Hyperion Coast Redwood
World's tallest discovery, 2006, Redwood National Park, 379.65 ft.
Still the tallest? Find note below about closure and fines.
Copyright 2022, Mario D. Vaden, Certified Arborist / PN-5584A. Continued from theCoast Redwoods Main Page
Hyperion was discovered 2006, published as the tallest redwood for about 7 years. Prior to 2014, Hyperion was published for 379.65 feet tall and 15.2 feet diameter. In 2017, conifers.org provided the following update:
Height 380.08 feet and diameter 15.87 ft. dbh
At the moment maybe 20 people on Earth know what redwood is actually tallest. A few discovery gurus and scientists. Hyperion is the tallest "on record". The past few years more redwoods missed by LiDAR and previous exploring were found, the discovery clan has not revealed every new find, and the tallest redwoods always trade places due to growth rates and breakage. Hence, only a handful of people know where the tallest redwood actually stands.
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Hyperion was found August 25, 2006 by Chris Atkins & Michael Taylor, in Redwood National Park. They actually found 3 world records that year, giving Redwood National Park claim to three tallest in the same park.
Between 2013 - 2016 heights shuffled and by 2014 Redwood National Park lost claim to 3 tallest in one park. New height records were set and growth accelerated during drier 2014 & 2015 seasons. Some grew as much height in a single drought year as 4 moist years' combined. Presently, Sequoia sempervirens is now approaching 390 feet. My Redwood Discovery page adds some extra about new discoveries.
From 2006 to 2013 near Hyperion, there were no traces of wear or human activity. In 2015, one of the original group who found Hyperion in 2006, noted some obvious change denoting an unknown number of people wandered through. From my own photos spanning several years, I picked a large image showing the base of Hyperion early 2014. Tap the photo at the right and enlarge. Even the sorrel is pristine.
A friend's image is farther down this page in updates showing beginning stages of human impact. This 2014 image is your perfect benchmark for future comparison. I skipped returning to Hyperion in 2015 to 2020 to avoid being part of initial permanent wear. Chris Atkins shares similar thoughts.
NOTICE OF CLOSURE
Image: here's a photo from Mark Graham (2022) to update status of the area around this redwood. Redwood National Park closed an area across from Tall Trees Grove where people are spreading out and crossing the river to wander and look for this tree. The sign warns of up to 6 months in jail and $5000 fine. Much of this park and other redwood parks don't have this restriction but the wear is becoming obvious.
This was our personal practice by choice at the Grove of Titans. We used to visit for photos prior to 2014. As soon as permanent wear began from some careless folks, we abandoned the area for several years. The parks built boardwalks or paths up there now.
Regarding the closure around Hyperion, we suspect someone with Redwood National Parks may be lying to news outlets and the public. It was relayed in one or more news stories that the top can't be seen from the ground. But that's false. If you find an old National Geographic video on Youtube about the climb to verify the world's tallest tree find in 2006, watch the end.
The apex is shown with a scientist waving. That view is from ground level. I photographed the top from ground at the same angle in 2009. The reason I'm interjecting this, is because if the parks isn't telling the truth about one aspect, it leaves people wondering what other aspects are true or not.
RNP / rangers were factual when they told news or the public that there is danger or hazard to bushwhacking up to Hyperion. The danger varies from very dangerous during some winter weeks to moderately hazardous in the summer. There are some slippery rocks or logs somewhere 365 days of the year.
Image: the image to the right (used with permission) shows the partially broken arm of a young man about 30 years of age. This is not the only injury from that area. It's just one that someone shared a few years ago to let people know that the trek does involve some risk. There have been more injuries and falls.
It's worth adding that I also injured an arm similarly while measuring and exploring with Chris Atkins. A Salal plant wrapped my angle and a fall 8 feet off a log led to breaking a piece of bone. I was still able to work. But I realize the reality of potential hazard in the parks aside from the fact that hikers can get injuries on more open trails.
And this potential for injury is one of several reasons why ranger-led tours or guide tours by permit won't happen. It would be foolish for rangers to try that.
Some of my photos below show people standing near the trunk. It's worth interjecting that they approached and walked behind to avoid standing on plants. Their footing is on thick needle mulch, so compaction is impossible. We were so careful in those grove those years, the others would confirm that I even asked them to fluff their footprints !!
The image below is the oldest top-to-bottom view of Hyperion. This is the complete photo farthest-removed from human influence, taken one cold rainy January 23rd back in 2009. In that regard the four image composite is historical. This has been ordered as 16 x 32 print canvas.
I will spare directions because some folks like figuring it out themselves.
The area is in Redwood National Park, uphill from a creek. Even years ago, I rarely trekked to this redwood, because it takes some time. There's driving, hiking, and about 1/2 mile of bushwhacking up a creek. There are a few directions to approach, but following water seemed the most delicate way to get there.
My first encounter with Hyperion in 2009
My first time to Hyperion was in 2009 when the trek was a real adventure. Clues were very scarce, hence the "good old days". I approached the valley January 23, 2009 and reached Hyperion around 11:45 am. It was overcast, cold and rainy. My clothes were saturated almost chest high from wading water to 4 feet deep. Weather records state 43 degrees F. barely 10 degrees above freezing.
Michael Taylor never shared the location but suggested to proceed and keep trying. Apparently I was the first "outsider" to locate Hyperion. I used scraps from Richard Preston's redwood book and the rest was based on what seemed like a good place for a tallest redwood as if I was going to search from scratch.
Redwood Creek was full and so were the tributaries. Some spots were deep enough to raise the pack overhead. Unlike lookers these days (2018), I identified Hyperion by the apex, not the base. In winter the area feels like a wilderness. I recall being apprehensive, because I went solo. When I spotted claw marks on logs, it made me a little nervous. But afterward, I focused on redwoods and photos. By afternoon, I was comfortable and the day became one of my most memorable redwood adventures.
Hyperion
Is mostly a single stem redwood with some fire charring on the trunk, and looks like a stereotypical Sequoia sempervirens. The stem length is greater on the low side of a hill. If Hyperion was removed from the Earth and hung from a crane, the trunk would stand at least 386 ft. tall. In that regard it is safe to say Hyperion was 386 feet tall from top to bottom.
Around August 26, 2006, Dr. Robert VanPelt referred to the redwood as "unnamed" adding "The most significant year in tree height measuring just joined the ranks of years like 1066, 1492, etc.". So it had two names for a short while. Similar to one of the massive redwoods discovered around 2014 that someone left unnamed (I use Samurai temporarily)
During the first climb shown by National Geographic, researcher Steve Sillett said foliage near the top was not as reduced in size as expected. The needles still had some "expansion" indicating potential for extra height. He was correct because Hyperion has grown more.
The first climb involved Dr. Steve Sillett, his wife Marie Antoinne, Jim Spickler and author Richard Preston. National Geographic's film crew tagged along plus three officials from Save the Redwoods League, including Ruskin Hartley who carried the crossbow for Sillett. It was September 16, 2006. Michael Taylor and Chris Atkins who discovered were also present that day.
Image: a friend Richard Stenger looking skyward to one of the "hook-arm" trunk reiterations.
My Favorite Hyperion Story
My favorite story by others is the 2007 Above and Beyond by Clynes. Even though I have been to Hyperion several times, I still enjoy reading this fun article.
If you can find it online, read: Above and Beyond Article
The narrative unfolds where it has me guessing they picked Redwood Creek trailhead close to Orick. That article opens weighing options in hours and pints of blood. Their first search party had a 75% casualty rate for injuries the first day.
Image: Another photographer at the base of tall Hyperion redwood. May 1, 2014. It was over 80 degrees that day.
Clynes never found Hyperion, but closed his story with a great appreciation for the forest. Clynes contacted co-discoverer Chris Atkins afterward. April, 2015, Chris and I stopped for supper, then asked him about the conversation with Clynes. Atkins confirmed the authenticity of the phone conversation.
Clynes went up several creeks and "trimmed fat" off the narrative to conceal the exact details where the "right place" was. Here's an excerpt:
"Wow," he (Atkins) said. "You managed to find your way into one of the most spectacular groves on earth." He asked a few more questions, regarding how far up the creek we went, which side we climbed, how high we went. After I described the location, Atkins was silent for what seemed like a long time. "You were in the right place," he said finally. "You probably walked right past it"
Clynes and his team never found Hyperion, but he sure provided a great narrative of their quest.
Keyhole in the Landscape
Richard Preston wrote of a keyhole in the landscape, leading to Hyperion Valley. For a while, it made no sense. Eventually, I realized what spot in the park can be described as a keyhole. Since the location is obscure, I revealed a "keyhole" farther down down this page
December 2016 Update
Hyperion may not see the same traffic as the Grove of Titans. But it's fair to document any activity and change for the record.
A reader here, saw the image I added at the top of the page showing Hyperion's base in pristine condition during early 2014. The reader submitted a photo taken near Hyperion from the end of summer 2015, a year and few months afterward. It confirms what I was told by a researcher that the area was starting to get "thrashed"
Select the image to the right for a larger view. The more orange areas are where boots grind-down bark surface into fine particles. The small vegetation has been reduced, evident by comparison to the 2014 image.
If you enlarge the photo there is no way to miss minor wear. This is exactly what the first phase of wear looked like around the base of Screaming Titans in Jedediah Smith park.
Although wear will continue, it may be at a slower pace than Grove of Titans because testimonials have been found and read about wear in the GOT, and this creek drainage is more remote.
Image: Hyperion redwood from another angle, showing more forest density.
Image: thChris Atkins, co-discoverer of Hyperion, swimming in Redwood National Park in the area described by author Clynes in the Backpacker Magazine article Above and Beyond.
Image: the "keyhole" in the landscape described by author Richard Preston. It becomes more distinct during overcast weather and looking from this direction.
Image: Hyperion Valley in Redwood National Park, winter time, January 23, 2009.
Image: Hyperion Valley, January 23, 2009. Cold, saturated and swollen with rainwater.
Image: scores of fallen logs packed like sardines from the power of raging floodwaters. January 23, 2009. Hyperion Valley in Redwood National Park.
Image: Claw marks in close proximity to Hyperion redwood. The claw marks were wide, implying the bears are large. But the length of the claw marks proved that getting a foothold is just as slippery for bears as it may be for humans.
Image: The photo below show a friend Richard on the route downstream, leaving Hyperion. This was back in 2014 when Thomas from Germany joined us.