Big Trees

Many, many years ago, I may have been about 12, my family camped in Sequoia National Park for an entire week. I don't remember much about the actual nature in the park - well, a few things.
1. There were bears. Every night, while laying in our tent trailer, we would hear those critters knocking over the trash cans looking for a midnight snack.
2. It was August. It snowed. It was really, really cold.
3. Since it was August, I had only brought one pair of long pants that about the 2nd or 3rd day, split right down the butt. Neither of my parents rushed me to the nearest store to purchase another pair, but I had to wear my sweatshirt tied around my waist until the days warmed up enough to wear shorts.
4. Every night we went to the Park Ranger show at the campground's ampitheatre. There, we heard bits and pieces of Sequoia trivia and sang campy songs such as "In Sequoia, in Sequoia, there are bears, there are bears.." to the tune of ??? - I can't think of it. I can sing it, but not come up with the original tune name.
5. We had to go to church on Sunday at the above ampitheatre on Sunday. My parents also went to the Catholic service right after the Protestant service. Fortunately, they did not force us (Susan, Dan and me) to go with them. Whether this was out of mercy or fear of corruption, it is hard to say. We will never know.
Today, I made a trip back to Sequoia with Russ. Differences? One day, jeans solidly stitched together, in November (but it was cold - as low as 39 degrees according to my car) and no camping. We really did have a nice day. As far as National Parks go, Sequoia really doesn't rate up there as the most beautiful in my book. I found John Muir Woods north of San Francisco, far more picturesque with those redwoods. But there is no denying that the trees are magnificent.

The above is the General Sherman tree, largest tree in world based on weight (how do they know that?) and volume. There are trees taller and wider, but not as 'big'!

Roots of a tree that toppled. The usual reason sequoias die is because their root system is shallow and they eventually fall over.

I just really liked this hollow tree trunk. Russ did offer to crawl in there for a picture, but then I wouldn't have been able to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

The Sentinel - just an average tree among sequoias - but incredibly huge.

Happy Belated Birthday to my brother, Jim Zylstra, who turned 60 on Thursday!!! I still can't believe it. And don't tell him this, but he doesn't act like he is a day over 50. He's pretty cool.