Mill Creek Monster.

“The world's largest poplar tree is in the Boogerman Grove in the Cattaloochee area of the GSMNP. I saw a photo of a poplar in the Cades Cove area that you have to bushwhack to along Mill Creek. Termed "The Mill Creek Monster", it's truly a monster. Said to rival the Sag Branch Poplar in the Boogerman Grove. Anyone here seen it? Or know the way to it?

The Mill Creek Monster:

”

“About 25 years ago, I followed directions to and saw what is possibly the tallest tree in the eastern US, a 170' canadian hemlock about 7' in diameter at base about 2 miles SW of Buck Creek Gap in McDowell County, NC.”

“Bob, how big around is this?

There is one is NW AL that's about 22' around. The one you posted looks much bigger.

Here I am next to the Bama one: http://community.webshots.com/photo/92862913/92863871yIrYdh”

“Nice picture, dayhiker. Every time I go to the Sipsey to see the big tree I get sidetracked, and I still haven't seen it yet!”

“that's weird...i thought this was interesting so i started doing a little research on it...i found tons of stuff for the world's second largest poplar tree but not for the 1st...i guess the 2nd's more interesting”

“about all I found was that it was a three mile bushwhack up Mill Creek to the monster

btw dayhiker the Big Tree would have looked bigger if you had been standing 6 feet behind the tree like the guy in the photo above - common photo trick”

“There are tons of trees that have claims to be "second largest", none of them true, apparently. The largest poplar is in the Boogerman Grove--I've tried to find it three times and have failed each time. I now have exact directions and GPS coordinates for it. I think there may be a poplar or two with slightly larger girths, but not total boardfeet--the Sag Branch, in addition to being just flat huge, is also extremely tall.

Dayhiker: the tallest tree of which I know in eastern North America is the Boogerman Pine in the Boogerman Grove in Cattaloochee. It was over 200 feet tall, but lost some height in a storm--I think the newest measurements have it at 195 feet--and still growing strong.

Here's the world's champion poplar: the Sag Branch Poplar in Cattaloochee (don't ask the rangers where it is--they won't tell you).

”

“BOB...I'll be hitting the boogerman loop saturday...mind if you shoot me the GPS coords? Maybe my Geko 301 can get some sats under the leaves. I may try to find the mill branch tree sunday if i get out of the Cattaloochee early enough, if not i'll get it next time.”

“Dayhiker: I hear the big tree in Sipsey is dying. True? It's a truly huge tree, for sure. I wouldn't mind seeing it sometime.

Opie: I sent you the coordinates. Let me know if you see the tree.”

“Well, I guess that hemlock I saw was not the tallest tree in the east.”

“I bet that hemlock's now dying from the wooly adelgid infestation. Pity.”

“Bob, I'm in east Tennessee - I've got to go see that tree!”

“Bob, will you send me the coordinates?

I will be hiking over that way pretty soon and would like to make a trip up to the big tree.”

“I understand that it is dying. I think I heard that from BAMA. I thin one thing that contributes to the feeling of size is that it's hemmed in with 80-100' bluffs on 3 sides.

HOI - good point.”

“I think it is the biggest tree in Alabama. Not sure what will be the biggest once it dies.

Chili: Did you get my email?”

“Haven't checked it, but I will.”

“have the coords in my geko...now if i get sat coverage under the leaves i'll find it!”

“Opie, shoot me the coordinates. When are you going up there?

I didn't get Bob's email”

“I sent you another email with the Topozone location. Let me know if you got it.”

“It's not on the boogerman loop if i punched in the coords right...going by what little info i had it's between caldwell creek and the old methodist church...but then again....my GPS was engineered by the Alabama school for the Blind”

“I'm heading back up in the Fall to take another look for it. Will be my fourth trip in. I now have a pretty good idea where to look. Just a short bushwhack off trail.”