The initial growth conditions of this forest group were just right to support the early development of these conifers. Sequoias are conifers because their cones bear seeds which in turn can generate new growth. For these living beings to continue their growth over such a large period of time really says quite a lot about where they were and what lies beneath them.
Leaving treeline in the Eastern Sierra has a distinct atmospheric feel to it. Not just by the altitude and reduced available oxygen level, but by the exposure and sparse shade that becomes more apparent. Either by miles from a trailhead or right when starting out, the terrain and shape of the wilderness tell a story. About its conditions, but also about what the area means to you while having been there.
Sometimes setting off from the beaten path is the way to go. Even with the risks that come with that, there is something within that pulls you to look further into what you see in the distance. With confidence about the way back, a new discovery becomes much better rewarded and appreciated. As temporary as they are, natural occurrences make for the most beautiful places.
Sometimes there are much higher hardships and costs to get to places that are much more remote. Yet once there, the reward makes it all entirely worthwhile. The abundance of wilderness features both near and far really brings out a deeper awareness of life.
In the words of John Muir, “Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.”
When a tree is felled, that is when a regeneration process of sorts begins. As trees fall into decay from exposure, the weather, and wildlife, they become a source of shelter and food for wilderness creatures. Pine needles and duff become bedding for deer and bear. They become the material birds to use among their nests. The bark provides shelter for insects. Insects that in turn become eaten by scavengers. Rough and calm winds carry bark and debris into the forest floor which in turn serves as fuel for natural wildfires that occur from time to time.
Along the way to a destination, sometimes the best of the time is the route on the way. Because of what the time and place bring to you. With a heart of humility, without haste, to make way for what it is to dwell at the moment.
In early Spring with the forest floor still damp, you can feel and sense the quality of this area. Just before nightfall, I was out and about the Giant Forest area in Sequoia scouting about for wildlife and unique openings to contemplate and absorb the natural settings.
At Ten Mile Creek within Kings Canyon National Park, the range of color and the softness of the forest invite you to explore and get their good tidings. The lakes, the streams, and the rivers are all cleansing forms of energy to refresh and renew the body and soul.
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