Area author releases book on northwestern larch

MISSOULA – Missoula author and retired forester Stephen Arno has had an affinity for forests and trees since he could barely walk. Not only did his love lead to a career as a research forester but as an author he shares his passion for forestry with the general public.

Arno recently released his latest book "Golden Trees of the Mountain West: A Natural History of Larch." In this 148-page book, Arno explores the ecology of western and alpine larch, their history with humans and their role in the natural world. He helps provide more information about the little-known deciduous conifers that decorate area lake shores golden in the fall and make this area so unique.

Arno has always loved hiking and playing in the forest. He finished his Bachelors of Science in 1965 and went on to write a Master's thesis on interpreting timberlines. Upon completion of his Master's in 1966, he immediately started working on his doctorate. The subject of his dissertation was the ecology of alpine larch.

Arno graduated with a PhD in forestry and plant science with emphasis on forest ecology from the University of Montana in 1970. He spent 28 years working in forest ecology research, which he has continued into retirement.

Arno's interest in writing began in the early 1960s. In 1963, he worked in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park and was fascinated by the trees.

He was invited to write a comprehensive guidebook of all the coniferous and broad-leaved trees of the Sierra Nevada. He published "Discovering Sierra Trees" in 1973.

"From then on I was writing books about trees, forests, forest ecology and fire ecology," Arno said.

While Arno authored more than a hundred of peer-reviewed articles and scientific publications, he wanted to reach the general public with his books.

"I feel like the public has to have an appreciation of the trees and their ecology and the role of the Wildland Urban Interface and its relationship to severe wildfires and so forth," Arno said.

He started publishing books about trees in his free time. In 1977, Mountaineers Books published Arno's first edition of "Northwest Trees."

In 2007, he released the anniversary edition with co-author Romona Hammerly, botanist and artist, with whom he co-authored "Timberline: Mountain and Arctic Forest Frontiers" in 1984.

"She was not only a terrifically good artist, she was also very helpful in details of the book," Arno said.

Arno explained that he is "not the greatest writer." He has always sought someone else who is a good writer or more detailed researcher to co-author his publications. His most frequent co-author has been Carl Fiedler, retired research professor of Forest Management at the University of Montana. Together they wrote several books including "Mimicking Nature's Fire - Restoring Fire Prone Forests in the West" (2005), "Ponderosa – People, Fire and the West's most Iconic Tree" (2015) and "Douglas Fir - The Story of the West's most Remarkable Tree" (2020).

Arno branched out as a solo author and self-published "Golden Trees of the Mountain West" this past October. He has been studying larches since 1965 but worked on the book for about a year and half.

"While there are numerous books about other tree species, there is nothing about larch," Arno said. "Yet larch has got characteristics that are very unique and worldwide, it is a tree that generally reaches the cold limits of tree growth."

"Golden Trees of the Mountain West" explores the ecology of northwestern larch species. While Arno mentions the tamarack, the third species of larch that grows in the northern and eastern parts of North America, he focuses on western and alpine larch.

Western and alpine larch are the only conifers that occupy just the inland part of the Pacific Northwest. Even though they are first cousins, Arno said they are drastically different in form and "just about everything."

Arno wrote that Botanist Charles Sprague Sargent highlighted larch in his 1884 "Report on the forests of North America." Western larch are the largest larch in the world.

In his book, Arno features a U.S. Forest Service photo from the early 1900s of the "biggest western larch known." It grew in Wolf Valley, currently Libby, Montana, until it died in the early 1950s. In the photo, a six-foot tall man stood in front of it with his arms outstretched. The diameter of the tree extends more than a foot passed his fingertips on both sides.

Following the Wolf Valley larch's death, the western larch named "Gus" in Girard Grove near Seeley Lake claimed the record status. It is about 1,000 years old, seven feet, three inches in diameter and 163 feet tall with another 10 feet dead at the top.

Arno discusses larch's ancient relationship with humans and animals. The large, open larch groves around Seeley Lake represent tribal camping areas that were defensible from enemy raids.

He said the Salish, Pend Oreille, Kootenai and other inland tribes would gather in the area before they traveled over the continental divide together to hunt buffalo. Greater numbers allowed them some protection from the Blackfeet Indians.

Arno said the tribes intentionally lit fires in the late "Indian summer" or early spring just after the snow came off to help maintain open travel routes through the dense timber. Several of the trees in Girard Grove contain many fire scars. Arno said these fires were unlikely to be caused by lightning since Seeley Lake is in a frost pocket. Frost pockets create a cool environment that inhibits other tree species and provides the "chilliness required by larch."

While discussing larch's relationship with fire in the chapter "What Future Awaits the Larch?" Arno presents a photo, taken by U. S. Geological Forest Inspector H. B. Ayres in 1899. The larch-lodgepole forest burned in the 1870s. Since western larch is the most fire resistant of all inland northwest trees, some of the mature larch trees survived and larch seedlings were evident in the understory. The photo shows no lodgepole survivors, however the fire released the seeds from their cones and they were able to regenerate.

While not known for its size, alpine larch is one of the heartiest trees in North America. Arno said their form is completely different from western larch. The alpine larch takes about 30 years to grow one foot in height. During that time it is establishing a root system. Arno said the basal branches are considered "winter green" because they keep their foliage through the winter in the early years of its life.

After 30 years, the trees start growing vertically a few inches a year and the lower branches die out. Alpine larch are relatively short, spreading trees with long branches and drooping branch-lets which allow them to survive the hurricane-force winds and ice of winter.

Arno said only those that hike the highest mountains have the opportunity to see the alpine larch. At the end of the book, he provides a "Visitor's Guide to Northwestern Larch" highlighting relatively accessible areas to see both western and alpine larch in northwestern United States and southern Canada.

He also provides a "Hiking Guide to Larch in the Bitterroot." In addition to the location and trails to larch, Arno provides ecological and historical notes to provide more context about the area.

Explaining that since there are no longer any publishers in the inland northwest that are interested in publishing non-fiction, nature-oriented books, Arno said he had to self-publish. His grandson Alex Arno helped insert his photos that he had taken over his career as well as add non-copyrighted photos to the manuscript. Alex's wife Jenny Smith Arno "did a superb job" of editing.

In the conclusion Arno wrote, "Although tens of millions of people visit the Northwest's National Parks and National Forests and bring their children, I suspect very few take the time to understand or appreciate the history of those forests. For this reason, I am very encouraged that you are someone who has an interest in our natural forests and I encourage you to find ways to pass on that interest and appreciation with others."

"Golden Trees of the Mountain West" can be purchased at the Grizzly Claw Trading Company in Seeley Lake and on Amazon.