Saturday, July 7, 2012

The Grizzly Giant...and other trees

The giant sequoia trees in Mariposa Grove at Yosemite National Park are among the largest living things on earth. Some of the trees are more than 3000 years old. The park's biggest - The Grizzly Giant -  is 30 feet in diameter and estimated to be 1900-2400 years old. The Tunnel Tree is open for people to walk through its base. Its a long uphill hike, but you can also enjoy a one hour narrated tram ride to visit the bulk of the grove. The tram driver tells the history of the park, the grove, how firefighters handle controlled burns (required to keep the trees thriving) and you get a chance to stop several times for photos. Its the only way to really visit the grove with small children.