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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Listening Point - General Discussion :: Lob Pines
 
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maxxbhp
04/07/2011 08:54PM
 
They tell me them voyageur fellas spoke a foreign language. Just what I heard...;-)
 
Bannock
04/08/2011 12:36AM
 
I saw a very obvious one several years ago. However, it wasn't in the BW or Q. It was on a "Primative Canoe Route" in Wasburn County near Birchwood WI and was either the Loyhead or Sawmill Canoe route. I did both during the same visit but don't recall which it was.


It was funny because I had recently read the Lob Tree book and there one was.


Birchwood Canoe Trails
 
Troll
04/05/2011 11:13PM
 
Has anyone ever seen or heard of any lob pines that still exist in the bwca, Q, or anywhere else in the north woods that still remain from the voyager days? A Lob pine is a pine tree that the voyagers would climb and lob off branches in the middle of the tree so it would stand out from a distance marking the way of travel.
 
bruceye
04/05/2011 11:27PM
 
I have seen what looked to be lob pines but in all honesty, can't really say if it was that or lightning strikes or wind sheer.
 
wetcanoedog
04/06/2011 12:03AM
 
Yes..on Cecil Lake in the Q there is a authentic lob tree.
 
Ho Ho
04/06/2011 06:43AM
 
Where is it on Cecil? I don't think I noticed it when we went through in 2005.




 
nojobro
04/06/2011 08:06AM
 
For a troll, you sure are polite!


To answer your question...I don't know.
 
mooseplums
04/06/2011 12:08PM
 
quote jwartman59: "



this photo is a scan of the lob pine on cecil lake, photo used without permission, from the book lob pines in the wilderness, by clifford and isabel ahlgren, u of minnesota press, copywrite 1984. this is an excellent book on the forest ecology of the north woods. i have no personal info regarding this tree. also note that scanned photo is prior to 1984."




Cool photo!!!!


Troll! you should join us!
 
jwartman59
04/06/2011 10:27AM
 



this photo is a scan of the lob pine on cecil lake, photo used without permission, from the book lob trees in the wilderness, by clifford and isabel ahlgren, u of minnesota press, copywrite 1984. this is an excellent book on the forest ecology of the north woods. i have no personal info regarding this tree. also note that scanned photo is prior to 1984.
 
Kevlar
04/06/2011 02:59PM
 
I remember one on Crooked Lake back in the 1970s, but it was gone in the mid-80s. And I seem to recall one on either Mountain or Pine Lake back about then, but it also is long gone. I wish I had documented them.
 
Banksiana
04/06/2011 03:25PM
 
There is one on Meadows (between Sunday and Agnes in the Q). And it appears there is one on the south end of Fourtown. If the one on Fourtown is not a true lob tree, it certainly functions as one- perfect for taking a bearing on when shooting for the bay that holds the portages to Mudro.
 
solotrek
04/06/2011 04:27PM
 

There is a book on Amazon.com entitled "Lob Trees in the Wilderness" by the Ahlgrens. $16.95 brand new in paperback, June, 2001. Looks like a great book. All about the BW.
 
Ho Ho
04/06/2011 06:03PM
 
The Ahlgrens' book is great. I read it, but I did not remember they showed a lob tree on Cecil. Anyway, the book has a bit of an agenda (wilderness needs management would be my paraphrase), best to keep that in mind as you read, and with that in mind, it is totally fascinating and informative.



 
paddlefamily
04/06/2011 08:51PM
 
They were made by voyageurs as a marker. Somewhere I read (maybe in Ahlgren's book) that the "newbie" voyageur would shimmy up the pine to cut off the branches, and hence create a Lob Pine. They were the traffic signs of old.


Great photo, I'd love to see one.
 
Troll
04/06/2011 09:01PM
 
Thank You Nojobro! That is the second compliment I have received here in the last week.


And thank you to every one else that replied!


SevenofNine, I agree with your observation, however every time I have read about this in a book or historical documentation they refer to it as Lob. Maybe those voyagers just had too much snuff in the mouth to pronounce it correctly.


Thank you, the Polite Troll
 
Savage Voyageur
04/06/2011 03:55PM
 
quote jwartman59: "



this photo is a scan of the lob pine on cecil lake, photo used without permission, from the book lob pines in the wilderness, by clifford and isabel ahlgren, u of minnesota press, copywrite 1984. this is an excellent book on the forest ecology of the north woods. i have no personal info regarding this tree. also note that scanned photo is prior to 1984."





I have this book and I agree that it is a good book. Not sure if you can still find it or in print.
 
TuscaroraBorealis
04/06/2011 07:19PM
 
Very interesting thread. Thanks for the heads up about the book.
 
SevenofNine
04/06/2011 08:17PM
 
Just an observation here. Lob as I understand it is to throw. Lop is to cut off or remove. Just an observation...