seed the forest. This incredible White Pine stood tall amongst a serious blow down that toppled most everything else a number of years ago. I couldn’t help but wonder the history of this very tree.
Those old white pines almost seem out of place when you come across them. I used to hunt by one in Aitkin that would easily take 4 to 6 people to get their arms around. We had some other white pines in the area but nothing like this behemoth. It was walk in to that tree in the morning. Take a right and another 25 yards to my stand.
“And now deep thoughts by Jack Handy.”
sorry couldn’t resist.
It stinks being Allergic to pine trees. Fake x mas trees, can’t hunt deer in the best cover trees, can’t use pine sol. Nice pic though. There is a huge old hollowed out tree by the old toll bridge that has to be 30 feet around the base. You can fit 10 people inside the tree!
Chris talking to a old logger one time, they would leave some of those big tall pines there for land marks for people to help find their way. Not sure if it is true or not but I have used them as that in the northern woods.
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Chris talking to a old logger one time, they would leave some of those big tall pines there for land marks for people to help find their way. Not sure if it is true or not but I have used them as that in the northern woods.
That is interesting Doug. I never even thought of that. Funny thing is I used it as a point of reference for my own travels.
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It stinks being Allergic to pine trees. Fake x mas trees, can’t hunt deer in the best cover trees, can’t use pine sol. Nice pic though. There is a huge old hollowed out tree by the old toll bridge that has to be 30 feet around the base. You can fit 10 people inside the tree!
WOW being allergic to pine trees would be difficult up here. 30 feeet at the base is crazy!!
Finding trees like that is truly humbling. There is/was a stand of several “Virgin” white pine west and north of Big Falls MN, stumbled on 35 years ago while grouse hunting. My big brother had a good laugh at me standing there just staring at these huge trees, mouth open looking up and up and up. The silence was deafening. Thanks Chris, for bringing back those good memories. Your timing couldn’t be better! 
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Finding trees like that is truly humbling. There is/was a stand of several “Virgin” white pine west and north of Big Falls MN, stumbled on 35 years ago while grouse hunting. My big brother had a good laugh at me standing there just staring at these huge trees, mouth open looking up and up and up. The silence was deafening. Thanks Chris, for bringing back those good memories. Your timing couldn’t be better!
Those big white pines are truly amazing!! 
I was just looking at my old 2 hand saw we have hanging in the cabin. Those guys were TOUGH!!
My grandpa was a logger back in the day When you used horses to bring the logs out . That whole generation was tough as nails. I remember one of his stories that his dad and brother had to go to the munitions plant during WW2 . He was left as a 13 year old to take care of the farm. I took him back to that place a few years ago before he past during a deer hunt. Talk bout a different time.
I picked up the book ” There’s Daylight in the Swamps” by Mert Cowley. It’s the history of logging in the Great Lakes area.
Pretty interesting stuff they went through. Lots of photo’s showing the camps, logging crews, equipment.
Good Stuff guys!!
As I grow older I find a deeper need to further understand our history here in Northern Minnesota. It is quite interesting, and puts a man into place when he thinks he’s roughing it these days. Andy your right those loggers were tough SOB’s as my grandpa would have said. Cheryl ran across an old 2 hand saw in the woods off a trail where she rides horses. It was stuck in a tree!! I picture those guys just saying UNCLE!! Probably not UNCLE 
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/snas/sna01063/index.html
Here is a link to directions to the Lost 40, experts beleie the trees in there to be over 300 years old. As much as I like old history I just cant help but wonder what if we hadnt showed up wht would she look loke today!
Thanks Ben. 
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