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)
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 ...
It’s a dead tree. Dead trees are lumber. Make a nice picnic table out of it and send it to OWS so they can have something new to cry about...or eat lunch on. Their choice.
Did anyone hear it fall?
Now, the solution ~ a handicapped accessibility ramp with a quarter mile approach (given the height and all).
BTW, I've been there to this very site and have taken pictures where this one fell ~ 7 years ago!
Then along came man-made global warming and...
/sarc, of course.
Cut a slice out of it the width of the trail, repair the trail, and display the slice at the visitor center to show the age of the trees in the park.
“we have become a country of absolute idiots!! “
We have least have a couple of states full of them it seems.
These people are beyond satire.
WOW! That was a close call [ggggg]
Everyone should see these trees. They are so awesome. You can’t really believe what you’re looking at when you first see them.
“I’ve been there to this very site and have taken pictures where this one fell”.
Okay, fess up, Muawiyah! What did you do to that poor, innocent tree? /s
You mean the "Me Generation" really didn't invent "climate change" all by itself as they are claiming?
Gonna have to have a multi million dollar impact study before they can spend 30 million to remove it....
Have chainsaw can travel .....:o)
auction it off.
So my 18inch chain saw and splitting axe along with my 60 year old back ain’t getting the job done? :-D
It has been to big for a mill for a long time.
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