Looking for a Giant - A Hackberry Farm Nature Photography Workshop Scouting Report

For decades (yes, decades), I've heard about the giant sequoias of California's western Sierra Mountains. During that time, they've taken up a fair amount of space in my thoughts, as each time I log on to one of my Mac computers, the system reminds me that I am running the latest Mac operating system, Sequoia.

In short, I've always wanted to see these giants and I've often thought about the possibility of hosting a nature photography workshop here.

I'm a fan of trees.  I've written before that they are the only organisms firmly rooted in the soil and grow into the heavens, yet they occupy the same space as we do.  When you take the time to study trees, you'll notice that each individual is much different than even trees of the same species, and the variety of trees that exist on our planet is even more diverse and, frankly, mind-boggling.  From the time a seed spouts, each drop of rain and each puff of wind influences how a tree grows and each twist and turn of its limbs.  

Trees are a study of the miracle of nature.

When I drive into the Giant Forest, it's clear why the area got its name.  Flanking the road are trees that dwarf the vehicle in which I ride.  On each side of the paved path, the mammoth trees rise out of the hillside and far into the sky to a height I cannot ascertain.  

While the trees around me are impressive, I am on a mission to see General Sherman.  Named after Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman, the tree is the largest tree by volume on the planet.  That means that while it's not the tallest, it has the most wood of any tree on the planet.  

I park in a nearby parking spot and walk for about a half mile down the hill to where I can see the tree.  It's strange:  as big as the tree promises to be, it's incredibly well hidden amongst the other sequoias and pines that dot this grove.  

I round one last corner, and there he is.  I fear treading on hyperbole when I write this, but when I first laid eyes on the behemoth, the sight was inspiring.  

I stop well short of the tree, crane my neck skyward, and try to make sense of the giant tree that's the biggest tree by volume on the planet. The General is not the oldest tree or the tallest tree but when you consider the total volume of wood that this giant grew (and continues to grow), you can see why it is impressive.

Teddy Roosevelt once opined, "A grove of giant redwood or sequoias should be kept just as we keep a great and beautiful cathedral."

I couldn't agree more.

I stare at the tree while three parts of my brain combat each other for my conscious attention.  My analytical part wonders about the tree's size and the physics involved in erecting such a beast for over two millennia.  The artistic side of my brain thinks of all the poets, writers, photographers, and painters who have stood where I stand and marvel at The General.  Finally, the emotional part of my brain simply tries to understand an organism that lived longer than nearly any other organism on the planet.

When the Star of Bethlehem shone in the east, signaling the birth of Jesus Christ, The General was already two centuries old.  At 2,220 years old, The General isn't even the oldest tree in this grove.  Not too far away, The President's been here for about a thousand years longer.  

The General's size is immense.  Consider the numbers:

275 feet tall

36 feet in diameter

102.6 feet in circumference

Average Crown Spread 106.5 feet

Estimated weight: 2105 tons

The estimated water capacity is nearly 500,000 gallons

The General Sherman - the largest tree (by volume) in the world.

Numbers aside, the tree—and all the trees in this area of California—is simply beautiful.  

My time (and photos) are scant.  It seems like as soon as I arrive, it is already time to leave.  Therefore, I walk back to my rental car and head out of the park, thankful I got to see these forest giants.

Another bucket list item checked.