What did this? picture added

[fishnfur]

I had elk rubbing alder well into February this year. This tree in question, absent elk hair - I'm also thinking bear:

https://www.google.com/search?q=bear+bark+stripping&biw=1366&bih=667&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi4u7qkkKDMAhUJyGMKHZPUDiUQsAQIIw

[KFhunter]

They sure do go up and down...


Do a google search "porcupine tree damage" and you will see pictures that look just like what the OP put up.

People attribute wrong information to photo's all the time on google "it must be true, I seen it on the internet"

For example the photo you used above, it's not a porcupine.  They do not drag their teeth down the tree for 12 inches or so, that's silly.

[KFhunter]

trying to post picture a different way

This is a bear peel,  not every tree they try is successfully peeled in long ribbons.  The bear sampled this tree and moved on.  It wasn't a good easy peeler.

[xdog]

Clearly a Man Bear Pig, if you look closely you can see the obvious and typical tusk markings and the sticky haze of nut fog spray.  👍🏻

[hunter399]

Bear for sure ,they do it in spring when really hungry,he will come back to lick sap,most of the time its all around the tree and it dies,thats why we have spring season.

[crowinghen]

We'll be heading to that area tomorrow to see if anything is going on.