Sequoia National Park

Sequoia National Park is, of course, known for the giant sequoia trees that can be found there.  Sequoias are the largest living trees.  They are also pretty tall (as high as the Statue of Liberty) and pretty old (more than 2000 years old – try blowing out those candles).  However, California redwoods are taller and bristlecone pines are older (4000 years +), but sequoias are largest by volume (i.e., they have the most wood). 

 

While here, we hiked a lot and did the touristy things – like driving through the tunnel in the tree.  Unfortunately, the tree that had the tunnel cut through it fell down a number of years ago, so they just cut a new tunnel through the side of the tree. 

The biggest trees are spread out across the park in groves, where they huddle together.  Here are some of them.

 

 

To provide a sense of scale, can you see the people walking in front of these trees?

 

 Or can you see me standing in front of this tree? 

 

Here is Tharp’s log, where Mr. Tharp built a cabin into a fallen tree and lived there for about 30 years. You can see the log extending from the back of the cabin.

 

The other thing that was unexpected in the park, about 7000 feet up in the mountains, was the number of flat meadows.

 

 

Bears – bears – bears!  There were bears everywhere we went.  Turns out they are all black bears, even though most of them are brown.  At first, we shot them from quite a distance, but the more we saw, the closer we got. 

 

 

Here’s a momma bear and her three baby bears.

 

 

This would have been a great shot if I hadn't have moved my camera too quickly trying to get it!!!

 

This one was the biggest, oldest, meanest bear we saw. 

 

When he started heading straight for me, I decided I had enough bear pictures.