Yesterday I called it quits on the spring collecting season here. Pine candles all extending and soils starting to dry out and not hold up as well. My last collection was this Mt Hemlock or Sprawlock. I collected it in an area that was hit hard by bug kill years ago. A lot of standing dead timber had fallen hitting a lot of the understory trees. It appears this Mt Hemlock was one that took a direct hit.
The tree had been pinned for some time resulting in the trunk and bottom branches creeping on the ground until they were able to grow out from under the log and redirect upright again.
Also all the low Hemlock and White Fir here had been grazed by varmits creating this very tight, short needled growth. Resembles Dwarf Alberta Spruce. 
Pic showing the left trunk/branch has formed a bit of a knee. 
I stuck a chopstick down the center between the 3 trunks. It went in about 3". The tree currently is becoming a raft, just has a very widespread radius. In a few years, that center separation may allow a physical separation and repositioning of one of the trunks if I decide to go that direction.
The tree had been pinned for some time resulting in the trunk and bottom branches creeping on the ground until they were able to grow out from under the log and redirect upright again. Also all the low Hemlock and White Fir here had been grazed by varmits creating this very tight, short needled growth. Resembles Dwarf Alberta Spruce. Pic showing the left trunk/branch has formed a bit of a knee. I stuck a chopstick down the center between the 3 trunks. It went in about 3". The tree currently is becoming a raft, just has a very widespread radius. In a few years, that center separation may allow a physical separation and repositioning of one of the trunks if I decide to go that direction.
. Possible consideraton of 3 trunk growing on rock with one(knee)cascading
