Hauntingly beautiful, the solitary Burmis Tree calls out to photographers around the world. Here on the eastern edge of Crowsnest Pass Alberta, the 700 year old timber stands as a cultural symbol of resilience.
Every once in awhile you come across unique views that make you to pause and pull over the vehicle. The eye-catching, lifeless Burmis Tree, with its Rocky Mountain backdrop is one of those moments.
The lifeless Burmis Tree silhouetted by a winter sunset on the eastern edge of Crowsnest Pass
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Where is the Burmis Tree?
Approaching the Crowsnest Pass along Highway 3 in Southwest Alberta, the lifeless Burmis Tree comes into view beside the highway, 8.5 kilometres from the Highway 22 intersection to the east and 9.5 kilometres from the Frank Slide turnout to the west.
The Alberta tree is located about 210 kilometres (130 miles) south of Calgary
The Burmis Tree is a fascinating, eerie-looking, lifeless Limber pine tree that is arguably the most photographed tree in Canada, with its mountainous backdrop to add to the beauty.
What’s in a name?
The tree’s name comes from the once (actually twice), thriving town of Burmis, Alberta. Originally founded as a coal mining town, actively mining from 1910 to 1914. Unfortunately, Burmis declined rapidly after the mine closed.
A lumber mill was built in the area in 1933, allowing Burmis to thrive once more from 1933 to 1956. During these times, the Burmis Tree became the Crowsnest Pass’ symbol of strength and resilience given the incredibly tough conditions and disasters that the region withstood.
Through the height of Crowsnest Pass’ coal mining activity in the first half of the twentieth century, multiple coal mining accidents and explosions resulted in over 1000 deaths. The people of the Crowsnest pass endure.
Full moon
The windy life of a Limber Pine tree
Limber pines endure a long life, up to 1000 years, in rugged and harsh conditions. The Crowsnest Pass icon survived some 700 years of windswept conditions prevalent in southwest Alberta, before endings its life cycle in 1978.
The now lifeless tree remained standing on its own for 20 years, before falling over on a windy day in 1998.
Wind turbines capturing the strong prevailing winds 30 kilometres east of the Burmis Tree
Saving a cultural icon in Crowsnest Pass Alberta
As an important cultural icon for the region, locals resurrected the Burmis Tree by anchoring its roots to the rocky outcrop surrounding it. Metal straps secured the main roots to keep the Crowsnest Pass tree firmly in place. Having a medieval, dungeon-like quality to the large metal straps add to the eeriness of the tree.
Metal straps and pole give support
One setback occurred in 2004 when thoughtless vandals cut off a major tree limb. Not to be defeated, locals reattached the limb with a combination of glue and a metal support rod. It is very apparent how strong the attachment to the Burmis Tree is, pun intended!
Does it matter that the Burmis Tree is dead?
Does this tree deserve the popularity and care it receives? Should this much effort be afforded a dead tree, when so many challenges face our living environment? These are real sentiments that exist.
Being an ‘outsider’, I was in taken by the visual uniqueness of the Burmis Tree and even more impressed once I learned of its history and the efforts locals have gone to preserve its ghostly beauty. Personally, I regard it as a natural sculpture, which with human intervention, has allowed continued enjoyment for so many.
Gateway to the Southwest Rockies and Crowsnest Pass
What do you feel about preserving the Burmis Tree? Are there any similar issues in your area?
More information on visiting the Crowsnest Pass region can be found here.
Thanks to South Canadian Rockies for hosting our recent photography tour with Neil Zeller Photo Tours.
I also think it is beautiful and should be preserved for as long as possible. Some trees in Europe are thousands of years old.
I totally agree with you Darlene! This tree, although dead, still stands as a symbol for the resilience of the people in the Crowsnest Pass. I’m sure other trees around the world have also become icons.
This is fascinating and yes, the tree deserves all of the attention it receives. A Joshua tree can live 700 years. ❤️
Agreed John! It’s amazing that the trees that live in rugged and harsh environments can be the longest living trees!
Wonderful to hear about this stalwart tree, Dave, I enjoyed your post very much. Interesting history and fascinating popularity. I really enjoyed the photos too, and can see why people have gone to great lengths to keep this beautiful tree standing. If it brings this much inspiration and enjoyment to folks, then I say go for it. The expense is a whole lot less than war, and look how senseless that is. Great to see you here, and please give my best to Sue, too.
Thanks so much Jet. Yes, quite a picturesque tree indeed. I imagine the expense is quite low indeed. Not sure if it was tax payer funded or privately funded, but it was obviously a labour of love, which is of course what we need more of these days! Great to see you here too 🙂
All the best to you and Athena. Sue sends her best to you!
What a great article on a unique and amazing topic!
Thank you Dawn. It really was a unique discovery!
I am not surprised it is a well loved and much photographed tree. It absolutely should be cared for and preserved for as long as possible. It has became a symbol for this region, it would be such a shame to loose it.
Very interesting post ❤️
Thank you Gilda. I totally agree that the Burmis Tree should be cared for into the future. I am intrigued by the level of attachment the Crowsnest Pass folks have for it!
I totally agree with everyone who loves this tree, it is beautiful. thank you for sharing.
My pleasure Dymoon. It truly is a hauntingly beautiful tree!
I can see why the locals are so attached to the Burmis Tree despite its lifeless condition. As you said, it holds sentimental value which is hard to measure but is certainly palpable. It’s really inspiring to see how much effort has gone into preserving the tree to prevent it from being relegated to history books anytime soon.
Thanks for you words Bama. I too am inspired by the level of commitment to preserving the Burmis Tree. I have a sneaking suspicion it will be around for a long time to come 🙂
That’s so cool! True, it’s ‘only a dead tree’, but that doesn’t make it less worthy of admiration or preservation than manmade sculpted art. Plus, I like that the locals are just as tenacious as the original tree!
Thanks so much Diane. The level of commitment in preserving the Burmis Tree is truly inspiring. I agree that it is worthy of preservation just as manmade pieces of art.
Hi Dave & Sue,
The photos of this tree are beautiful. It’s like a sculpture. What a shame it was vandalised.
Last October when I was on the island of Crete I saw a 2400 year old plane tree. The perimeter of the trunk was 24m and each meter represents 100 years of growth. Also saw the world’s oldest olive tree on Crete at 3000 years old. In California I have seen the Bristlecone pine which is the oldest living tree at almost 5000 years. Just think, it was there before the Egyptian Pyramids were built.
But the most photographed tree in California was the Lone Cypress in Monterey at Pebble Beach.
It is quite famous although it’s only about 200 years old.
Here in Alicante, Spain we have the huge Ficus trees, a type of strangler fig which dangles down and forms new trunks. One is so big that one of the branches is supported by a steel beam, yet it is only about 400 or 500 years old.
Trees are indeed a work of art. Even though your tree is lifeless, it is still hanging on with a little help from its friends and providing these picturesque photos.
Thanks so much Ginger! It is amazing to realize the ages of certain trees and tree types. It is mind bending to think of the 5000 year age of the California Bristlecone Pine. The Burmis tree is also a pine. A hearty tree those pines! I get a kick out of you saying the Ficus trees in Spain are only 400 or 500 years old. Crete apparently has its share of very old trees. Must be the climate.
I for one, Dave, can never resist taking pictures of dead trees. They have a beauty and elegance that matches their beauty as live trees and sometime surpasses it. Being in a glorious setting, doesn’t hurt either. Grin. I say, good for the local folks who have preserved it. –Curt
Curt, it is so true dead trees in the right locations can be very photographic. The Burmis Tree is definitely in the category. Yay to the locals for preserving it!!!
Sometimes symbolism is more important than reality.
It’s fascinating identifying with a hardy and resilient tree as a symbol of the locals’ hardiness and resilience.
That is a very photogenic tree! What a symbol with such an interesting story. I really enjoyed learning about this amazing tree and believe it should stay there for as long as it can.
Thank you Debbie. It truly is a very photogenic tree, and I agree fully that the Burmis tree should be preserved as long as possible!
I’m so glad that the people of the area have fought to keep the Burmis Tree. Obviously it has great meaning for them and for that reason alone it should be preserved. I agree with you, it’s a natural sculpture that provides enjoyment for many.
Alison, I too am very glad the Crowsnest Pass locals have strived to maintain the viability of the Burmis Tree. A great combination of beauty and historical meaning.
It’s so photogenic and apart from that, its significance is so important. I’m glad it’s being preserved.
Carol, I couldn’t agree with you more. Definitely worth preserving!
Fascinating. Reminds us a bit of the Catalina Ironwood tree.
Thanks John and Susan.
I checked out the Catalina Ironwood. Another hardy tree for sure!!
Such an interesting article Dave. These 700 year old trees are so beautiful even after withstanding harsh weather for so long. These trees have a lot to teach us.
Fascinating!
So true Abhishek!
It is amazing how trees can stand up to harsh conditions, and with a helping hand, can stand even longer!
Beautifully photographed. I love how the branches look like fingers reaching out into the world.
Atreyee,
I couldn’t agree more. The branches standing against the background is eerily beautiful!
This is such an informative post about an important culture icon, Dave. Though it is no longer a live tree, it has seen many seasons and chapters, standing resilient throughout. The locals certainly had many clever, innovative ways to get it standing tall again and again. It is wonderful to see it live on as a natural sculpture as you said and continues to remind many of the stories of the past and lessons for the future 😊
Thank you Mabel,
So true that preserving culture and important iconic symbols of a society is so important. The Burmis tree definitely helps keep memories and pride of accomplishments alive for the people of Crowsnest pass.
You asked some excellent questions at the end, Dave. In the field behind my house is a spectacular lone sugar maple tree. The tree with its large canopy is loved and endeared by our village residents. The field behind is slated for development with McMansions from 1.5 to 3 million dollars apiece. Right from the beginning the developer has stated the tree will not be a part of the development and it will be cut down (a picture of the tree is in the header of my church blog https://mysundayblog.com/)
We have fought to keep the tree, but it is futile. In a few years there will be 3 million dollar houses. In my opinion something far more valuable will be missing, that maple tree.
We do face so many environmental challenges on our planet. But I totally understand the locals around Burmis for keeping that tree. There is an attachment that becomes a part of our identity. And we go to great lengths to keep and preserve it.
Carl,
What an amazing and large maple tree. It’s hard to believe the developers don’t try to work it into to their plans. It’s sad when parts of our history or beautification of our respective environments are abruptly altered. We too will lose some trees in our neighbourhood for a redevelopment project. The number of birds and squirrels will definitely diminish once the redevelopment occurs.
As a cultural symbol, it’s up to the locals to decide what the fate of the Burmis tree will be in the future. For so many cultures, their sacred symbols are ignored in favor of “modern progress” and land development. Hopefully, we as a species will be just as adamant caretakers of the living trees that continue to share life with us and feed life into us. Thanks for this unique story and the most engaging photos Dave!