On Saturday, Oct. 26, County Forester Bill Guenther host the Big Tree Tour around Windham County.
Now in its 20th year, participants will look at trees listed on the Big Tree Registry, some significant runners up, and some that may be farther down the list but are very significant in size.
Meet at the Vernon Town Offices at 8:30 a.m. After a short introduction, the tour will depart at 8:45 sharp. The first stop will be the state champion sassafras, a species that barely reaches Vermont from the south. This stop is also the site of Vermont Made Furniture, and owner Peggy Farabaugh will give a brief talk about her company.
Other likely stops are either the champion or runner-up sugar maple, the runner-up black walnut, and the state champion silver maple. There will be a lunch stop in Dummerston at Esther Falk's runner-up butternut tree from approximately 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Falk is a Dummerston legend and, at 92 years young, will share many insights about her favorite tree.
In the afternoon, participants will likely head over the mountain to Wardsboro to visit the champion apple, the runner-up hemlock, and the champion white pine in Londonderry, currently Vermont's tallest known tree at 144 feet.
The last tree of the day will probably be the state champion sycamore located right next to the Harmonyville General Store.
Also on the tour are two recent champions – a red spruce in Marlboro (about a 20-30 minute hike each way) and a paper birch in Wardsboro (close to an hour hike each way).
The Big Tree tour is designed so that a wide range of folks can participate. But if Guenther gets enough requests from hardy hikers, he may plan a day to visit some more-difficult-to-reach Big Trees.
This event is sponsored by the Woodland Owners Association. Contact Guenther at 802-257-7967, ext. 305, or Carol at 802-257-7967, ext. 302, with any questions.