Hanging On By A Branch

At Calaveras Big Tree State Park, some of the most famous trees are those most harmed by human action. The Mother of the Forest, the Big Stump, and the Pioneer Cabin Tree show how people placed curiosity and pleasure above the needs of the Sierra Nevada Giant Sequoias. The base of the Pioneer Cabin Tree was hollowed out during the 1870s to compete with similar tourist attractions, and today the injured tree is hanging onto life by only one branch, with a single bough with foliage photosynthesizing for the entire tree. These ancient trees have already endured much and need respect, care, and protection from further graffiti and damage.

California · United States