Over the weekend, two giant sequoias fell side by side onto the Trail of 100 Giants, forcing the closure of one of the most popular areas of Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument.
While sequoias cannot claim to be the tallest tree (that is the Redwood), they are generally accepted to be the largest in circumference. So far, there is no explanation for the fallen trees, though it is known that they shared a root system, which explains why they fell at the same time. Beyond that, not much is known. In the meantime, Forest Service officials are assessing the damage that the fallen trees caused to the trail and surrounding area to determine the best method of cleanup so that the trail can reopen to the public. Currently, the fallen trees are blocking several portions of the trail, and the fall left debris strewn about the area.
Many of the giant sequoias in the grove that the Trail of 100 Giants loops through are estimated to be more 1,500 years old. Though they may be old, they are not immortal. Priscilla Summers, District Ranger for the Western Divide Ranger District of the Sequoia National Forest, hopes to put together an action team to assess forest health in the area and determine if the trees died of natural or external causes. Per standard procedure, a public comment period will be opened to discuss the handling of the fallen trees and the complete reopening of the trail.
Right now, Summers is already fielding lots of ideas of how to handle it, but the most important thing on her mind is that no one was harmed when the trees fell. Three men from southern California happened to be hiking through the area and were about 100 feet from the trees when they fell, but were unharmed. One of the men, Christopher Johnson, said “It shook the earth like dinosaurs were walking through.”
More on the story in the Kern Valley Sun.
