Waking on day 4 of the trip we were both really excited to be heading to the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias in Yosemite NP. This was to be one of the highlights of our trip. When mom had first suggested the trip, she had mentioned Vegas and Utah, and I looked at the map and insisted that if we were going to be so close I wanted to go to Yosemite. Specifically, I wanted to see the trees. As soon as she did a little investigating, she was as excited as I was. We couldn't wait!
We had decided to take an open air tram ride through the Mariposa Grove. We wanted more info than we thought we could learn just riding around asking each other questions like we had been doing the last few days. We pulled into the parking lot and were immediately blown away. In front of our parking space was the largest tree either of us had ever seen. Wow! We just kept our necks craned back and kept saying, "Wow!"
We hopped aboard, put on the earphones they gave us, and sat back to listen, look and learn. It was about 9:30, so the morning sun lit every tree. We were the last to hop on the ride so our seats were at the front of the car but facing backward so we saw everyone on the ride. A little nerve racking, but what did I care?! I was amongst the trees.
Now would be a great time for me to say something important about sequoia trees. Though I have tried, there are absolutely no words, no pictures, videos, no numbers, no comparisons to anything that can make someone understand the size, smell, feel, and even the sound of these trees. I can say a tree I saw was 290 feet tall and 40 feet wide at the base with branches at the top that have a diameter of 6 feet, but it means nothing. I can say the second you step out of your car the thick smell of the incense cedar that grows in the shadow of the sequoia fills your nose and throat, but you will never understand. I can tell you that even when it is the middle of the night, you hear a noise like rushing water and realize it is the trees moving and living and breathing, but until you have stood next to the tree, leaned back and breathed in the tree, tried from 50 angles and perspectives to capture the tree on a camera in some way that will communicate what you have seen...you just cannot know. Sequoias are not the tallest trees; redwoods are a little taller. Sequoias are not the oldest trees; scrub pines are older. But sequoias win when it comes to sheer volume. Largest living thing on earth. But seriously... You had to be there.
To finish the up I would probably tell you about the big branch that fell off one of the trees and hit a couple of people on the tram ride, but I wouldn't want you to worry.
I am truly tired and so I am just going to leave you the rest of my cryptic notes on todays events. I know what they mean, and if you are lucky I may explain them later...or not. Enjoy...
My turn to drive...Wheeee!
Back towards our hotel in Oakhurst.
Lunch at Kountry Kitchen; not country, kitchen closed.
Took the 41 to the 180 to Fresno (to be read in my best Californians accent) alternating between 8 lane highway and 2 lane roads.
Yellowed dry grass for miles, low hills or flat then low round trees and boulders, some grass burned.
Movie star?William Shatner?house.
Fruit trees oranges, peaches, apples, grapes guessing.
Entering Kings Canyon, Grant Grove Visitor Center. Climbing 5000 feet to camp above 6000 feet. LONG SLEEVES!
Princess. Lucky to get a stump. Set up camp, fall asleep in two min.
No comments:
Post a Comment