Walking in the Shadows of Giants

I should tell you. This is the second time that I've written this. Some kind of internet gremlin gobbled my blog as I was posting. Is the second time around as good? We'll just have to see.

This weekend I set out to give my dog a day to roam and explore. That, and she gets really tired and quiet when we run her around. Destination: Nelder Grove and waypoints beyond.

If you think you have seen large living things before (let's say... a whale, or a pacific sunfish, maybe even an elephant), have you ever considered the plant world. Scientists consider some fungi to be the largest living organisms on earth. What is far more fun are GIANT SEQUOIAS. These biggest trees in the world are amazing.

Granted, there are many places in California that you can find the Giant Sequoias. What is special about the Nelder Grove is that it is not easily found. Not as easy as its sister grove, The Mariposa Grove, is the Nelder Grove found. You must take the Sky Ranch Road from Highway 41, and drive the winding way to the Nelder Grove turnoff. Enjoy the ruts and bumps of the 2 miles of dirt road. Why, you ask? The payoff is that you will most likely get to walk in the shadow of the Sequoiadendron giganteum without having to share the experience with other people. There are few things as peaceful as looking up to the heights of such gigantic creations. And to think that such enormous trees come from such humble beginnings. One of the neighbors of the Sequoia is the massive Sugar Pine. This tree is something to behold in itself. At maturity the Sugar Pine grows to heights of over 200 feet tall, and a diameter of 11.5 feet. The pine cones of the Sugar Pine are the largest in the world.

It is always a wonder to walk in God's creation. My dog would agree. Annie (the dog) loves to roam the woods and sniff. I don't know what she is smelling, but she does it with such gusto. I have seen few things as funny as my dog splashing in a stream. It's like she discovered water for the first time, every time.

The walk and water splashing was so much fun that we decided to head over to Wawona (by the by...Wawona is the indian name for the Giant Sequoias) and the Merced River. Again, with the changing seasons comes the dwindling crowds. The National Parks become more private, which is a boon to all who come in the "off season". I'd like to say that there is really no off season for Yosemite. When the crowds leave and return to school, Yosemite really shines. We spent a half hour enjoying the solitude of the Merced. It was indeed merciful. The polished granite boulders that are hidden under the fast flowing waters of Spring are laid bare to those who visit in the late days of Summer. The peace, and quiet. The fun in sharing simple joys was enjoyed by all of us.

We piled into the truck, and headed for home. We're lucky enough to be able to drive directly from Wawona to our neighborhood. I've never driven this path before. It totally paid off. There is a beautiful stream, with a bridge, and a place to dip your toes. I'm hoping that we'll be able to share it with our friends. A picnic, and a good walk. Plentiful opportunities.

p.s. I would have shared some pics, but I can't seem to add them for some reason. Sorry.