Native american trail marker trees

[NC field hunter]

I have been reading as much info as I can find on native trail marker trees. I think I have one practically in my back yard. This tree was played in by my great grandmother and my grandmother, I know. I can't trace it's existence any further back. My great grandmother passed in 1989 at 98 years. If any of you guys have pics of known trail markers, please show them. Also, give me some input. Is this a trail marker or just an odd old tree?



















Thanks

 

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[vpnavy]

Interesting configuration NC field hunter.

 

[GatorBoy]

Florida is filled with trees like that.. that were pushed over from Hurricanes many years ago then continued to grow towards the sun leaving a pronounced bend in them.

 

[rock]

We have some big trees here but none are thousands of yrs old. Maybe a couple of hundred and then they will die.

 

[urbantreasure]

There probably are not that many original trail trees left as the forest service and logging companies clear cut and logged in the late 1800's and early 1900's. There are a few scattered trees, usually Beech (if they have carvings on them). Oak trees can be long lived. Trail trees would have to be at least 176 years old to predate when the Cherokee, Creek and other tribes were moved out of the Southeast. There is a modern video called "witness trees" and an old book by Forest Wade called "Cry of the Eagle" you might want to check out.

 

[NC field hunter]

I do know where one trail marker tree is in my town. It is well documented, but I have never walked the creek to find it. It's on my friend's land. If the rain stops over the weekend, I'm going to find it. Thanks for the link!

 

[GatorBoy]

Just pointing out.. if the tree is that old it must have been a sapling and nothing to stand out as a marker that long ago.

 

[urbantreasure]

Not sure what part of NC you live in but the Nantahala National Forest in NC has a stand of about 5,926 acres of old growth forest trees,that are documented to be over 500 years old. It is one of the oldest stands of old growth forest in the U.S.
Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness - Ask.com Encyclopedia

 

[unclemac]

remember too that an ice storm (maybe not too common in Florida) will bend a tree to the ground and keep it that way as it returns to upward growth....

 

[Charmin]

I've come across a few "trail trees".....Most of them point to natural springs(water).
These trees aren't very old(except for the one in the upper left hand corner of this picture---I kinda figure these were done by the Osage Indians. NE Oklahoma was part of their territory.

 

[catherine1]

I have a few trees that I use when out in the woods for travel reference. I am sure the N/A did the same.

 

[doc-d]

As mentioned above, the trees would need to be 200 or so years old.......not too many around that old.......here in the NE; really big oaks and maples are maybe 150 years old...........the indians were kicked off their land and shipped to reservations by then..........
Yet trees are but 1 sign left for us...........walk around the woods and you will see many signs of humans past.....

 

[NC field hunter]

I've come across a few "trail trees".....Most of them point to natural springs(water).
These trees aren't very old(except for the one in the upper left hand corner of this picture---I kinda figure these were done by the Osage Indians. NE Oklahoma was part of their territory.
<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=810267"/>

Now that you mention it, the tree I posted is pointing towards a spring. The spring is in my uncle's yard about 200 yards away. If that far. I know this could be coincidence. The tree in the lower right hand corner of your pic reminds me of the one I posted.

 

[rock]

You should do a hunt around that spring. Maybe he will let you dig some.

 

[NC field hunter]

You should do a hunt around that spring. Maybe he will let you dig some.

I think I will. I was just at the spring yesterday. I released a big snapping turtle that i rescued from the road there. I figured he was headed to the spring and gave him a lift. I hope he's not lost. I don't recall his carrying a map. Maybe he has a Garmin. Lol! If that's the case, I know darn well he's lost and was lost when I snatched him out of the road. Enough of my being a clown.

 

[RGINN]

I never really believed in trail marker trees but if you want to see some actual ones... Go south of Carnegie OK on SH 58 13 miles. There the highway turns back east but continue on south on the dirt road. Come to a lot of pecan trees and a bridge and you'll see some trees on the west side of the road that have grown bent over at right angles. Some of the Kiowa elders told me that yeah, that's what those are, markers for a camp site. It is a good camp site, open prairie to the west with lots of grass for horses, and you could have horse races out there, and a creek for water, and pecan nuts in season. From what I could learn, they were probably just bent over for that particular time, when the soldiers were tryin to round up everyone to come to Jesus. The bent trees told those scattered by military incursions and stragglers 'Hey, here we are! Come this way!' After that time period the trees just continued to grow that way.

 

[bmartin0693]

Dang, these bad storms 'round here bout blew my toilet in the trees Rusty! That's what happens to the trees here. There's probably 1,000s of power outrages from one hell of a storm that lasted only about 5 minutes or so where I was at. People had wrecks! Some people in Yadkin Co. spotted a low funnel cloud. I could really hear the storm after it left and it sounded bad for Winston Salem. That put an end to my day, I managed to get some work complete and get to a safe place to rest for the afternoon. Hope everything wasn't too bad down there where your at. You ever seen large beech trees? Beech trees are good trees to carve into and it can live up to 400 years. That is my favorite tree in NC until I see something else.

 

[NC field hunter]

Dang, these bad storms 'round here bout blew my toilet in the trees Rusty! That's what happens to the trees here. There's probably 1,000s of power outrages from one hell of a storm that lasted only about 5 minutes or so where I was at. People had wrecks! Some people in Yadkin Co. spotted a low funnel cloud. I could really hear the storm after it left and it sounded bad for Winston Salem. That put an end to my day, I managed to get some work complete and get to a safe place to rest for the afternoon. Hope everything wasn't too bad down there where your at. You ever seen large beech trees? Beech trees are good trees to carve into and it can live up to 400 years. That is my favorite tree in NC until I see something else.

Glad you ok. We didn't have such a bad storm. It got to looking bad, but blew over just in time to allow me a fast hunt after work. Beech trees are few and far in between but a couple still remain on our farm. The farm that my family lives on has never been timbered. We have another farm down on the old copper mines, dirgie mines. I'm sure it was cut before my granddad bought it. Around my house old wood is still around.

 

[bmartin0693]

Cool! Trees are interesting. I hunt deer in a patch of oaks looking down on the creek. About the whole ridge-side has oaks until you get to the spot along the creek where I've been finding stuff. Then it's thick pine trees. Beech trees here mainly grow on the northern facing hillsides/ridges. We have 3 or 4 on my parents land that we told the loggers not to cut down. The loggers wanted to b/c they know that is valuable wood. I'm glad they didn't b/c we ended up building a big treehouse with rails around the trunk. It's about 15 feet or more off the ground. The view feels like being on a scenic overlook. That treehouse has been there for almost 20 years. In that picture I added, you can see 2 big, dark green trees on the hill to the right. The tallest one in the middle has the treehouse in it, but you really can't see it from there b/c of the foliage. Then beyond that you can see Pilot Mtn in the distance.

 

[rock]

Cool! Trees are interesting. I hunt deer in a patch of oaks looking down on the creek. About the whole ridge-side has oaks until you get to the spot along the creek where I've been finding stuff. Then it's thick pine trees. Beech trees here mainly grow on the northern facing hillsides/ridges. We have 3 or 4 on my parents land that we told the loggers not to cut down. The loggers wanted to b/c they know that is valuable wood. I'm glad they didn't b/c we ended up building a big treehouse with rails around the trunk. It's about 15 feet or more off the ground. The view feels like being on a scenic overlook. That treehouse has been there for almost 20 years. In that picture I added, you can see 2 big, dark green trees on the hill to the right. The tallest one in the middle has the treehouse in it, but you really can't see it from there b/c of the foliage. Then beyond that you can see Pilot Mtn in the distance.

Im going out on a limb here . But id have to say you and NC are buddies? Maybe neighbors, maybe relatives?