Two Giant Sequoia Trees Fall in Yosemite

by the Associated Press
San Francisco Chronicle - February 28, 2003
Photos courtesy of Doug Broussard and Susan Seiling

Two Yosemite National Park giant sequoias that put down roots long before the United States became a country fell last weekend, the first collapse in years for the age-old forest titans.

The trees, thought to be between 300 years and 750 years old, were located in the Mariposa Grove along the park's southern border, one of its most heavily used areas.

Soil or root failure caused the collapse of at least one of the trees, which may have toppled the second sequoia as it fell, said Park Ranger Deb Schweizer.

A young sequoia in the grove fell in 1998. Before that, that last sequoia known to have fallen in the park was in 1969.

"It's extremely uncommon," Schweizer said Friday.

Sequoias reach maturity at about 1,000 years. The Grizzly Giant, the grove's oldest tree, is believed to be 2,700 years to 3,000 years old.

Schweizer said foot traffic around the base of the fallen trees could have damaged the root systems and contributed to the collapse.

"They have a very shallow root system," Schweizer said.

Park officials have been surrounding some of the oldest, largest and most historically significant trees with fences to keep the public from trampling root systems, Schweizer said.

She said touching the trees can be harmful, as well.

"Acid in the skin can eat away at the bark," Schweizer said.

The sequoias that fell are blocking a foot trail through the grove, but officials currently have no plans to cut through the trees.

"We've gotten to the point where we realize that fallen trees contribute to the ecosystem," Schweizer said.

Top and bottom photos courtesy of Doug Broussard; middle photo courtesy of Susan Seiling.