Today I heard a raven fleeing the setting sun, not by caw and sqawk but by wings rhythmically fwip fwip fwipping their way into the wood high above. I had stopped briefly during the controlled descent of a serpentine road, which threatens descents uncontrolled off perilous precipices, to view eleven mountain ridges and the luminous haze dividing them. The setting sun revealed much as it rushed to hide all.
The road was built before and without consideration for the existence of large vehicles such as mine. Its twisted form a vine growing up over and around, with frequent leaves of pavement pull-offs.
Often there were reminders that without regular maintenance the mountain would regain a semblance of its original form. These sloughed bits of itself found around blind corners today made me think of the glass of my rooftop solar panels.
Though at other times of year it is a rare pass over the long range, it was built not for passage over but passage up to the house of giants. Waiting for me near the 7000 ft elevation marker was the giantest of all, the largest tree in the world.
I was reminded of the tour guide from the Boeing factory, who told us we were in the largest building in the world “…by volume, because that’s how we measure things.” Of course there are taller, both trees and buildings, but the sheer scale of each was staggering.
The Portola Redwoods are more dense, with the lesser giants packed closer together despite evidence of substantial logging. These Sequoias have plenty of company, but a smaller percentage share their species. The other trees are also quite tall, and look tiny only by comparison.
I am staying in the park tonight and have a bit of internet, thanks to my roof mount antennas and altitude. I had intended to hike but contented myself with a wandering around trees and a lookening off vistas. Still I’m pretty tired so I’m posting this before I fall asleep
H