Big Trees California

On May 30th Memorial Day we took a drive up to Big Trees, California. We wanted to see the BIG ones the Giant Sequoias! The drive was nice, we love going into the Gold Country. When we were driving there we looked back on being in that same area to go to Columbia a month ago. This time all the grass was brown, we were surprised because a month ago everything was green. We were then grateful that we got to see everything when it was green and very beautiful before it all died. It was still a wonderful drive and we went a little further north than what we had been so we were able to see a new area.

Arriving in Calaveras Big Trees State Park! It was really nice that day, a little chilly, but you were up in the forest so that was to be expected, however their were still people in shorts. I don't think they were expecting it to be colder.

Once arriving in Big Trees we started our 1.5 mile loop through the North Grove. This is The Big Stump. In 1853 a hunter named Augustus T. Dowd was chasing a wounded grizzly bear when he stumbled across the giant sequoia grove that became a state park. In 1853 the year after the discovery the tree was stripped of its bark and taken down. However because of the enormous size the tree was not able to be taken down with a saw, instead five men over a 22 day period drilled holes in the tree. It still took several days after that to fall to the ground. The bark was put on a traveling exhibit that later caught fire a year after harvesting. Other uses of Giant Sequoia bark included house insulation, pincushions, candle holders and carved animals. This tree was the largest in the North Grove at over 25 feet in diameter at the base and over 280 feet tall. When the rings were counted it was 1,244 years old, which is relatively young for the large size. If this tree was allowed to live it could have been a rival with the largest of the giant sequoias.

It was pretty neat to go and walk on the stump to see its enormity. People also have been married on the stump.

Here is a video comparing the Giant Sequoias to normal trees. The Coastal Redwoods on the coast of California are taller however have no comparison to the Giant Sequoias in diameter. Pictures really don't do these trees justice, it is way cooler in person to see these giants trees.

This is the only leaning back bench that we found. We thought that these should be all over the park because it is hard on your neck looking up all the time. This was a very comfortable way to look at the trees and admire the majesty of these trees.

Was kind of bummed that we weren't able to watch through this giant sequoia, the path was full of water. The park had it set up so we would be able to walk through the middle of the fallen tree. It was still cool to see though. There were a lot of fallen trees in the park, they don't do good in wind. Giant Sequoias have a very shallow root system, that is why we weren't allowed to get real close to them because otherwise the roots would get damaged. Only certain trees we were able to walk up close. Even though the roots are shallow they can cover an acre.

This is the Pioneer Cabin Tree. In the 1850's the park was easily accessible and many tourists came to see the big trees. When the roads to Yosemite improved people were going there instead and in the 1880's the Wawona Tunnel Tree was carved, so the park responded by doing the same. This tree was chosen because of its wide base and a large fire scar that is on the back. Because of the huge cut the tree can no longer support the growth of the top, which is now on the ground, however the tree is barely managing to survive. I was surprised that the tree is still alive.

Here we could walk up on the platform that was built so we were able to touch the giant sequoias. They are just a little too big to hug though...

Here was also another tree that we could get up close to because it got it's water from the stream right next to it, so we didn't have to worry about damaging the roots and making it unable to get water. The tree is HUMONGOUS!

After seeing the big trees we had a little picnic and even got our own little baby sequoias tree to grow. It was only a few inches high and during the duration that we visited big trees and when I have not written the blog, the tree is now dead. Chris and I just don't have a green thumb, we have gone through 3 plants in less than a year. First our Aloe Vera, then Jade plant, and now baby sequoias. We were planning on making it into a bonsai, but since it is dead, that obviously is not going to happen. We could get a free baby tree because they have a life guarantee, however I am just giving up on the whole plant thing. The only plant that is still surviving is bamboo, so I guess that will probably be the only plant we will ever be able to keep. That or I should just stick with the animals.

We then went for a drive of the rest of the park which was beautiful seeing different view points. Here is the Stanislaus River, some rafters were going down at the time, that sure would have been cool. It was a wonderful day in the park though, and I got to see my BIG TREES!