Re: Forest Plans to Repair Trail of 100 Giants and Needles Lookout

Forest Plans to Repair Trail of 100 Giants and Needles Lookout
SEQUOIA NATIONAL FOREST

Two letters are being distributed to interested parties in coming weeks regarding both the fallen sequoias at Trail of 100 Giants and the Needles Fire Lookout Tower. These letters are the official notification to the public of a proposed action planned by the U.S. Forest Service and initiate the scoping process. A decision will be made by the District Ranger based on comments received in response to these letters. Currently, these project sites are inaccessible due to snow. A decision will likely be made over the winter months on how to proceed with these two projects and implementation could potentially begin next summer.

Trail of 100 Giants

On Friday, September 30, 2011, two giant sequoia trees fell side by side across the Trail of 100 Giants, a popular recreation site in the Giant Sequoia National Monument, Sequoia National Forest. These two sequoias are joined together at the base, appearing as one for approximately 30 feet. The trees were estimated at 280 feet tall and 17-foot in diameter. The Trail of 100 Giants was dedicated in 1989, and refurbished in 1997 to meet requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

After reviewing over 150 public suggestions and having Forest Engineers conduct a field review to assess feasibility, the Sequoia National Forest plans to build an elevated boardwalk that connects the trail from the remaining northern-most bridge on the south side of the fallen sequoias, to the existing trail on the east-side. This proposal would restore the ADA loop opportunity at Trail of 100 Giants, and provide a safe environment for the public to view and experience the fallen sequoias. “A boardwalk will allow all visitors, including those with disabilities, to safely see and touch the fallen sequoias, and the hole left by the root system,” stated Priscilla Summers, District Ranger. “In the future, interpretive signs could be installed to describe what happened there, along with the history of giant sequoias and their ecosystem.”

Since two sequoias have fallen, does the Forest Service plan to rename the trail, "Trail of the 98 Giants" or maybe extend it to include two other Giant Sequoias located in the grove?

By the way, has the Forest Service determined the age of the fallen sequoias?

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plawrence
Since two sequoias have fallen, does the Forest Service plan to rename the trail, "Trail of the 98 Giants" or maybe extend it to include two other Giant Sequoias located in the grove?

Perhaps the "100" is only an approximation. Maybe they had 102.

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eeek

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plawrence
Since two sequoias have fallen, does the Forest Service plan to rename the trail, "Trail of the 98 Giants" or maybe extend it to include two other Giant Sequoias located in the grove?

Perhaps the "100" is only an approximation. Maybe they had 102.

The Forest Service needs to hire some consultants to conduct a multi-million dollar study to find the exact number.

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plawrence
The Forest Service needs to hire some consultants to conduct a multi-million dollar study to find the exact number. ]

I'm available.

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eeek

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plawrence
The Forest Service needs to hire some consultants to conduct a multi-million dollar study to find the exact number.

I'm available.

I thought you would be.