The storm that plowed through northern California on Sunday took its toll on the giant Sequoia in Calaveras Big Trees State Park. The tree, called the Pioneer Cabin tree became known as the Tunnel Tree after a tunnel was carved in its base 137 years ago, according to the Los Angeles Times.
In the 1880s the tree was hollowed out at its base to allow tourists to walk through it. It was chosen, in part, because it had a large fire scar at its base. But like Yosemite’s Wawona Tunnel Tree which it emulated, tunneling did severe damage to it, although the tree was still living when it was toppled on Sunday.
“We lost an old friend today,” wrote county resident Jim Allday, who posted a picture of the fallen titan on his Facebook page. His photo shows the giant tree heavily splintered at its base, according to Newser.
At one time, visitors could drive their cars through the tree, but in recent years, passage was limited to hikers as part of a 1.5-mile walking loop. Numerous photos show the tree splintered on impact. This brings to mind the question of if a tree falls in the forest, will it make any noise? As NBC News says, it probably did.
While the Tunnel tree’s age and height were not immediately available, giant Sequoias’ ages are measured in the hundreds of years, and their height is quite often taller than a football field is long. Mario D. Vaden, a tree expert who has worked with the Save the Redwoods League in California, says they are the tallest trees in the world.
John Muir, the famous naturalist, once described the forest that is protected by Calaveras Big Trees State Park: “A flowering glade in the very heart of the woods, forming a fine center for the student, and a delicious resting place for the weary.”
