The Giant Forest

Last week, I visited Kelly and Angel in California. We decided to drive into the Sequoia National Forest, home of the world's largest trees. The forest begins about two hours east of Fresno, so our round trip was easily made in a day.

The narrow, winding road rises sharply from about 1,300 feet above sea level to 14,494 feet at the uppermost point. [Click on map to enlarge it.]

We ascended first to the Moro Rock area, where we followed a trail to the river.

The river was crystal clear and fed from underground springs...

...which surfaced occasionally to provide fresh drinking water.

Kelly strikes a manly pose on a rock overlooking the river.

This is the underhang of "Hospital Rock, where we found evidence of ancient campfires and some dubious petroglyphs depicting people attempting to gain access to medical care, only to be turned away because of pre-existing conditions.

This large, flat rock overlooking the river was full of smooth holes (3 to 8 inches deep), where ancient pharmacists apparently ground powders and dispensed potions--but only to those with full drug coverage.

By this time, I was feeling a little depressed over the deplorable condition of primitive health care systems (so unlike our modern one), that I lay down for a while on this lichen-covered therapy couch.

Then, it was time to get back in the car and follow the winding road to the next stop. On the way up, we were treated to some spectacular panoramas.

Speaking of spectacular panoramas, I tried to snap a picture of some shirtless road construction workers, but my arm was jostled when we hit a pothole, and this chubby one in a florescent vest is all I managed to shoot.

At last, we arrived at the Giant Forest and walked among the towering Sequoias!

Later, I was told that the literal translation of "Sequoia" is "old big-ass tree." However, I can't vouch for the accuracy of this statement.

At the overlook of the General Sherman (the world's largest tree), we watched a small boy carefully position himself in the center of concentric rings of inlaid stone. He then stood perfectly still, like a human sundial, in such suspended animation that I half expected the mothership to suddenly beam him up.

All in all, a beautiful day!  Check it out next time you're in California.