Help Crossroads Save Standing Dead Pine from the Sierra Nevada Foothills
It’s the perfect time to start your summer project with Crossroads’ Rescued Blue Stain Pine. As its name suggests, this lumber is remarkable for the shades of blue that streak this golden Ponderosa Pine and Sugar Pine wood—a chemical reaction spurred by the dying trees, which were rescued from the Sierra Nevada foothills where a Western Bark Beetle epidemic has killed 80% of the local Pine and is irreversibly changing the ecosystem.
The U.S. Forest Service reports that the beetle epidemic is due in large part to climate change. Drought-weakened trees are more susceptible to predators. Warmer temperatures allow Western Bark Beetles to reproduce two and three times as often as normal, while late winters extend their lifespan and impact on the woods. Usually by the time a tree shows symptoms of infestations, the beetles have already moved on, and the dying tree cannot be saved.
Furthermore, these dead and dying trees become a fire hazard. Fires are a natural part of the reproductive cycle of trees in the Sierra Nevada, preparing fertile seedbeds for new growth. However, with so many Standing Dead trees there is greater potential for bigger, hotter and more dangerous fires that span the summer months, destroying thousands of miles of forest and threatening surrounding homes and communities.
The trees themselves are natural wonders. Ponderosa Pines can live 400 years or more, while Sugar Pines can live past 500. In rescuing them before they’re lost to rot or fire, Crossroads is preserving the history and unique beauty of these centuries-old giants. Any summer project could benefit from using this versatile, soft-textured wood from trees that populate some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the world.
Blue Stain Pine is a smooth, soft-textured wood that’s most often used as siding, paneling and flooring. It’s also perfect for countertops or mantlepieces. The boards from these salvaged beetle-kill trees are perfectly sound with an occasional oblong hole, or multiple oblong holes showing where the beetles entered the trees – marks of history in the fashion of reclaimed lumber. Specialty cuts are available upon request, but available inventory includes, 1×6”, 1×12”, 2×6”, 2×12”, 4×6”, 4×12”, and slabs from 2” to 4” thick, 20” to 40” wide and 4’ to 20’ long. View our inventory of rescued wood at www.crossroadslumber.com, or call 559-877-3645 to speak to a specialist.
