6. Isnât it amazing how something like a river, that can be so calming, has behind it a force destructive enough to shape mountainsâŠâŠ.
7. The Sierra Nevada Mountains are actually still growing as the plates below the east side of the mountains continue to move and collide. Along with this though, rain and winter snows combined with the steep character of the landscape create an environment that includes massive movements of sediment. The mountains are being removed by erosion almost as quickly as they grow
14. Along with these mountains, one of the worldâs natural wonders began to evolve from a small section of land. It chose a specific area that was merely 15 miles wide and 260 miles long.
20. Even though only 25% of those trees were able to be milled at all, and was so brittle that it usually ended up being used as fenced posts, shingles, and pencils. Because of this detail, loggers began marketing the Sequoia as Coastal Redwood (which was much better lumber). This explains much of the confusion between to two today.
21. It was because of these depressing sights and facts that the people of California and such activists as John Muir protested and managed to catch the ear of the federal government, and ultimately resulted in the countryâs 2 nd national park!
22. On September 25 th , 1890 President Benjamin Harrison established Sequoia National Park
23. A week later, Congress established General Grant National Park to protect the Grant Grove area of Sequoias. This area later became part of Kings Canyon National Park on March 4, 1940.
24. Now because of the measure to protect these areas, much of the wildlife that was suppressed by the years of logging has rapidly grown and returned to Sequoia and Kings Canyon
38. And as you venture out into the wilderness of Sequoia and Kings Canyon, think about the words of the late John MuirâŠ.
39. â Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Natureâs peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leavesâ