Author Description

"The forests of the Pacific Coast are the tallest and most dense on earth. Even after a century of intensive exploitation, their trees remain unmatched in overall size, height, and age. Forest Giants of the Pacific Coast is a guide to the 20 largest species of conifers in North America - from the southern Sierras to Vancouver Island, and from the coast to northwestern Montana." "Giant trees are those with the greatest wood volume. From the ponderosa pine "Bear Creek Twin" to the coast Douglas fir "Ol'Jed," from giant sequoias to western red cedars, the trees are depicted as individuals. All are unique specimens that represent the extremes to which their species can grow. To seek out giants and their neighboring contenders, Robert Van Pelt has traveled the length and breadth of the Pacific Coast and its forests, equipped with a camera, a sketchpad, and a survey laser, amassing a database of over 5,000 individual trees."--Jacket.