We went into King's Canyon /Sequoia National Park. We began in King's Canyon in the General Grant Grove. It seems when this park was first established in the 1800's, it was common to "name" trees, especially the giant sequoias. So we hiked 1 1/2 miles around the North Grove and then a .3 mile hike thru the Grant Grove. We saw huge trees named Tennessee, Oregon, Robert E. Lee (the Civil War was still current events when these trees were named). We caught a ranger lead talk thru this area after our hike. We were able to ask a few questions: "The large pine cones we've seen are not from sequoias?" No, they are Sugar Pine cones, also growing in the same area. "The cabin built in the middle of the sequoia grove, this wood is different from the wood type you passed around as sequoia wood?" The cabin was also made from sugar pines. Sequoia wood is very light, like balsa wood. And the giant trees could not be felled easily, they tended to shatter when they hit the ground. Sequoias, therefore, were used in the 1800's and early 1900's for roof shingles, pencils and toothpicks! Too much cost in labor felling these majestic giants actually saved them. They were not cost effective!

Original Photo