Aug 18 Sequoia Stumps

Of course there were logging interests once the Sequoia could be reached. Many trees were cut including almost all trees in the second largest grove, the Converse Basin Grove. Nearby, the Redwood Mountain Grove escaped logging. It is the largest grove consisting of 15,800 Sequoias in excess of one foot in diameter. 

Earlier in the day, we visited the Centennial Stump in the Grant Grove. In 1875, the 24' diameter, 1800 year old tree was cut. It took 2 men 9 days to bring the tree down. A 16' section was cut apart and then the outer shell reassembled at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. It was called the "California Hoax". 

The General Noble Tree, now known as the "Chicago Stump", similarly was cut for the 1893 Chicago World Columbian Exposition. It received a similar reaction. I walked around the base. It was 45 paces. It was the 2nd largest tree in the Converse Basin Grove and estimated to be the 30th largest of all Sequoias. And, the largest tree ever cut. There was one monarch tree in the Converse Basin spared, the Boole Tree, now the 6th largest on record. We were unable to visit it since the area we were in was being swept and closed by the National Forest Service. There were several large earth scraping vehicles parked nearby, ready to create a fire break. Already we could see preparation signs of a possible back fire.

Chicago Stump - Cut in 1893

As you enter Kings Canyon National Park, immediately there is a loop trail of big stumps, aptly named "Big Stump Loop". This little visited area was fascinating. We walked by many huge stumps. All were over 100 years old but have resisted decay. 

I do not know why this tree was not cut. You can see the 100+ year old saw cut, one third of the way through the tree. Somehow it was spared and it has healed itself despite the deep cut.

Sawed Tree

Mark Twain Stump - 36 paces around

Portions of this tree sit in museums with marked growth rings. It also inspired people to save more of the Sequoias.

Atop the Mark Twain Stump

Piles of 100+ year old saw dust

Once a tree was felled, it had to be cut up on site. Here piles of sawdust can be seen in the meadow. There was one tree nearby where we saw the fully intact wedge which had been cut out of the tree to direct its falling direction.

Splintered tree

One hazard of felling a Sequoia was their tendency to splinter. Loggers sometimes dug trenches and covered them with branches to soften the blow of hitting the earth.

Spared tree