Gina Pearson, Photographer

The nation's 2nd national park, established on September 25, 1890. Called "The Land of Giants," set aside to protect Sequoia groves, including Giant Forest and the world's largest tree (The General Sherman tree), has much more to offer beyond the trees! Elevation differences from 1,370' to 14,495 brings immense biological diversity; miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers; over 800,000 acres (+ King Canyon) of Wilderness, and both pre-historic and historic cultural diversity.

Refiner's Fire - death and rebirth, bringing forth new life! The Giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) needs low intensity fires to release the 200+ seeds from each cone. Fire thins the forest floor adding nutrients to the soil, opening up the forest canopy and bringing forth light for sapling growth. Designed to resist fire, the Giant Sequoia bark is up to 2' thick. Having survived the test of time, what a story a 2,000 year old Giant could tell!