OF ALL THE TREES in our Church O’ The Pines forest, this White Pine is the champion. Seemingly touching the sky, with a nearly arrow-straight trunk, it is nine-and-a-half feet in circumference at chest height. Estimated age, 181 years. Experts say the percentage of White Pines over 180 years of age is very small, likely less than 1% of the population, and virtually all of these in small protected pockets, such as national and state parks. In this era of changing climate with so many pests and pathogens assaulting our American forests, it becomes more and more rare to find a truly big tree. And I love them all. It feels wonderful to have one of our own, less than a hundred yards from the cabin. It is no kind of world champion, but it is our champion, helping to hold up the sky. And I admire it more than I can say.