"Any fool can destroy trees. They cannot run away; and if they could, they would still be destroyed -- chased and hunted down as long as fun or a dollar could be got out of their bark hides, branching horns, or magnificent bole backbones." John Muir
With a name like Sequoia National Park, one would assume you'd be bumping into one gargantuan after another. So not true.
These ancient trees hang out in cliques. The NPS calls them groves. They don't run in a continuos range. They are quite content to keep company with a few close buddies. They are magnificent.
In a previous post, I mentioned how the wood's quality sort of sucks for mankind's needs. Despite this economic fact, thousands of these beauties were slaughtered as if they were game.
In 1875, an average sized Sequoia was toppled by two loggers in nine days. A cross section was sent east for its entertainment value. Those pessimistic easterners (like me) deemed it the "California Hoax." Little did they know, they were getting the runt of the litter.
On the morning of Rosh Hashanah (5775 of the Jewish New Year. We've been around longer than the Methuselah Tree!) I took a silent, peaceful stroll along the Congress Trail. I got to hug the President, see the House and the Senate standing around. (At least these trees are awe-inspiring instead of yawn-inspiring). And finally see one bear.
For me, It was far more spiritual than attending a New Year service. I was already in God's Temple and there was no guilt involved.
As you can see from the last photo, in California if you can't beat the bear obsession, join 'em.
Happy Jew Year to all,
Jeff
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