About 20 years ago I tied a knot in an Alder limb. At the time it was only about 1/8 inch dia. The tree finally died so I cut it up for firewood. I like a handle on my firewood.
EEl, With the loop curled up and over like that in your first pic, i could visualize that piece being a great stick to have some taxidermy put on. Squirrels, Mt quail,... 2 of them, one above looking down at the other.