Grant Grove of Giant Sequoia Trees

Because no one has ever thought to point a camera with a wide-angle lens straight up in a grove of giant sequoia trees!!

Photo was taken in Grant Grove in Kings Canyon National Park in California. May I just editorialize for a moment about the visitor experience in Grant Grove?

It sucks! There's a short paved path around the grove and late on Memorial Day here's what I saw/heard:

•One d-bag walking around with his phone blaring some kind of terrible music. I guess his soundtrack has to be everyone's soundtrack.

•Another total d-bag climbing on a tree, just beyond a sign saying "don't climb on the trees." 

•Numerous small kids running around and screaming their lungs out. I know the breeder crowd out there will be putting the hate on me for saying this, but national parks are not playgrounds. Sorry!

•Four outhouses -- I kid you not -- that the National Park Service had placed directly under four sequoia trees near the massive parking lot.

The sad fact is this: three of the grandest groves of the largest trees on Earth have been turned into Industrial Tourism experiences; I'm referring to the Mariposa Grove at Yosemite, the Giant Forest at Sequoia N.P. and Grant Grove at Kings Canyon. If you're going to visit any of these three and enjoy a little effin' peace-and-quiet in nature, my advice is go very early in the morning or wait until winter and visit on cross-country skis or snowshoes, preferably on a weekday.

Even better, visit one of the other lesser-known groves of giant sequoias scattered around the western Sierra.

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--S.H.

This photo is ©Steve Hymon and may not be used elsewhere without advanced written permission. All rights reserved.