Reaching the Tops of the World's Tallest Trees

Reaching the Tops of the World's Tallest Trees Enlarge this image toggle caption Michael W. Taylor/Courtesy of Richard Preston Michael W. Taylor/Courtesy of Richard Preston More from the Interview: Richard Preston Describes Being Up in the Redwood Canopy Enlarge this image toggle caption Richard Preston Richard Preston The Wild Trees: Read an Excerpt Enlarge this image toggle caption Robert Lewis/Courtesy of Richard Preston Robert Lewis/Courtesy of Richard Preston In his new book, The Wild Trees, author Richard Preston explores California's giant redwoods — some of the largest living organisms in the world. I got to know Steve Sillett and Marie Antoine, redwood forest canopy scientists, also husband and wife, who are climbing in the world's tallest forests. Try to picture this: These redwood trees, which grow in these little rainforest valleys on the north coast of California, can be up to 30 feet across at the base. I had actually finished the manuscript of The Wild Trees and turned it into Random House when all of a sudden, word came that Michael Taylor and his colleague, Chris Atkins, another explorer, have just knocked one out of the park: They found the world's tallest tree.