In 1891, John Muir wrote, "In the vast Sierra wilderness far to the southward of the famous Yosemite Valley, there is a yet grander valley of the same kind." He was exploring the wondrous Kings Canyon along the Kings River.
Kings Canyon NP, Sequoia NP, and Sierra National Forest (and the Sequoia National Monument) abut and intermingle here in this most rugged segment of the Sierra Nevada Range. Visitors drive down from 6500 feet to 3000 to reach the valley of Kings River, from where the road then takes you upriver and uphill to 4500 feet elevation at Roads End, from which backcountry hikes are available. There are no exits to the east as the mountains are impassible. Here's a view from high above before the road descends...
...and here's a view as I drive the road to Roads End...
Make sure you stop at Grizzly Falls and hike back to the falls...
Off in the distance are those impassible mountains...
The giant sequoia are the largest living trees on earth. One other tree species lives longer, one has a greater diameter, three species may grow taller, but none are larger by volume. Most tree species can be killed by disease, insect infestation, or fire, but giant sequoias are resistant to all of these. Chemicals in the bark and wood provide resistance to insects and fungi, and thick bark and water-based sap insulates from most fire. The main cause of death is toppling, Their shallow root system with no taproot, added to extreme heights and weight, can allow falling from high winds or heavy snow load.
The General Grant Tree in the Grant Grove is so wide it would take about 20 people holding hands to encircle the trunk. If the trunk of this tree were a gas tank, a car getting 25 mpg could drive around the earth 350 times. The tree trunk could hold 159,000 basketballs or 37 million ping-pong balls. This makes its 40 foot diameter the third largest tree in the world by volume. It is 1700 years old, is 268 feet tall, and weighs 1254 pounds. (The world's largest tree by volume is down the road and is on my post for Sequoia National Park.)
This "Fallen Monarch" toppled well over 100 years ago and remains on the forest floor, on display for visitors to walk through to see the inside of the tree.
1 comment:
Chuck the pic of "Driving to Roads End" is so perfect. How could you even leave the area. The pines, the shadows, the perfect sky, the beautiful green trees, it's so much of God's good creation to behold in one picture. It is truly good to be alive. Thank you for leaving parts of your vaca for others to enjoy if only virtually. see ya El
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