As you can tell, Sequoia and Kings As you can tell, Sequoia and Kings Canyon holds within it one of the Canyon holds within it one of the most diverse landscapes in our most diverse landscapes in our

country….country….

Isn’t it amazing how something Isn’t it amazing how something like a river, that can be so like a river, that can be so

calming, has behind it a force calming, has behind it a force destructive enough to shape destructive enough to shape

mountains…….mountains…….

The Sierra Nevada Mountains are actually still The Sierra Nevada Mountains are actually still growing as the plates below the east side of growing as the plates below the east side of the mountains continue to move and collide. the mountains continue to move and collide.

Along with this though, rain and winter snows Along with this though, rain and winter snows combined with the steep character of the combined with the steep character of the

landscape create an environment that landscape create an environment that includes massive movements of sediment. The includes massive movements of sediment. The

mountains are being removed by erosion mountains are being removed by erosion almost as quickly as they growalmost as quickly as they grow

Along with these Along with these mountains, one of the mountains, one of the

world’s natural world’s natural wonders began to wonders began to

evolve from a small evolve from a small section of land. It section of land. It

chose a specific area chose a specific area that was merely 15 that was merely 15 miles wide and 260 miles wide and 260

miles long.miles long.

It’s known as The Giant It’s known as The Giant Sequoia Tree!Sequoia Tree!

When this land was first discovered, it When this land was first discovered, it was taken over by loggers, and was taken over by loggers, and

ultimately 1/3 of the original sequoias ultimately 1/3 of the original sequoias were clear-cut…….were clear-cut…….

Even though only 25% of those trees were Even though only 25% of those trees were able to be milled at all, and was so brittle that able to be milled at all, and was so brittle that

it usually ended up being used as fenced it usually ended up being used as fenced posts, shingles, and pencils. Because of this posts, shingles, and pencils. Because of this detail, loggers began marketing the Sequoia detail, loggers began marketing the Sequoia as Coastal Redwood (which was much better as Coastal Redwood (which was much better lumber). This explains much of the confusion lumber). This explains much of the confusion

between to two today.between to two today.

It was because of It was because of these depressing these depressing

sights and facts that sights and facts that the people of the people of

California and such California and such activists as John Muir activists as John Muir

protested and protested and managed to catch the managed to catch the

ear of the federal ear of the federal government, and government, and

ultimately resulted in ultimately resulted in the country’s 2the country’s 2ndnd

national park!national park!

On September 25On September 25thth, 1890 , 1890 President Benjamin Harrison President Benjamin Harrison established Sequoia National established Sequoia National

Park Park

A week later, Congress established A week later, Congress established General Grant National Park to protect General Grant National Park to protect the Grant Grove area of Sequoias. This the Grant Grove area of Sequoias. This area later became part of Kings Canyon area later became part of Kings Canyon

National Park on March 4, 1940.National Park on March 4, 1940.

Now because of the measure to protect Now because of the measure to protect these areas, much of the wildlife that these areas, much of the wildlife that

was suppressed by the years of logging was suppressed by the years of logging has rapidly grown and returned to has rapidly grown and returned to

Sequoia and Kings CanyonSequoia and Kings Canyon

The Black BearThe Black Bear

The Big Horn SheepThe Big Horn Sheep

The BobcatThe Bobcat

The CoyoteThe Coyote

The Adult Mountain LionThe Adult Mountain Lion

The Mountain lion familyThe Mountain lion family

The RavenThe Raven

The Steller’s JayThe Steller’s Jay

The long-tailed weasel The long-tailed weasel

In SummerIn Winter

The Sierra HareThe Sierra Hare

In Winter In Summer

The Pine MartinThe Pine Martin

In WinterIn Summer

Take Nothing but pictures, Take Nothing but pictures, leave nothing but leave nothing but

footprints……footprints……

And as you venture out And as you venture out into the wilderness of into the wilderness of

Sequoia and Kings Sequoia and Kings Canyon, think about the Canyon, think about the words of the late John words of the late John

Muir….Muir….

““Climb the mountains Climb the mountains and get their good and get their good

tidings. Nature’s peace tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as will flow into you as sunshine flows into sunshine flows into

trees. The winds will trees. The winds will blow their own freshness blow their own freshness into you, and the storms into you, and the storms their energy, while cares their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn will drop off like autumn

leaves”leaves”