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 was 7 years ago and I heard it move even then. Deep growling sound. The Forest Service knew!
The simple and obvious solution - so they probably won't do it.
Ya know that the Forest Service wants to cut it out of the way ...
BUT ...
First, ya gotta have the obligatory Environmental Impact Statement ...
Then, ya gotta have the inevitable law suit in Federal Court by the Sierra Club ...
Then, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has to step in and declare that cutting the Sequoia would violate its rights ...
Then, it finally gets to SCOTUS and they say ...
“Cut the friggin’ thing up - you bunch of maroons !!!”
Total process time = 20 years ...
In California, hands will be wrung, petitions circulated, sitins tolerated etc.
And bugs will infect the dead wood.
And bugs will spread to live wood.
And more damage will be done before it gets cut up and hauled away.
...for want of a nail the kingdom was lost...
This is California.. why, oh why, do I get the idea that some idiot will actually want to have a public funeral? The death of a tree.. boo hoo hoo.
That’s pretty harsh, the history of that tree is extrodinary
and it was a living thing standing tall for hundreds of years, that alone deserves some respect. You sound so angry. It’s amazing that you can’t see the sadness of a giant tree dying after all those years, and with your screen name, momofthree, what kind of sympathy did you teach your children? I feel sorry for you.
You forgot that some earth firsters will spike the tree sometime during the night to maim a few loggers.
Wow! Johnny B those are some interesting photo shots from that era of logging. Way before my time but I love seeing photo’s of when America really knew how to “work”.
In all seriousness, it’s a shame that tree fell. Those giant sequoias are beautiful trees. The suggestion about building a bridge over it is good. They couldn’t build steps because they said the trail needs to be handicapped accessible.
Step 2: Make one of these:
Step 3: Any wood left?
Step 4: If yes, got to Step 2, else Step 5
Step 5: End
Man, don’t tell the Fed, they will turn it into Section 8 housing...
Order new signs for the "Trail of 99 Giants".
Put it back up!
We won't see a penny of it!
-PJ
I think Nature would want us to use it for lumber. Since the tree reached the end of its life, it is now time for the rest of Nature (us) to make use of its material.
| They should set up a new branch of the EPA for just such an emergency. I said "branch." Get it? That's a joke, son. |  |
I heard that Fox News has already scheduled a debate between Rick Perry and the Big Dead Tree.
The Vegas odd-makers have already listed the Big Dead Tree as a 3:1 favorite over Perry in the Rick Perry v. Big Dead Tree Debate.
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