Among the Giants

In the south-western region of Western Australia there are many forests. In this part of the country, the most abundant trees are Karri, Eucalyptus (commonly known as Jarrah) and Yarrow Trees. They are very different from the trees that we have in Canada.

In the middle of one forest tract we visited the King Jarrah which is approximately 500 years old. Its diameter is 2.6 metres with a height of 45 metres. Very impressive. Yes, I know it does not come close to the largest Douglas Fir tree located in British Columbia, Canada which has a diameter of 3.78 metres with a height 70 metres.

The King Jarrah Tree we visited

By the base of the King Jarrah

The view from the base

Moving on to the Gloucester Forest, we were shown a Karri tree with an external ladder that leads up to an observation platform 53 metres above the ground. This was originally a fire lookout post and is the second-highest one remaining in the world.  Once he saw it, Al started climbing up. As the ladder rounded the tree he went continued to the top. Looking over the tree tops Al commented, "It was a rush to be so high".

Al starting his climb

The warning sign which Al did not see before his climb

  

Al climbing up the ladder. Close up of the ladder (on right)

  

View from the top. Looking down and looking out

  

Al on his way down

 

Al catching up with other people as he climbs down. It was difficult to pass others on the narrow step rails.

John, Lisa and I were not brave enough to climb the tree so we waited at the bottom

Other interesting sights around Gloucester Tree Lookout

We came across a large beautiful tree covered with red berries which was located on a piece of farm property.

Farmer driving by in his tractor

A closer look. Beautiful!

On our way to Albany we went to see Australia's famous forest of gigantic Tingle trees in an area called the Valley of the Giants. We walked through the canopy of magnificent tingle forest on a walkway which soared gently upward, 40 metres at the highest point. It was a lovely walk with beautiful vistas of the country. There was also a museum with displays of local wildlife.

Wood carving outside entrance

The trees often have shallow root systems and grow a buttressed base.
Forest fires often act to hollow out the base of the trees creating a large cavity, yet the tree survives.

Congratulations! You are at the highest point of the Tree top Walk -- 40 metres

A tingle forest has a compact crown that forms a heavy canopy.

The tree typically grows to a height of 8 to 55 metres (26 to 180 ft) and has rough,
stringy and furrowed grey-brown or red-brown bark

These climbers were actually maintenance workers who were working on the outside of the walkway.

In the past, the tree shown in the photos was big enough to allow cars to be driven right into the tree's buttressed base. Sadly, this tree is no longer standing

But a mockup of it remains so you can get an idea of its size

The root system of a fallen tree

We felt so privileged to have seen these grand trees and look forward to seeing the ones on Canada's west coast..