I did mention this amazing grove of huge trees earlier.... but will add a little now. We walked up through the grove. A dusty trail through open forest with many trees both still growing as they have done for more than 2,000years. We walked through the famous 'Californian Tunnel Tree", one a number of Sequoia which were tunnelled to enable foot, horse and passenger vehicles through, initially horse drawn coaches, then the first motor vehicles early 1900's. Standing next to the Grizzly Giant, which stands at 309 feet tall, with a girth of 96 feet at its base and being 3,000years old make my life span pale into insignificance!
Wawona was part of the original area designated as Park. John Muir lobbied Congress in the 1860's as both he and another important figure, Galen Clark, recognised the significance of the Sequoia. Galen Clark, the first Guardian of the Park, established himself here and built a rustic cabin in the spot which is now the upper glade and the site of a wood and stone museum. One gets a sense of peace and tranquility when looking out from the museum through the tree filtered light into the meadow below.
I read a pioneer story, where in the 1860's a team of 4 men took 22 days to fell one giant Sequoia and when it fell it lay splintered and rotted on the ground. This timber, due to its weak, light and brittle characteristics, became known of the "California Hoax".
