Read: "Climbing the Redwoods" in this week's New Yorker magazine

Really nice article by Richard Preston (Hot Zone author) "Climbing the Redwoods", in this week's New Yorker magazine. Unfortunately it is not online so you will have to get a hold of a print copy.

He interviews a redwood canopy scientist who has actually innovated techniques for getting into the canopies 250 feet above the ground, and has acquired a vast knowledge of previously unknown features of the massive trees which grow up to 370 feet tall (tallest living things).
The world awaiting up there is incredible, where the trees explode into vast arrays of multiple trunks and branches, of varying ages and states of life (or decay).
It is a great firsthand account of studying these magnificent trees.

we were riveted to the narration as we drove along to a weekend destination. When we got there we continued to listen to it for the rest of the night. He's a very good writer.

The link I provide here gives an introduction to the subject matter of the redwood canopies, to give you a flavor of the article. The researcher interviewed by Preston is Dr. Steve Sillett.

http://www.mpcer.nau.edu/wnrl/files/research_work_plan_4_3.htm