Climbing out of Fresno's smog toward Sequoia National Park
The haze limits an otherwise limitless view
Entrance to America's second oldest National Park
Nestled among the regular trees down there are hundreds of Sequoia
Rocky nubbin
This cute "tab" trailer zipped past us into the park, a modern throwback to classic teardrop trailers
A burly woman strikes a pose to match the trees
The bark is dramatically ridged
With a surprisingly spongy texture
Carey poses with a wee flake of bark that was lying around
Debbie tries to hide inside a crack in one of the monsters
These big guys like to keep each other company. In this case, a trio has gathered.
Probing the bouncy bark
The thick outer layer is designed to protect the inner tree from fire. In this case, it gave its life to safe the innards. Good job!
Hi-tech graphic at the visitor center shows the typical thickness of the bark
Wee squirrels spread the pine cones...
...until one day a chicken comes along and hatches the "Sequoia Egg"...
...and hundreds of years later, the tree finally reaches maturity and receives fame on a Coke machine. Mankind is really unraveling the mysteries of nature.
The Sherman Tree is the gnarliest living thing on the planet. It's over there somewhere. Be careful.
Carey thinks he's got it cornered.
"General Sherman"
See, he's the baddest tree around.
The General's sure a fat trunked fellow, although not as tall as some.
Whoops, this one fell down and couldn't get up. Then somebody cut a tunnel through it only to have somebody else try to block it off. All of which Debbie apparently thinks is quite funny.
Tim J. McGee, 1953, you set quite the example. There are now about 1000 other names carved in this poor tree.
This is the tree they used to take pictures of cars and wagons atop, as if it were a driveway.
Nowadays, you can only get your picture taken from ground level, as they've closed the driveway atop the log.
The sunroof proved perfect for viewing these loomers
Poor car is dwarfed by a trunk
Now we're getting somewhere! Finally, a tree we can drive under.
Carey, somewhat inexplicably, answers the call of nature on a ConeFone (tm) he found lying on the ground.
Debbie stakes out yet another notch entrance into one of the obscenely obese trees.
Debbie, trying to comprehend the scale of these things by standing next to them.
This one snapped off about 100 feet up, jinked sideways, then straightened itself back up.
This one had the good sense to just break off and stay broken.
This was about a 6-foot diameter "regular" tree that had fallen across a hiking path
The other half of the fallen "regular" tree. Note the pitiful layer of bark compared to the Sequoia.
Artistic natural wood formation
Trees that stand together, burn together.
Their interiors get burned out quite often, but the trees don't seem to mind much.
Looking out from inside the split tree. These things could make nice little homes.
Sure enough, some dude named Tharp decided to make his home in one in the late 1800s.
He picked this nicely fallen example, and went to work renovating.
He added a nice little side window, complete with awning.
Along with a stone chimney and a grand entry way.
Handmade slats made a good end wall.
The interior looks a bit squalid now, but was cozy and featured all the popular amenities of its day.
Speaking of ole' Ansel, here's a few gratuitous black-and-whites of the Sequoia in action.
Contrasty pillars, they are.
Upon our return to the parking lot, we finally found the trailhead, having completed the loop in the wrong direction. If you want, you can hike this trail 71 miles all the way to Mt. Whitney, and from there, continue all the way on up to Yosemite.
Nice place to enjoy a view.
The trail up Moro Rock.
The climb features depression-era rock stairs of the highest, award-winning quality.
The more modern handrails detract a bit from the beautiful stonework, however.
Rugged canyon view from the top
Hey, you're blocking the view!
Looking down onto the winding Generals Highway climbing up from the South
Some people were practicing their rock climbing on this face
One of the climbers in action
And her top-rope belayer above
The Giant Forest Museum, a classic structure set among the giants. They wouldn't allow buildings to be built this close to the groves now, but this site was grandfathered and is a highlight of the park.
Interesting exhibit on the ground showing the height and width of the neighboring Giant Sequoia, around 250 feet high and almost 30 feet wide
Nice, modern museum inside
The Grant Grove, in adjoining Kings Canyon National Park
Featuring a full-length telescope tree to walk through
The General Grant tree, which is, somewhat oddly, known as the nation's Christmas tree
Not the fattest nor the tallest Giant Sequoia, but this fella has probably the best sight-lines of all.
Clear views are available from all around.
Reaching for the sky
This huge chunk of tree came down in a fire.
You can see all the way through the telescope to Debbie at the other end. Hi there!
Aaaack, watch out for that rock, embedded in what's left of the root system!
If only we drove a Toyota Sequoia, this would make a nice ad photo, eh?
Time to descend back down into the glowing smog of Fresno.
This photo gallery is associated with the DEBCAR RV travel website at www.debcar.com
