A visit to Nelder Grove, Shadow of the Giants trail, evinced moments of childlike wonder this past weekend.
Nelder Grove is a little known home of a few of the Giant Sequoias that didn't get felled at the turn of the century when logging was heavy in the forests above Bass Lake.A mile long, looped walking path takes you through the trees and the giants.
We had a stupendous day of perfect weather and family camaraderie. Our path included a small bridge where we stopped to take pictures in the midst of the giant sequoias.Some of the younger computer-and-phone-generation blithely took the path through the trees with quick glances and hurried paces, probably thinking they could pull it up on their iPhone if they really needed to see it.
They waited at the end of the loop for the elders who stopped often to relish each sequoia tree (whether standing or fallen, waiting for the forest to reclaim it), or maybe they were just catching their breath.
Flowers blossomed in the shade on the forest floor and a stream gurgled in the quiet background.
Walking sticks helped traverse the gentle rise and fall of the path. Finding just the right one felt a lot like I was in the midst of a Goldilocks and the three bears story; This one is too short, this one is too heavy, this one is bent the wrong way--until each came upon the one that was "just right."
Under the canopy, the huge trunks of the giants were heavy with moss.
At the end of the walk, I found a small rock that "called" to me and I took it home (if I find myself at a place that holds good memories or have had a particularly insightful trip, I sometimes look for a stone that will carry that energy back with me--how unapologetically hippy-dippy Californian I am).
Nelder Grove info:
http://www.yosemitehikes.com/not-yosemite/nelder-grove/nelder-grove.htm
