Imagine hugging something that is over 1800 years old – and it is alive!!!
On my holiday to the USA, Mr G and I visited Mariposa Grove of Giant Treeswhich is at the southernmost part of Yosemite National Park. This glorious grove is something very special. In fact I would say spiritual.
Here are the most amazing trees I have ever seen. Their girth can be up to 29 metres and their height greater than a 15 storey building. They are probably the oldest living breathing things on the planet. They are truly remarkable to behold.
We were staying in the delightful area of Bass Lake area and from there we drove north, gently rising in altitude through the Sierra National Forest. Reaching the Yosemite National Park entrance, we took a right turn into the Mariposa Grove of Giant Trees.
As you drive in you get a glimpse of red amongst the trees and after you get out of your car, you are literally staggered. There, right in the middle of the car park, a giant sequoia stands as sentinel and gives you a taste of what is to come.
You are immediately in awe
There is a tram that can take you around the park, running every hour and taking 75 minutes. The price for this journey was extortionate so we set off to explore on foot. We felt this would be a much more rewarding way to enjoy this area.
We had a map and set off on the well marked trails. The park is hilly and rocky but easy to stroll around. The trails are well marked and small plaques tell you the points of interest.
It was therapeutic beyond belief.
The park is heavily wooded with the usual green leaf and brown trunk variety of trees and when you look through, you catch glimpses of the red trunks spotted through the Park. Then you are thrilled when you reach the bottom of the tree. Looking up the disappearing trunk, you just cannot see the top.
A number of these giants have fallen over the years, the most famous is the Fallen Monarch, just at the beginning of the walk. It is here you see the size of it.
The Fallen Monarch
Apparently photographed in 1899 with a long line of horses from the US Cavalry standing on top of the trunk, you are amazed how that prank was carried out and also that this tree has not even began to perish since then. They have an endurance that has outlasted anything else on the planet.
There are two groves, upper and lower, and 7 mile outer loop trail that rings the lot. We opted to zig zag out way through the middle and then returned by a section of the Outer Loop Trail.
The Grizzly Giant and it isn't Mr G!
There are two famous trees within the park. There is, the 2,700 year old Grizzly Giant, the largest at Mariposa and the California Tunnel Tree.
Tunnel Tree -The crazy things men will do!
But there are other wonderful trees such as the Faithful Couple who are joined at the base and sweep up and out into two separate trunks and The Bachelor and Three Graces and so many more. I loved them all and even stopped to hug a mighty giant.
On half of the Faithful couple!
But as you walk through this ancient forest carrying the scars of fire, buzzing with birds and wild life, we just felt in awe. Here these trees have lived for more than 2700 years. They have breathed the air, they have watched man’s progress.
These trees or their ancestors were probably bumped over by dinosaurs for goodness sake, so they are probably glad they only have ankle high forest companions these days.
The Bachelor and Three Graces
The park wasn’t busy on the day we were there so we had moments when we had areas all to ourselves and we drank in the energy and majesty of it all.
So if you are visiting the USA, make sure you find out where your closest Sequoias are and visit them. I know they would be pleased to see you.
