July 12, 2024 - California
General Grant Sequoia
 

Leaving the Pinnacles/Soledad area, we headed east along Highway 198, then on Highway 145, then east again through Fresno on Highway 180 to the Kings Canyon National Park area.

The area is confusing at first.  Basically, Kings Canyon NP is to the northeast on Highway 180.  Sequoia NP is to the southeast on Generals Highway.  We entered the park on Highway 180, turned north, and started off at the Kings Canyon NP Visitor's Center in the Grant Grove Village.  Then we hit the nearby General Grant Tree.  Finally we continued on Highway 180 northeast into Kings Canyon.
   
Right away -- in the General Grant Tree parking lot -- we saw some very big Sequoias.
   
Some nice healthy young adult Sequoias.
   
After a short hike on a loop trail from the parking lot, we were at the General Grant Tree, 3rd largest in the world, by volume.
   

40-feet in diameter at ground level, it is the world's widest-known sequoia.
   
Surprisingly, the General Grant Tree is 1,500 years younger than the oldest-known sequoia.  It's great size is due to being located in a prime growing condition spot.
   
Even the branches are massive.  One branch is 4.5 feet in diameter!
   
In 1956, Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz -- commander of the Pacific Fleet in World War II -- stood here to dedicate this tree as a national shrine on behalf of President Eisenhower.
   
 
   
A good shot of the entire tree.
   
 
   
For years, people on the east coast could not believe that trees this big existed.
   
A large Sequoia that died of natural causes and fell is now a tunnel.
   
Descending into the tunnel tree.
   
Amazing!
   
Joe inside the tunnel tree.
   
 
   
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