American Chestnut Hike on Sunday

Excited about the recent identification of several mature American Chestnut trees near Rimrock Scenic Overlook and Picnic Area, Friends of Rimrock has announced an “American Chestnut Hike” at Rimrock Sunday, October 5.

American chestnuts once made up about 25 percent of the forests in the eastern United States, with an estimated 4 billion trees from Maine to Mississippi and Florida. But a chestnut disease was introduced to North America through New York City in 1904. This chestnut blight, caused by a fungus and presumably brought in from eastern Asia, was first found in only a few trees in the New York Zoological Garden. The blight spread rapidly and by 1950, the American chestnut had disappeared except for shrubby root sprouts the species continually produces (and which also quickly become infected).

“Though many people think the American chestnut tree is extinct, that is not the case,” said Reg Darling, spokesperson for Friends of Rimrock. “There are still millions of sprouts throughout its native range, mostly in forest areas. However, there are very few tree-sized chestnuts. That is why we were so excited to discover several nut-bearing trees in the Rimrock area. The discovery of a seed-producing American chestnut tree is a significant find.”

John Stoneman, founder of Allegheny Outdoor Adventures and the person who discovered the American chestnut tree at Rimrock, will be leading the hike. He explained that the goal of the hike is to document as many American chestnut trees in the area as possible, and to provide an opportunity for everyone who is interested in learning more about the American chestnut, Rimrock, and the Allegheny National Forest to be involved.

All pertinent information discovered on the hike will be sent to the local state chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation. “If you think you have found an American chestnut tree, typically, one should collect a leaf and twig sample from the tree and send it in with pertinent information about the tree,” Stoneman explained. “Many states have tree locator forms that they use to outline that type of information. By sending in the completed locator form, along with the leaf and twig sample, the current members of tree locator committees can properly analyze the leaf and twig sample for American characteristics and to properly catalogue your finding.”

The American Chestnut Foundation has been working for about 15 years to develop a blight-resistant variety. The goal is to infuse the American chestnut with the blight-resistant genes of the Chinese chestnut.

According to Stoneman, the American Chestnut Foundation will respond to you with their analysis. If the tree is an American chestnut and is accessible for controlled pollination, the chapter will likely look forward to using the tree in its breeding program--and would welcome your help in doing so!

Anyone interested in participating should meet at the main parking lot at Rimrock Scenic Overlook and Picnic Area at 11AM, rain or shine. The hike will be 4-7 miles, depending upon the route chosen, and will last until around 4PM.

Photos of American chestnut trees, the leaves, the fruit and the bark will be available to help participants identify the American chestnut. Participants are advised to dress for the weather and to bring a lunch and beverage. A camera and binoculars would add to your enjoyment!
Hand holding American chestnut seeds:
John Stoneman holds American chestnut seeds and burrs, found recently at Rimrock in the Allegheny National Forest.

(In the photos, courtesy of Friends of Rimrock, John Stoneman stands near the seed-bearing American chestnut tree he discovered at Rimrock, and holds some of the seeds and burrs he found beneath the tree.)