Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Giant sequoia falls, raising questions about what to do next
Los Angeles Times ^ | October 29, 2011 | Bettina Boxall

Posted on 10/29/2011 12:26:50 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife


The giant sequoia lies across the popular Trail of 100 Giants at Sequoia National Forest, Calif. No one was hurt when it fell. (Sequoia National Forest / September 30, 2011)

Along the Sierra Nevada's famed Trail of 100 Giants, the mammoth sequoia had stood sentry since King Arthur's knights gathered at the Round Table.

It witnessed the arrival of the first European settlers and the flurry of miners in search of gold. The onset of the Medieval Warm Period and the passing of the Little Ice Age. It stood, unperturbed, through the Great War and the one that followed.

Then a month ago, as a handful of amazed tourists looked on, it toppled — crushing a bridge over a small stream and blocking the path.

Now, the U.S. Forest Service must decide what to do.

Slice a big hole in the 300-foot-long roadblock? Go around it? Over it? Under it?

When you're dealing with a 1,500-year-old sequoia in a national monument, the questions aren't just logistical. They're environmental, emotive and potentially legal.

Officials closed the popular tourist trail, cleared the debris and solicited ideas from the public on how to deal with the fallen giant — actually two trees fused at the base.

Among the 30 or so suggestions: Reroute the trail. Tunnel under the trunks. Carve steps and build a bridge over them. Sell what would be one heck of a lot of firewood.

"This has not happened in the Sequoia National Forest before," said public affairs officer Denise Alonzo, explaining the indecision.........

In considering its options, the Forest Service wants to keep the paved path accessible to the disabled and make sure nothing is done to damage the root systems of surrounding trees, Alonzo said........

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: environment; perry2012; trees
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 201-217 next last
To: Johnny B.

Nice link, thanks!


41 posted on 10/29/2011 12:47:33 PM PDT by jwalsh07 (t)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: jwalsh07

With a 10 foot chainsaw.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdgMcbNwZ3o&feature=related


42 posted on 10/29/2011 12:48:32 PM PDT by mazda77 (and I am a Native Texan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Zuben Elgenubi

We have a winner!


43 posted on 10/29/2011 12:48:32 PM PDT by Amberdawn
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: mdittmar

You guys are really gonna piss off Frodo, Sam, Pippin, and
Meriadoc, not to mention Gandalf, he is really a great respector of the Noble Ents..


44 posted on 10/29/2011 12:49:53 PM PDT by late bloomer ( Neglegere homo pone aulaeum. semi-retired warlord)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: WSGilcrest

Granddaughter says I should get one of those. BTW she is the granddaughter that stacks my wood in the shed as I cut and split so she has skin in the game.


45 posted on 10/29/2011 12:49:55 PM PDT by jwalsh07 (t)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife

Patio furniture.


46 posted on 10/29/2011 12:50:26 PM PDT by SampleMan (Feral Humans are the refuse of socialism.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 101voodoo
"Make some REAL money by selling to the public one inch square pieces sealed in Lucite. The liberal weinies especially the greens will pay plenty. All money goes t the trsury for debt reduction. "

Cut it up for lumber, build some exclusive houses with it and sell the 'special' houses.

47 posted on 10/29/2011 12:51:14 PM PDT by blam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Zuben Elgenubi
the mammoth sequoia had stood sentry since King Arthur's knights gathered at the Round Table.

Um...with Arthur, the round table and the knights being mostly fictional...when exactly was that?

48 posted on 10/29/2011 12:51:56 PM PDT by Bloody Sam Roberts (Attacking Wall Street because you're jobless is like burning down Whole Foods because you're hungry.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: jwalsh07

A wire saw could be used to cut it into managable sections, however I do like the above suggestion of selling little cubes of it. At ten bucks a pop you could make some serious bank.


49 posted on 10/29/2011 12:52:05 PM PDT by SpaceBar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: jwalsh07

Lookin’ at the weather, today’s probably a good day to have her haul some into the house.


50 posted on 10/29/2011 12:52:12 PM PDT by WSGilcrest (/s)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife

Nice change of pace thread CW;)

#1 Cut a pass through with hand rails etc.,
#2 Sell the wood as one poster suggested - in 1” squares. Should raise $millions for the State.
#3 Send slices to other National Parks - showing the rings - and climate changes throughout the centuries.
#4 Allow furniture manufacturers to bid on what is left and make more money for the State treasury.
#5 Make a documentary of the disposition of this natural treasure and sell to HGTV.


51 posted on 10/29/2011 12:52:23 PM PDT by sodpoodle (Cain - touching the better angels of our nature. Newt - knowledge is power.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jwalsh07

In sections — go in as far as possible each time with a chainsaw. Use the lumber to erect a building in memory of the tree.


52 posted on 10/29/2011 12:52:30 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (ya don't tug on Supermans cape/ya don't spit into the wind...and ya don't speak well of Mitt to Jim!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: PGR88
Let's form a drum circle, hold hands, and weep for Mother Gaia's lost child.

I would say it is better than even money that this happens before it's over.

53 posted on 10/29/2011 12:52:36 PM PDT by hinckley buzzard
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: mdittmar; late bloomer
It didn't witness anything,it's a tree.

Yeah...my thought too....maybe it is/was an Ent.

54 posted on 10/29/2011 12:54:20 PM PDT by Bloody Sam Roberts (Attacking Wall Street because you're jobless is like burning down Whole Foods because you're hungry.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: xp38

Would it help similar trees to enclose the base in a ground retaining wall, filled with more soil? Deep enough that allowing people on top of it would not hurt the trees’ roots?


55 posted on 10/29/2011 12:54:41 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (ya don't tug on Supermans cape/ya don't spit into the wind...and ya don't speak well of Mitt to Jim!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife
Sierra Nevada's famed Trail of 100 99 Giants
56 posted on 10/29/2011 12:56:18 PM PDT by central_va ( I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Johnny B.

Great photosgraphs - thanks for the link.

From back when most Americans had a “Can Do” approach to life.

These men cut a 26’ diameter redwood tree into logs with hand tools and they didn’t have even one government financed study to tell them why it couldn’t be done.
(photo says 26’, text says 36’ - either way it’s huge)


57 posted on 10/29/2011 12:58:12 PM PDT by Iron Munro ('We do have tough gun laws in Massachusetts; I support them.' -- Mitt Romney)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: mazda77

Most dangerous occupation in America.


58 posted on 10/29/2011 12:58:12 PM PDT by jwalsh07 (t)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: jwalsh07

Hire illegal aliens to do it.


59 posted on 10/29/2011 12:59:05 PM PDT by Gator113 (~ Just livin' life, my way ~........ leaning heavy for Newt 2012)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: WSGilcrest

Already burning, been snowing since 1.


60 posted on 10/29/2011 12:59:50 PM PDT by jwalsh07 (t)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 201-217 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson