General Sherman is the largest and one of the most ancient lifeforms on earth. I'm only sorry these
pictures can't let you feel the presence of these things.
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The oldest of the bristlecone
pines that grow about 60 miles N-NE of here, in the Inyo National Forest, is over two thousand years older
than General Sherman, although Sherman is not the oldest of his kind.
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Sequoiadendron Giganteum, you know what I'm sayin'? You can't get too close to the
General here, to prevent erosion, but I hugged a couple other ones. You can actually hear how thick that bark is.
"Thud."
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Big. Tree. Their roots are only three feet under, and they have no tap root - as far as we know,
they are immortal, as they've only been known to die when they topple over due to the shallow root system. Or,
y'know, when people cut them down. I just don't understand some people.
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Ah, peace at last. Just look at that happy little space.
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What was I thinking about? The massive, ancient Sequoias stopped reproducing when people started
putting out forestfires in the Giant Forest. The cones won't release the seeds except by fire. And the seed has to
germinate in and grow from ashes. A particularly relevant metaphor to me right now.
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Up early the next day, had a pot of coffee and took a small bottle of water down the trailhead
at about 10:30 to think about breakfast.
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A warning? Yes. But not clear enough for me...-->
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