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
What a great post and tribute to the Giant Sequoias. You may or may not know, that above Springville and just past the Ponderosa Lodge on 190 there is the trail of the 1000 Giants. And also taking 190 and heading off on Balch Park Road, you can go to Balch Park where there are also Giant Sequoias.
ReplyDeleteI had a great time there. I like how you captured the moss on the trees. I'll use these pics for my desktop.
ReplyDeleteOne of your best blogs. I think I saw them years ago. Your post made me see them, feel the wonderful quiet, and smell the earthy smell. Its good to know we have a place close to Fresno to go and be amoung the giant Sequoias.
ReplyDeletethank you, Robyn
With your photos and writing, you made me even more eager to see those giants. My husband and I have to get back into national parks tours. Once our kids grew, we used our travel time in the summer (he teaches, so travel only in the summer) for travel to places where he does his research. We'll get to the sequoias soon, though.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a beautiful place! I like your observations about the younger crowd on their iPhones vs. the older folks stopping to enjoy the actual trees...
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