A giant red cedar has stood hidden away for hundreds of years at the end of Uchucklesaht Nation’s Henderson Lake, admired by the occasional visitor but otherwise it has mostly gone unnoticed.
The giant cedar stands not far from Henderson Lake Lodge, owned by Uchucklesaht Nation. Earlier this year someone suggested its measurements be sent in to British Columbia’s Big Tree Registry.
Monty Horton is Uchucklesaht First Nation’s Lands Director. He works with anything involving Ucucklesaht’s natural resources and environment.
Horton has measured the tree and believes it’s the third largest red cedar tree in Canada.
It was Tawny Lem, whose husband works with the BC Big Tree Registry, who told Horton how to go about nominating the tree.
The tree must be measured and the data sent to the registry. Instructions for measuring the tree are on the BC Big Tree website.
The BC Big Tree Registry is maintained by UBC’s Faculty of Forestry. Their mandate is to identify, describe, monitor and conserve the largest trees of each species in the province.
They look to the public to help them gather the data and help grow the registry. They ask the public to provide them with updated data on registered big trees and they welcome nominations for newly discovered trees. The province is big and there are many trees yet to be discovered.
Earlier this year Horton measured the massive red cedar tree and sent data to the registry. “But the tree is not officially a registered big tree until staff from the registry or a professional forester comes out to take measurements,” he said.
While they wait to have an official measure the tree, work has already begun around the tree. An employee working at Henderson Lake Lodge has cleared a trail from the lodge to the tree. Guests staying at the lakeside lodge would walk about 10 minutes in old growth forest to get to the tree. Horton says there is a shorter route to the tree from the road.
Horton said there are hollows in the tree and he is concerned that they could be bear dens so he hopes people will stay away from it during winter hibernation months.
In the meantime, Uchucklesaht staff will monitor the tree. They hope to get it registered and recognized very soon.
“It would be great bragging rights to have the 3rd biggest cedar in Canada so people will want to come see it,” said Horton.
Henderson Lake Lodge is very remote and can be difficult to access over rough logging roads. But it is ruggedly beautiful and is a great place to get away from the city and enjoy the natural beauty at the end of the lake.
The lodge hasn’t been operating in several years after being damaged by a flood but is being fixed up and should be open for guests very soon.
For information about staying at Henderson Lake Lodge, call Monty Horton at the Uchucklesaht Administration Office in Port Alberni.
For more information on the BC Big Tree Registry go to their website at http://bigtrees.forestry.ubc.ca/
New tree nominations are submitted directly on-line to the BC Big Tree Registry. Any of BC’s native tree species are eligible for nomination.
