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Published: March 14th 2018
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Hide and Seek In a Fire Damaged Tree
The fire doesn't usually damage the tree too bad as long as it gets a chance to heal before the next fire. We left our campground near Yosemite a little early to make sure we'd have enough time to connect up the RV before heading out to Sequoia National National Park. Snow was forecast for Yosemite on the day we left and snow again in Sequoia starting on the 13th; which would give us two days of great weather to see Sequoia and the surrounding area. It was bright and sunny up on the mountain when we left Yosemite RV Resort, but the time we hit the switchback curves on CA-120, we could see a lot of low clouds in the distance. It was pretty looking at the low clouds nestled in the valley until we arrived in the fog, luckily it was Sunday so there were not too many people on the roads and the fog only lasted 40 miles or so before it burned off. Once again the ride in was uneventful, traffic was light, and the roads were in fairly good condition. We had reserved a pull through spot away from the water, because at the time it was the only large spot available. But when we arrived Mi Hyon asked the manager if she had any creek-side spots open
and we were happy to hear they did! We quickly set up the RV and headed up the Southern Sierra Nevada mountains to see the trees.
The landscape along the drive is typical of the central valley, very dry and brown with large fruit orchards, small oaks, pine, cedar, grassland, deep river valleys, but no sign of any big trees. Once we arrived in the national park at about 1700 feet, again the plants were typical of the central valley and lower altitude Sierra Nevada, but no big trees. The road up from the valley is very steep and winding with great overlooks of the valley's waterfalls and river along the way on the way up to 4000 feet...still no big trees. Even looking up the slope there is no sign. Then at about 6000 feet we came around the bend and, BAM, we're in the middle of a giant sequoia forest. It was so unexpected, almost unreal to round a corner from a dry brown world into a world of giant trees and a lot of snow. It's hard to appreciate how standing among the Giant Forest Sequoia Grove's, 2700-year old trees makes a person realize how small
and temporary we are on this earth. The Park's most famous tree, the General Sherman, is the largest single stem organism living on the earth. Giant sequoia's only grow along the western slope of the Sierra Nevada mountain range and only at an altitude of 5,000 to 8000 thousand feet, so people from all over the globe come to see the giants. Winter is a great time to see the trees, but there is so much more to Sequoia and Kings Canyon that are inaccessible until May. We came to see the trees and left satisfied, but I think most folks would want to come in May before school lets out for the summer.
Once back in the RV park we met a wonderful couple in the spot next door, Kent and Felecia. Together we spent that evening sharing a meal and the next day enjoying their company along with the beautiful stream, while planning to meet again in the future. Seeing this beautiful country and making wonderful new friends is one of the great benefits to RV travel.
We've been blessed on this trip in so many ways.
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Susan
non-member comment
Amazing! I love these trees!