Giant Sequoias - world's largest living Trees

Our visit to Calaveras  was on 7th November 2011 on our return journey from Yosemite National Park, to San Jose, California.  
Mr.John Muir has described the Park thus-
' They [the Calaveras giants] were the first discovered and are best known.  Thousands of travelers from every country have come to pay them tribute of admiration and praise.'


We took Grove Overlook Trail and paid our tribute of admiration and praise to Giant Sequoias ponderosa pines.  We walked through the world's largest living trees.


Here are a few pictures and information that I would like to share :

The information Booklet says:


In the spring of 1852, a backwoods hunter named Augustus T Dowd was chasing a wounded  bear in an unfamiliar forest.  Suddenly he was stopped in his tracks by an unbelievable sight - a tree of monstrous proportions that was easily three times larger than any he had ever seen.  He explored the area.  His story of the big tree was intially met with skepticism. He finally coaxed a group of men to make the 20-mile trip in to the mountains to see the tree for themselves.   
Almost immediately visitors began travelling up the the rough trail to what became known as the Calaveras Grove.
For more information visit: www.parks.ca.gov


Now some pictures:

The visitors can go through the trail,with a guide/booklet note supplied by the State Park. The guide gives explanation and information on the big trees and  are numbered . Tree No 8 says :


'The Siamese Twins started life so close together that the fifty feet trunks have merged and now appear to be one tree.  Large burn scars were created by burning fuel that was caught between the trees........'
The information is very useful in understanding the great trees and nature.


Now some more: