Measuring the Mount Stirling Summit Tree - 3 minute version

The Mount Stirling Summit Tree is an icon of Mount Stirling. This solitary ancient snowgum (Eucalyptus pauciflora) is the only tree in a 23 hectare grassy meadow, and well above the "treeline". Around the edges of that grassy meadow are many old snowgums, all of which are stunted, many having died from the harsh climate and bushfires. In the winter, the Stirling Summit Tree can be completely buried in snow. When this happens, the tree is only locatable as a snowy mound. And yet, each summer the tree thrives and often flowers. The Friends of Mount Stirling and the Victorian National Parks Association (VNPA) were invited by the National Trust of Australia to nominate the Mount Stirling Summit Tree for inclusion in the Register of Significant Trees. This movie depicts the VNPA expedition to the Mount Stirling Summit Tree to "measure" it, and record other details for the nomination. Needless to say, this tree is not quite "conventional". But we did our best. Data: Location = Summit area, Mount Stirling Alpine Resort, Victoria, Australia. Grid = Latitude -37.128726 degrees. Longitude 146.499142 degrees. Altitude = 1725 metres above mean sea level. Girth (around all three trunks) = 3.35 metres at 1 metre above ground level. Circumference at the base = 3.08 metres at 0.4 metres above ground level. North trunk circumference = 1.62 metres at 0.5 metres above ground level. South trunk circumference = 1.17 metres at 0.5 metres above ground level. West trunk circumference = 1.35 metres at 1 metre above ground level. Highest point = 5.15 metres from ground level, as measured by steel tape. Spread from drip line to drip line at widest point = 10.0 metres. Direction of line through widest point = 71 degrees east of north. Width at narrowest point = 8.0 metres. Direction of line through narrowest point = north/south. Credits: Measuring the Mount Stirling Summit Tree - 3 minute version Location: Mount Stirling, Victoria, Australia VNPA Expedition 17 December 2015. Supplementary night photography mid-February 2016. The expeditioners acknowledge the traditional owners of the land, the Tuangurong people, their elders, past and present. Expeditions, tree measurers, and photographers: Dr. Bruce McGregor Freya McGregor Gerard McPhee Charles Street Tree measurement method; National Trusts of Australia Music from: "Dawn Mantras" composed by Ross Edwards Performed by Sydney Children’s Choir Cantillation Jane Sheldon Matthew Doyle Jim Franklin Roxon Thomas Ian Cleworth Brian Nixon Musical recording purchased from the iTunes Store Expedition proudly supported by: Victorian National Parks Association and The Friends of Mount Stirling Video post production: PapaChaz A production of The Friends of Mount Stirling See https://www.facebook.com/StirlingFriends