A Fall Celebration in the Northwoods
The Recognition of Holmboe Conifer Forest State Natural Area #177 by Nick Sanchez
On October 8th, we joined staff, board members and, volunteer stewards from the Northwoods Land Trust to celebrate the inclusion of Holmboe Conifer Forest State Natural Area in Oneida County, Wisconsin, as the 177th forest to be recognized for inclusion in the Old-Growth Forest Network. The fall rains blew over and the bright orange maple trees were on full display setting the table for a perfect morning recognition ceremony and hike in the Wisconsin Northwoods.
Tucked behind a student housing building is a small parking lot and trail entrance to the 32-acre old-growth forest quietly growing outside the City of Rhinelander. The forest was donated to The Nature Conservancy by Frithjof and Thoralf Holmboe in 1965 and later designated as a State Natural Area. Ownership of the property transferred from The Nature Conservancy to Northwoods Land Trust in 2007, the current owners and stewards of the forest.
During the interpretive hike, ecologist, author, and NLT Board Member John Bates hypothesized that Holmboe is a ‘young’ old-growth forest. The presence of pockets of mature red pine may indicate that the forest experienced an intense fire in its more recent history, more than two centuries ago. He further explained that on average for this particular type of forest, several generations of trees would establish, mature, die and decompose, cycling for over a thousand years before fire returned to restart the broader cycle of forest development. The old-growth forest stage is an important and prolonged condition in this northern forest type.
Network Manager, Nick Sanchez, with the legendary hodag monster.
The short and well-maintained trail thoughtfully meanders over and under and around the aromatic, sheltered forest. Tree species present include hemlock, white pine, yellow birch, sugar maple, white cedar, and the occasional red pine. This forest rewards the observant visitor with subtle signs of life beyond the trees like the opportunity to catch a glimpse of a mushroom collected from the forest floor and cached in the bark of a tree. ‘Hemlock varnish shelf’ fungi build tiny red platforms among the branches, patchy rugs of mosses spread out across the wavy forest floor, and fallen logs supporting new life appear wet, heavy, and slowly sinking into the ground. This protected forest is a great place to hike, snowshoe, or brush up on your Northwoods conifer ID skills and a welcomed addition to the Old-Growth Forest Network.
