Posted on 01/09/2017 12:19:10 PM PST by nickcarraway
A powerful winter storm in California has brought down an ancient tree, carved into a living tunnel more than a century ago.
The "Pioneer Cabin Tree," a sequoia in Calaveras Big Trees State Park, saw horses and cars pass through it over the years. More recently, only hikers were allowed to walk through the massive tree.
Over the weekend, a powerful winter storm slammed into California and Nevada, prompting flooding and mudslides in some regions. The Associated Press reports it might be the biggest storm to hit the region in more than a decade.
On Sunday, a volunteer at the state park reported that Pioneer Cabin had not survived.
"The storm was just too much for it," the Calaveras Big Tree Association wrote on Facebook.
It's unclear exactly how old the tree was, but The Los Angeles Times reports that the trees in the state park are estimated to be more than 1,000 years old. Sequoias can live for more than 3,000 years.
The iconic tree was one of just a few tunneled-through sequoias in California. The most famous was the Wawona Tree, in Yosemite National Park; it fell during a winter storm in 1969 at an estimated age of 2,100 years. The other remaining sequoia tunnels are dead or consist of logs on their side, the Forest Service says.
How Is A 1,600-Year-Old Tree Weathering California's Drought? SCIENCE How Is A 1,600-Year-Old Tree Weathering California's Drought? However, there are still three coastal redwoods (taller and more slender than sequoias) with tunnels cut through them. They're all operated by private companies, the Forest Service says, and still allow cars to drive through — one appeared in a recent Geico ad.
SFGate.com spoke to Jim Allday, the volunteer who reported Pioneer Cabin's demise. He told the website that the tree "shattered" when it hit the ground on Sunday afternoon, and that people had walked through it as recently as that morning.
Local flooding might have been the reason the tree fell, SFGate reports:
" 'When I went out there [Sunday afternoon], the trail was literally a river, the trail is washed out,' Allday said. 'I could see the tree on the ground, it looked like it was laying in a pond or lake with a river running through it.' "
"The tree had been among the most popular features of the state park since the late 1800s. The tunnel had graffiti dating to the 1800s, when visitors were encouraged to etch their names into the bark.
"Joan Allday, wife of Jim Allday and also a volunteer at the park, said the tree had been weakening and leaning severely to one side for several years. " 'It was barely alive, there was one branch alive at the top,' she said. 'But it was very brittle and starting to lift.' "
Tunnel trees were created in the 19th century to promote parks and inspire tourism. But cutting a tunnel through a living sequoia, of course, damages the tree.
"Tunnel trees had their time and place in the early history of our national parks," the National Park Service has written. "But today sequoias which are standing healthy and whole are worth far more."
Obamabare.
Obamacare, if you want your roots you can keep your roots.
Compromised foundation for over a century did not contribute to the collapse.
I have a photo of myself and that very tree from 1978. I know, big deal.
nothing to do with islam
nothing to do with islam
nothing to do with islam
ohhhh wait...this actually does have nothing to do with islam, or feral teens for that matter...weird
Not surprised that the tree is reported to have shattered when it fell.
Signs in the Sequoia National Park report that the mighty trees were saved from the logger’s axes in the 19th century because wood from the tree is too brittle for use as either construction lumber or in making furniture.
Trumps fault.
Tons of outdoor furniture was made from Redwood. Insect and Rot resistant. Owned some myself.
Sucks....we are taking the kids there in late May...
Caused by Global Warming no doubt.
Me too. With one of my ex GF’s.
I don't know about that, but the damned fools at the DUmp are blaming it on Trump.
For real.
I saw that tree in about 1951. I’d like to say we drove through it but I think we didn’t. My memory has gotten a little fuzzy.
Never be the tallest tree in the forest.
I would bet you probably did, it hasn't been closed to cars for that long. We did it about 20 years ago I think.
Sequoias and coastal redwoods are actually two different species within the same giant redwood tree family. Only the coastal redwoods are the valuable source of lumber.
Wikipedia has good articles on each.
Oh no, that’s sad. My family drove through it years ago with the kids.
That whole area up there is fascinating. It’s worth the trek. There’s a miniature train you can ride through the spooky forest, and several other kid-friendly, rather quaint touristy attractions tucked into the trees.
They’re run by local rednecks and hippies. If you’re lucky, they’ll treat you to some fine banjo-picking.
I believe, IIRC, that the Jurassic Park sequel was filmed around there.
Also, Bigfoot sightings are supposedly common. LOL. There’s a Bigfoot Museum and gift shop on Highway 1, and it is built into the trunk of a giant redwood.
My family had a blast touring and camping in the area.
Many of those trees were alive when Christ walked the earth.
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