No, I am NOT going to try to take down a dead 100' Hickory tree!

[Diggin It]

Should have been cut down years ago, Why did you wait so long ?

It was fully alive two years ago. Bugs got to it I think. Lots of bore holes.

Start stacking all your limbs and brush and whatever around the base and when you get a good pile burn it.

Like others have mentioned, I would be tempted to burn it down.

That's one plan. But part of it is hollow and I don't really want a giant Roman Candle next to a guy's hay crop.

Lots a good smoking wood there....

Or as you've suggested let nature take its course. You could always advertise free hickory wood you cut... After you sign a release that is...

I have a barbeque place not too far from me. They declined it saying Hickory burns too slow for them.

It's not 100 foot high either, more like 70 max.

I have another picture that has a 60 gallon spray tank at the base of it. The tank looks like a thimble. Picture is from a camera mounted about 25' up, so the perspective is off a bit.

 

[Jrasband]

Tree looks about 50' tall

 

[airbiscuit]

Put a speed square on top of a level.
Sight along the speed square, and back up until you align it with the top of the tree.
Measure the distance of where you are standing to the tree and add 5 feet (distance to your eye)

FWIW, I'll start the guessing game - I'll guess 85 feet

 

[tradosaurus]

What ever you do don't try to cut the tree at the base. Dead branches could break and make you dead real quick. There is a reason those are called widowmakers.
I have one similar to that that's been dead for a few years. Still hasn't come down.

 

[Suburban Plowboy]

I wouldn't go near that thing if I could not burn it. I have a few like that.

 

[dodge man]

I’ve calculated the height of water towers using a total station(a modern Transist) and using trig. You turn an angle to the top and measure a distant to the base.

 

[DarkBlack]

You could also lean up against it something of known length, like an 8’ length of 2x4. Then snap another similar photo. You/we could then deduce the height by scaling it to the known length

 

[Jstpssng]

You could also lean up against it something of known length, like an 8’ length of 2x4

Then step back 75 or a hundred feet with an 18" rule- preferably at least as far back as the tree is high- hold the ruler out at arm's length, note where 8 feet is as well as where the top is. Similar to Airbiscuit's example. You might even ask the same woman to do it, now that she knows how it's done.

 

[Duds13]

It was fully alive two years ago. Bugs got to it I think. Lots of bore holes.



That's one plan. But part of it is hollow and I don't really want a giant Roman Candle next to a guy's hay crop.

I have a barbeque place not too far from me. They declined it saying Hickory burns too slow for them.

I have another picture that has a 60 gallon spray tank at the base of it. The tank looks like a thimble. Picture is from a camera mounted about 25' up, so the perspective is off a bit.

A BBQ place turned down hickory? Some of the best wood for smoking meat and they turned it down, interesting!

 

[JeepHead]

I sell several cords a year of hickory and cherry to my local bbq joints.