In just a few minutes this touching new film captures the story of California-based Big Tree Hunter Carl Casey and his discovery of a new Champion Sugar Pine in California—the largest known pine tree in the world. In recent years all four pines to previously hold the title have died, due to drought, pine bark beetle, and other natural and manmade scourges.
Roughly three years after Casey’s find was officially crowned the National Champion Sugar Pine, New York-based photographer and filmmaker and Gathering Growth Foundation founder Brian Kelley was able to meet with Casey and tell his story,
As for Kelley’s story, and how he came to found a foundation similarly focused on big trees, read on below.