May 8 – 11, 2026
By Abel
The Giant Sequoias are by far the largest trees here, but some of the pines are huge as well. Although the sequoias are really famous, the mountains are also incredible. We saw the General Sherman and General Grant trees. General Sherman is the largest by volume of all trees, and General Grant is the second biggest.
On one of the days, we climbed up a staircase to a huge stone called Moro Rock. The views were amazing! Later that day, Dad and I hiked a path called Eagle Point Trail. Our family hiked the General Sherman Tree Trail, then Mom, Eliza, and I hiked further on the Congress Trail.
There are hundreds Sequoias over ten feet in diameter. Likely every mature Sequoia has survived through several forest fires, which leave triangular burn marks, like the one below. Here are some ways Giant Sequoias can live so long: Sequoias have special tannins in their bark that resist rot, disease, and insects. They also have thick, fibrous bark, which insulates them from fire. Little flammable sap helps as well. In case of drought, God designed them to have long, extensive root systems to reach far for water, even though they are not very deep.
In King”s Canyon, we were planning to bike on a 4-wheel-drive road, and had brought our bicycles with us. Unfortunately we forgot to bring the bike rack key. Simeon and my bikes were in the back of the van, so we could get those out. Dad tried to get the bicycles off, and even suggested cutting the lock. Finally, he was able to unlock them. While Dad was working on that, the rest of us went a little ways up the 4-wheel-drive road, to a place where you can walk to a river. Once Dad had freed the bikes, all of us except for Mom and Lev biked up the road, following the river, until we came upon a turn around area. Then we rode back to where Mom and Lev were, and played some more in the water.
On the day we left, I decided to buy a souvenir to bring home. I saw a Sequoia seedling thought that would be the perfect thing.
This is a pretty small Sequoia compared to the largest ones.
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