Thanks, PZ. Needed a little arboreal beauty today. Here’s to being small among trees. Gorgeous.
Still learning,
Robert
chigau (違う)says
Wow.
rqsays
I am agog and I am aghast – that is stunningly beautiful.
Larrysays
Having grown up nearby to Sequoia NP, I’ve had many occasions to visit these trees and be totally awed and amazed each time. To stand next to something that huge and old is a special experience. Everyone should have this on their life’s bucket list of places and things to see.
It’s even more amazing to think that these are probably little ones that the loggers didn’t get around to before they were protected in a park.
What is that spike thing at the top of the tree? Lightning rod?
Trebuchetsays
The picture is awesome at first sight, and even more so when you notice the tiny little humans in it, one at the bottom and one near the top. That guy’s a long way up.
Jack Krebssays
I have the centerfold picture of that from National Geographic hanging on my wall. It’s stunning. I’ve got to go see those in person sometime.
Rene, you should go back if at all possible. It’s really something that shouldn’t be missed.
markosays
It’s pretty big…I guess
robrosays
Pretty awesome tree. I assume that’s a lightening rod sticking out the top. I believe there’s a third guy amongst the branches on the left and below the mid point wearing a yellow jacket.
Larrysays
#5
It’s even more amazing to think that these are probably little ones that the loggers didn’t get around to before they were protected in a park
Actually, early loggers found the sequoia to be too hard to log because of its size. Their equipment simply wasn’t suited to felling trees 30 to 40 feet in diameter at the base and in the time required to cut down and then process something that large, they could have harvested several dozens of normal sized trees. Even with today’s equipment, I’m not sure logging one of these would be practical. In addition, it turns out that the wood of the tree isn’t really good for construction or cabinetry. It’s very brittle and it shatters easily.
That said, protecting them in a park was a very far-sighted achievement way back in the 19th century. If you didn’t know, Sequoia NP is the 2nd national park established (after Yellowstone).
TonyJsays
I was completely blown away when we went to Redwood National Forest last summer, and those were the smaller ones. We’re going to have to get to Sequoia sometime.
frogsays
Everyone please note that coastal redwoods are different from giant sequoias. The redwoods are ultimately taller, but the sequoias are bulkier. I thought the redwoods were enormous until I saw the sequoias. For the first day or two my brain literally would not process them, thinking each was much closer than it really was. They are the size of buildings, as in “my house has a smaller footprint than this tree.”
If you can get to Sequoia NP, do it. It’s stunning and staggering.
frogsays
Moggie@12: Apparently when they were trying to get support for establishing the park, one of the strategies was to offer tree-naming-rights to wealthy philanthropists and powerful politicians.
Thanks, PZ. Needed a little arboreal beauty today. Here’s to being small among trees. Gorgeous.
Still learning,
Robert
Wow.
I am agog and I am aghast – that is stunningly beautiful.
Having grown up nearby to Sequoia NP, I’ve had many occasions to visit these trees and be totally awed and amazed each time. To stand next to something that huge and old is a special experience. Everyone should have this on their life’s bucket list of places and things to see.
It’s even more amazing to think that these are probably little ones that the loggers didn’t get around to before they were protected in a park.
What is that spike thing at the top of the tree? Lightning rod?
The picture is awesome at first sight, and even more so when you notice the tiny little humans in it, one at the bottom and one near the top. That guy’s a long way up.
I have the centerfold picture of that from National Geographic hanging on my wall. It’s stunning. I’ve got to go see those in person sometime.
The person at the top looks to be in a different scale than the person at the bottom.
Pah. Do that for Yggdrasil and then I’ll be impressed.
Shopped.
But seriously, I’ve been in the neighbourhood (Redwood Shores) and totally forgot to go and see. One of my life’s biggest mistakes.
Why insult such a maginificent and noble tree by calling it “the President”?
Rene, you should go back if at all possible. It’s really something that shouldn’t be missed.
It’s pretty big…I guess
Pretty awesome tree. I assume that’s a lightening rod sticking out the top. I believe there’s a third guy amongst the branches on the left and below the mid point wearing a yellow jacket.
#5
Actually, early loggers found the sequoia to be too hard to log because of its size. Their equipment simply wasn’t suited to felling trees 30 to 40 feet in diameter at the base and in the time required to cut down and then process something that large, they could have harvested several dozens of normal sized trees. Even with today’s equipment, I’m not sure logging one of these would be practical. In addition, it turns out that the wood of the tree isn’t really good for construction or cabinetry. It’s very brittle and it shatters easily.
That said, protecting them in a park was a very far-sighted achievement way back in the 19th century. If you didn’t know, Sequoia NP is the 2nd national park established (after Yellowstone).
I was completely blown away when we went to Redwood National Forest last summer, and those were the smaller ones. We’re going to have to get to Sequoia sometime.
Everyone please note that coastal redwoods are different from giant sequoias. The redwoods are ultimately taller, but the sequoias are bulkier. I thought the redwoods were enormous until I saw the sequoias. For the first day or two my brain literally would not process them, thinking each was much closer than it really was. They are the size of buildings, as in “my house has a smaller footprint than this tree.”
If you can get to Sequoia NP, do it. It’s stunning and staggering.
Moggie@12: Apparently when they were trying to get support for establishing the park, one of the strategies was to offer tree-naming-rights to wealthy philanthropists and powerful politicians.