savage lundy trail in devil's gulch

Another unique element of this hike is the Knobcone Pine stand that we passed through. The Mysterious Deaths of a Young California Family on California Trail Near Toxic Algal Blooms | Who Has the Answers?, Plant Fruit Trees in Public Spaces to Fight Climate & Hunger, Worse than Snakes and Alligators: Floridas Toxic Algae Blooms Spell Death. While temperatures were high in the area the family were hiking (37C / 98.6F) at their highs, dehydration seemed unlikely, with the dog dying and the Camelback still containing water. He was born and raised in the Bay Area and graduated from UC Davis. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! This is the first hyperthermia cause of death that I've witnessed here in 20 years. Monday, Aug. 23: Additional water samples are collected from water sources along the trail area., Tuesday, Aug. 24: A cell phone is delivered to the FBI for data extraction, awaiting results., Wednesday, Aug. 25: Search warrants issued for possible social media access.. 12.8 km They liked to tote the girl around on hikes and to social events, Jeffe said, recalling the last time he saw the family during a Fourth of July get-together at Jeffes house. And nice that you were able to make a new friend. Learn More. Although accessible in summer, use of the trail is not recommended due to hot temperatures, steep slopes and lack of shade. California State Water Resources Control Board and Mariposa County said they were continuing to test waterways in the area for any toxic algae and cyanobacterial toxins. Sunday, Aug. 15: 7:45 a.m., witness sees the Gerrish/Chung family traveling toward the trailhead in their vehicle. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Overnight Camping Dirt Flat, Dry Gulch, McCabe Flat, . Trail at Hite Cove Distance: 2-4 miles (3.2-6.4) roundtrip for wildflower viewing, 9 miles (14.5km) to Hite Cove Elevation: 1,500 ft (457m) Difficulty: Easy Time: 2-5 hours Begin at: Savage's Trading Post on Hwy 140 Get Directions overview amenities Hite Cove Trail The beautiful Merced River along Highway 140, is a popular scenic area. Where: Sierra National ForestDistance: 7.90 MilesDifficulty: Moderate to StrenuousElevation Range: 1,769 2,220Date: March 4, 2015Maps: Buckingham Mountain Topographic Quad. Search and rescue workers found the bodies of John Gerrish, Ellen Chung, their one-year-old daughter, Miju, and the family dog Tuesday near the Devil's Gulch area in the Southfork drain of the Merced River, the Office of the Mariposa County Sheriff in a statement. 4 / The family and their dog were found dead early on the morning of Aug. 17 about 2 miles up the Savage-Lundy Trail, around 3,100 feet elevation . Toxicology tests are not yet complete. Tom's body was finally located just off the trail on July 29, 2021, by two friends who had continued the search for . Officials describe hazard considered in mysterious deaths, No smoking gun. Algae blooms considered in mysterious death of family near Yosemite, Support my work with a digital subscription, How can we let bygones be bygones? Intense talks highlight California reparations meeting, California braces for next big snowstorm this weekend. Hiking through country that is rich with mining history gave me the chance to walk in the footprints of unknown miners who had dreams of striking it rich in the South Fork of the Merced River. . The trailhead is located at the end of a dirt road. Land Manager: USFS - Sierra National Forest Office, 3.3 mi I picked off a couple of ticks at lunchtime and the gnats were out. In addition to the Hite Mine, they include the Brown Bear Mine, Bunker Hill Mine, Confidence Mine, Eureka Mine #2, Georgia Point Mine, Kaderitas Mine, Mexican Mine #2, Squirrel Mine and Williams Mine. 1028.39 m Down, 11.0 mi For almost two decades, Gafni worked for the Bay Area News Group - San Jose Mercury News, East Bay Times and Vallejo Times-Herald - covering corruption, child sexual abuse, criminal justice, aviation and more. Savage Lundy, though short, is known to be challenging. The Hite Cove Trail offers spectacular views, albeit smoky on Thursday. . They probably went to just venture out, so it wouldnt have been like an extreme hike of any sort, Jeffe said. At a Glance. Jonathan Gerrish, his wife Ellen Chung and their one-year-old daughter Muji were found by search teams in an area of the Sierra National . The California family mysteriously found dead this week along a hiking trail in the Sierra National Forest was in an area northeast of Mariposa and southwest of Yosemite National Park. Elisha Fieldstadt is a breaking news reporter for NBC News. We wanted to go all the way to the end, however temperatures in the canyon rise fast during the summer and it was easily 100 degrees by noon. Once we got toward the bottom, there was poison oak near along the trail, sometimes whipping our legs. We hiked the mountain's edge climbing over and under downed trees that blocked the way. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 23 min to complete. Autopsies for the family and dog were completed two days later. This was once a mining community after the discovery of gold there in 1861, but it burnt down in 1924. Something else? Loved the pictures and commentary, as usual. Snow or rain will necessitate a four-wheel drive vehicle, and travel is generally not recommended under these conditions. With fires raging across the state, the USDA Forest Service then closed all 20 million acres of Californias national forests to public access for two weeks beginning Tuesday, August 31, 2021, extending through at least September 17. The other trailhead is at the end of Jerseydale Road. None of the bodies had physical wounds like gunshots or signs of trauma and no suicide note was found. NOT OKAY! Its a serious hiking area. Everyone agreed so Rita and I turned back and headed up the hill. The area is populated by pines, incense cedar and oaks many killed in the 2018 Ferguson Fire. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! He had worked for Google for 15 years, starting in the London office in 2006. A state task force geared toward creating a possible reparations plan is having public meetings. The only connection the two have is that the trailhead for the Savage-Lundy Trail is on Hite's Cove Road. They called in a second search team that began winding down the switchbacks that complete the loop back up to the Forest Service gate. Savage-Lundy Trail . Mariposa residents John Gerrish, Ellen Chung, their daughter, Miju, and family dog, Oski, were found dead Tuesday on the Savage-Lundy Trail in Devils Gulch near Hites Cove. She was earning her Masters in Counseling Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies after having graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 2012. Chung was a certified yoga instructor and a graduate student studying counseling psychology. This trail is great for hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. Chronicle staff writer Lauren Hernandez contributed to this report. 13177.7 m Up Check out this 5.0-mile out-and-back trail near Dunsmuir, California. Investigations continued into late October 2021 as to what happened to the Gerrish family that day near Devils Gulch. Briese said mines werent found close to the family. Devil Gulch Valley in Colorado, United States Devils Gulch Depression in Ventura County, United States In the Area Devil Gulch is situated close to the hamlets Clearing House and Darrah . A husband, wife, baby and dog were all found dead on a California hiking trail in mysterious circumstances, however, their family insist they were not murdered. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. Be watchful for rattlesnakes too. The Savage Lundy Trail is a 2.8-mile long trail and is the most difficult trail in the area near the south fork of the Merced River and the Devil's Gulch. 0:00. On Monday, August 16 th, the family babysitter arrived for her normal shift at Jonathan & Ellen's home. After the gate, the Forest Service Road is a steep drop, which eventually leads to the Savage. The mysterious deaths of the young California family and their dog while out hiking along the remote Savage Lundy Trail in Devil's Gulch in Sierra National Forest in Mariposa, California on August 15, 2021, should have us all on high alert as we enter this new high heat era that scientists know very . The Mariposa County Sheriff's Office said in a statement that search teams located the family's vehicle near the national forest gate that leads to Hite's Cove, and then found the family's bodies on the trail shortly thereafter. Heres why, Driver accused of killing Hoover teen back in Fresno jail. 79' Up Quote; Link to comment Share on other sites. Gerrish for years had been an engineer for Google, Jeffe said, and had only recently begun working at Snapchat after his paternity leave had ended. Below is a list of common species of Plants, Animals, and Fungi found on the South Fork Merced River. There are no toxic gases in any of these mines up there, Wildt said. ALL other potential causes of death remain, the Mariposa County Sheriffs Office said Thursday while sharing a brief timeline of the investigation into the deaths of Jonathan Gerrish, 45, Ellen Chung, 30, and their 1-year-old daughter, Aurelia Miju Chung-Gerrish and 8-year-old dog, Oski, described as an Aussie-Akita mix. The pair also mixed with the burner crowd, people who visit the famous arts and culture festival known as Burning Man in a Nevada desert. The Savage Lundy Trail is closed until at least September 26, 2021. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. The trail closures are due to last until September 26, though this date is subject to change. This is a carousel. The trail is open for the following uses: Hiking. A high clearance vehicle is needed. We're looking at the entire area as a whole.". 3,840' Down This was once a mining community after the discovery of gold there in 1861, but it burnt down in 1924. Law enforcement officials arehave more questions than answers in the discovery ofaCalifornia family that wasfound dead with their family dog on Tuesday on a popular hiking trail in the Sierra National Forest. The family accessed the hiking path at the end of Hites Cove Road, which quickly changes from paved road to gravel to dirt. The whole trail is 4.5 miles one way- about 9 miles round trip if you want to go all the way to Hite Cove. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. Water the family was carrying also is being tested. The couple had been inseparable since they met several years ago, and forwent a large ceremony to wed in San Franciscos City Hall, said family friend Steve Jeffe, who also lives in Mariposa. Cassidy can be reached on twitter at @meganrcassidy, and will talk about true crime as long as you'll let her. Id like to see a little more of that around here. The family had relocated to Mariposa County during the pandemic in 2020, when Gerrish's job became remote, according to the Merced Sun-Star. However, the cause of death remained unknown and mysterious. The group gathered at the meeting spot down the road from my homeabout ten people with seven dogs showed up. For all of the fretting I did in my mind about the drive, it wasnt as bad as I built it up to be. A Mariposa County Sheriff's Office official stopped media Wednesday afternoon along Hites Cove Road near. Until recently the couple were mainstays in San Franciscos social scene, with both Gerrish and Chung known to DJ from time to time, Jeffe said. 319.56 m Down, 8.0 mi A flock of wild turkeys and woodpeckers were among wildlife in the area Wednesday afternoon. We were hiking out and back on ahistoric path that gold miners walked in the mid-1800s: the Savage-Lundy trail in the Sierra National Forestdown to Devils Gulch on the South Fork of the Merced River. Major snowstorm might leave you stranded, New 101 express lanes opens in Bay Area. 1170.32 m Down, 182.7 mi The area is northeast of Mariposa and southwest of Yosemite National Park. The trail begins at about 1,900 feet elevation and meanders upstream 4.5 miles to the former mining camp of Hite Cove. 81 Mule Deer 2. We walked down that last part of road to where it ended and where the trail started to the right. At the Savage. Briese said the family was found about 1.5 miles from their vehicle, a gray truck. Follow Hiking Yosemite and Beyond on WordPress.com. Two deputies slept near the family that night to ensure that no one tampered with the scene and the bodies were airlifted off the trail the next morning by a CHP helicopter. 20,865 Views. We parked up here, not really sure how the short distance left of the road that is supposed to be driveable looked like. 254.57 m Up Briese said the deceased family was found a couple miles from the south fork of the Merced River. We're not focusing on one specific cause at this point. Carmen Kohlruss is a features and news reporter for The Fresno Bee. On Saturday, August 28, Sierra National Forest officials Saturday issued a closure of the Merced River Recreation Site due to unknown hazards found in and near the Savage Lundy Trail (Forest Order No. I had met her twice through mutual friends and was pleased to get to know her a little better as we walked. Your FREE account works with all Adventure Projects sites. They were city folks and then completely shifted gears moving to Mariposa for this quieter life, focusing on their daughter.. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. Defendant violated agreement, Tamale-making mom and son went viral on TikTok. ", Jeremy Briese, the sheriff of Mariposa County, said the deaths had confounded him and his team, Ive been here for 20 years and Ive never seen a death, with any case, like this. Not much to see at the end save for a steep hillside. There were a few down trees we had to crawl over. The hazmat declaration was lifted the next day. Results from those tests also are pending. The pathologist currently is issuing an autopsy finding of pending toxicology, said Kristie Mitchell, spokesperson for the Mariposa County Sheriffs Office. Though the area was pretty and the view vast, my mind was on thereturn drive, the rutted and rocky road. you have two healthy adults, you have a healthy child and what appeared to be a healthy canine all within a general same area, deceased. While still maintaining a residence in San Francisco, the pair mostly uprooted their life in March of last year, when the pandemic was beginning to take hold. Matthias Gafni and Megan Cassidy are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Hyperthermia, toxic algal blooms, bacterial contamination, and escaping gas from abandoned gold mines were among the possibilities under investigation by the Sherrifs office. IE 11 is not supported. Rita, another hikerhappened to have a similar groove as mine so we stayed together. and then descending Devil's Gulch or just riding up the trail itself. Raptors, including hawks and eagles, as well as great blue herons may be seen. Generally considered a moderately challenging route. Advertisement Carmen Kohlruss is a features and news reporter for The Fresno Bee. Saturday, Aug. 14: Jonathan Gerrish researches Hites Cove hike via a phone app. The mysterious deaths of the young California family and their dog while out hiking along the remote Savage Lundy Trail in Devil's Gulch in Sierra National Forest in Mariposa, California on August 15, 2021, should have us all on high alert as we enter this new high heat era that scientists know very little about. Designated recreation sites, roads, and trails in proximity and/or leading to this location will be off-limits to the public. Bears, mountain lions and coyotes also live in the area. The searchers believed the family was returning to their truck and in the final stages of their hike back to the Sierra National Forest gate. Matthias Gafni is an enterprise reporter for The San Francisco Chronicle. Since then, the case has baffled authorities and their cause of death remained a mystery.. . The family was found dead by a search and rescue team on Aug. 17 along the Savage-Lundy Trail in Devil's Gulch near Hites Cove, a remote location in Sierra National Forest that's northeast of. The recent spate of storms lifted the statewide snowpack to 190% of average for the start of the month, and more snow is on the way. Following toxicology testing, on September 30, 2021, the Mariposa County Sherriffs office confirmed that further investigations had meant that the following had been ruled out as a cause of death: Gun or any other type of weapon, Lightning Strike, Carbon Monoxide, Carbon Dioxide, Cyanide Exposure, Illegal Drugs / Alcohol, and Suicide. The . Mindat.org describes the geology of this area as follows: The district is underlain by graphitic, schist and slate, quartzite, and hornfels. John studied at Newcastle University before working in London before his move across the Atlantic. While investigators arent ruling out the possibility of the family inhaling a toxic gas from mines in the area, experts say such a scenario is highly unlikely, if not unheard of. Thank you. Software engineer Jonathan Gerrish, 45, his wife Ellen Chung, 31, and their one-year-old daughter Muji, were discovered by crews in an area of the Sierra National Forest known as Devil's Gulch on August 17. I hear that when that road is wet, it becomes very slick. By the time they met the Savage Lundy Trail, it was hotter still 100 degrees. Autopsies on the bodies were completed on Thursday, August 19. After the autopsies, the deaths of the Gerrish family remained unexplained. Gerrish had done well for himself and was extremely generous, Jeffe said, always sharing his good fortune with friends. But they'll cost you, Fight at high school basketball game in S.F. 0 (20E040) intersects the South Fork Trail at Mariposa Station P.O. 43,234' Up Sheriffs officials said the algae bloom is one of the avenues being explored. No conditions reported in the past 7 days. Also note that access is limited in this area only during the spring due to the high fire danger. The long trailhead access road was not suited for cars with low clearance, so I brought thetruck. Email: matthias.gafni@sfchronicle.com, megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com. The U.S. Forest Service posted a warning about the algae blooms, which had been found by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife in late June as part of its wadeable streams assessment along the Merced River near Hites Cove, on July 13. I rarely hike with this group, but when I saw that the trailhead of one of the hikes was nearby, I wanted to take advantage of the close proximityand explore the area. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. "It makes for a very unique, very strange situation. We walked through the brush and around switchbacks steering clear of poison oak that crept onto the trail. The family was reported missing at about 11 pm on August 16, after their daughters nanny found that they had not returned home and friends and work colleagues could not contact them. Driver hits parked cars, then runs, Fresno police say. Continue reading Leave a comment The Savage-Lundy trail runs through an area of the Sierra National Forest known as Devil's Gulch, ending at the South Fork Merced River. It is 3.0 miles long and the most difficult of these trails. This data analysis was not released to the media. Rita had ridden to the trailhead with another couple. When the deputies found the truck, a search-and-rescue team hiked down the steep and straight road with flashlights and found shoe and paw prints similar to what would be expected from a family of that size with a dog. The trail also took us above Snyder Gulch, where John Hite operated in his sawmill back in 1875. She was also concerned that she may not have brought enough water for herself and herdog. In 2020, he won a Polk Award for military reporting for his coverage of the Capt. A Northern California family reported missing on Monday was found dead in a remote area of the Sierra National Forest, according to the local sheriff's office. Theres a mining community, Briese said of the area, so there could be some [hazards] that we dont know about.. Ive been on a lot of historic mine sites all over the state, Mitchell added. The vehicle was parked a mile and a half from where their bodies were found near the Sierra National Forest gate leading to Hites Cove in the Jerseydale area and was the start point for the popular Savage Lundy and Hites Cove Trails. Required fields are marked *. Its frustrating and were not going to rest . As I swabbed beaded drops of sweat from my brow, Rita asked, Do you want to do it, Janet? Quitting the hike didnt feel right, but the haunting thoughts of thejeep road unnerved me. The Devils Gulch area was hit by the Ferguson wildfire, in 2018, that burnt 151 square miles of land, killing two firefighters, causing $171 million of damage. Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. A family friend told the Merced Sun-Star that the family had gone for a day hike on Sunday, butwerereported missing on Monday night by a friend,after they were not home when the nanny arrived that morning. Authorities checking all possibilities in mysterious deaths, Remote hiking area where Northern California family was found dead treated as a hazmat site, Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area. The Mariposa County Sheriffs Office also shared the following timeline of recent events and their investigation. This hike was a good workout and I sure loved seeing this old mining country from a different perspective. It was supposed to be in the 80s that afternoon, but the canyon was already warm and we were both damp with perspiration. Thisouting was peppered with firsts, but itwas the last time I willquit a hike for the first time. On July 21, Sierra National Forest authorities posted a public notice warning of a dangerous algal bloom in the Merced River at Hites Cove after water quality testing by the state fish and wildlife department showed high concentrations. The US Environmental Protection Agency states that algal blooms can produce extremely dangerous toxins that can sicken or kill people and animals. Devil's Gulch is rugged, incredibly steep, and almost vertical terrain. to Scott Rd. Previously, Cassidy worked for the Arizona Republic covering Phoenix police, Sheriff Joe Arpaio and desert-area crime and mayhem. A Mariposa County deputy sheriff stands watch. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Spam? Savage-Lundy Trail in Devil's Gulch near Hites Cove Bookmark Details Person 3 Comments 0 Bookmark Share Leave a comment Report Type Last Known Location Datum Announcement This is the latest estimate regarding the last known location for Miju, John Gerrish and Ellen Chung. The family was three miles from a disused mine, where toxins including carbon monoxide can accumulate from decaying organic materials such as timber and the process of mineral oxidation. Investigators had previously ruled out gunshots, any other type of weapon or chemical hazards along the Savage Lundy Trail as potential causes of death, but hadn't not ruled out possible toxins in the areas near the trail prior to determining a cause of death. Mitchell said samples were sent to both the California State Water Resources Board Board and independent labs for testing, and that further assistance for additional testing is being coordinated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the California Environmental Protection Agencys Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. The cause of death has not yet been determined. Box 747 Mariposa Ca 95338 209-966-3638 OTHER TRAILS from the South Fork Trail The Savage/Lundy Trail (19E05 Snyder Gulch leaves the South for Trail at Devil Gulch. One of the unique things about this trail is that it goes through a stand of Knobcone Pine. ", Become a member of StrangeOutdoors for exclusive content, See the latest Exclusive members-only articles on StrangeOutdoors.com, Read other strange stories from the Sierra National Forest and Yosemite, The Sandra Johnsen Hughes disappearance in Sierra National Forest, The bizarre disappearance of Stacey Arras from Yosemite National Park, The strange disappearance and death of Jeannie Hesselschwerdt in Yosemite National Park, The puzzling disappearance of Max Schweitzer in Yosemite National Park, https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-gerrish-2748376/?originalSubdomain=uk, https://www.foxnews.com/us/california-mystery-autopsy-fails-to-reveal-cause-of-death-for-family-and-dog-found-dead-on-hiking-trial, https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/poison-algae-on-gold-trail-may-have-killed-family-59vmwjf3q, https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/hites-cove-trail?u=m, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hites_Cove,_California, https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Not-one-clue-The-mystery-is-only-deepening-16401921.php, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9914627/Deaths-husband-wife-baby-treated-homicide.html, http://merced-river.org/HitesCoveTrail.html, https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Unknown-hazards-Yosemite-trail-Calif-family-dead-16429088.php, https://www.facebook.com/SierraNF/posts/3133758160228109, https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/fires/article253864053.html?fbclid=IwAR0_Sv0T7TGRIEuytyuph8M5f50VWWgo4skgRuB3YaHIUKjO6JPK31FMNYU, https://kmph.com/news/local/mariposa-county-sheriff-multiple-causes-of-death-ruled-out-in-death-of-california-family, https://people.com/human-interest/cause-of-death-revealed-for-california-family-who-died-on-hiking-trail/, Tagged: The bizarre deaths of the Gerrish family in Devils Gulch, john gerrish death, ellen chung death, gerrish family deaths in sierra national forest, John Gerrish autopsy, Savage lundy trail deaths, Sign Up now for a one-off fee for exclusive access to many articles, The strange disappearance of Daniel Robinson from Buckeye in Arizona, The strange death of Lucas Renoud at the Hrisson waterfalls in the Jura Mountains, The bizarre deaths of the Gerrish family in Devils Gulch, Exclusive members-only articles on StrangeOutdoors.com, gerrish family deaths in sierra national forest, The mysterious disappearance and death of Nicola Bulley in Lancashire, The strange disappearance of the YouTube Survivalist Finn Creaney in the Scottish Highlands, The shocking disappearance of Theresa Ann Bier, The disturbing disappearance of Daylenn Pua from Hawaiis Stairway To Heaven walkway, The puzzling disappearance of ex-paratrooper Gilbert Gilman from Olympic National Park, The Dead man who saved Brandon Day and Gina Allen on Mount San Jacinto, The strange disappearance and death of Geoff Hague in the Great Smoky Mountains, The weird disappearance of Garrett Bardsley from Cuberant Lake in Utah, The bizarre death of Cullen Finnerty in the Michigan wilderness, The puzzling disappearance of Barbara Bolick from the Bitterroot Mountains, The strange disappearance of Mike Hearon from the Great Smoky Mountains, Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) report June 2021, The bizarre disappearance and death of Adrienne Quintal in Michigan, The strange disappearance of Fern Baird from the Prairie Peak Trail in Idaho, The strange deaths of David Horesay and Frederick Hardisty in the Northwest Territories, The disappearance of Steven Kubacki in the Lake Michigan Triangle, The lucky survival story of Chris Staff in the White Mountains - hallucinations, bugs and hunger, Mysterious UFO phenomena begins to be acknowledged officially by the US Military, The mysterious disappearance of Michael Bryson from the Hobo Campground in Oregon. It was parked at a trailhead down Hites Cove Road past the Jerseydale Sierra National Forest station and community of Mariposa Pines. We also saw plenty of coyote, bobcat and bear scat on the trail. The toxins produced by some algae can be harmful to humans and animals. Mitchell said it is very hot at this time of year and there is . A Northern California family reported missing on Monday, August 16, 2021, was found dead in a remote area of the Sierra National Forest on August 17, 2021, according to the local sheriff's office. One of the unique things about them is their cones.They remain on the trees almost indefinitely, seldom opening and releasing the seeds until after the tree or branch bearing them dies. Just kind of picking the least obstructed line to the end of the gulch.