Happy New Year to you from Sequoia National Park in Winter!

Dec31

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We are in the Land of the Giants, Sequoia NP, where the oldest trees are 3,200 years old, the tallest are 311 feet, and the heaviest 2.7 million pounds. Their bark can be up to 31 inches thick. Sequoia branches reach up to eight feet in diameter and their tree bases up to forty feet in diameter (Source: James D. Knoke).

We are spending New Years with the trees, and hardly any people. Due to California’s severe drought, many parts of the park not normally accessible in winter are open, and we are taking advantage of it! (Please click to enlarge).

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The satellite is not a happy camper up here which is why you haven’t heard from me for awhile, and we will see if I can get this post out. This is a shot of the sunset reflecting off the Sierras.

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Most Giant Sequoia’s have been able to withstand fires through the millenia, here are some scarred survivors.

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It is nippy up here but this lake should be frozen over and there should be at least 6-8 feet of snow.

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This is where the Giant Sequoias live,
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with their heads in the clouds! I envy them. They see us come and go.
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Jim likes these wise old trees and “finds tranquility here.” Here he is absorbing wisdom.
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I didn’t make this pinecone circle of love, someone else did, and left it for us here in the grove. Love & Peace to you from Sequoia! And the very Happiest & Healthiest New Year!

166 thoughts on “Happy New Year to you from Sequoia National Park in Winter!”

  6. Those are quite amazing aren’t they? Their age alone makes me gasp and then their size and girth is just mind blowing. We visited Muir Forest in May. It’s just outside of San Francisco and it’s just beautiful there. Maybe not as dry either. I’m really worried for the upcoming fire season in California. The really really need rain. Happy New Years to you, Jim and the trees xK

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    • Muir Woods is lovely and yes the fire and drought situation is quite scary. No Cal does not look normal. So Cal is actually greener which never happens! Cheers & thanks to you~

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    • This is just what i thought! A tree house 300 feet in the air, secure in those strong branches, with a ladder on a chain you could pull up when you want to be alone. It would be heaven up there with the tree and the birds and clouds! I could plant some in the Holler, but they would take too long to grow!

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  24. What grandeur–I always find these massive examples of Mother Nature’s majesty humbling. Her power is everywhere, but is magnified in such surroundings. Lucky you to be in the midst of the area as the year turns. My best to your family and you in the New Year.

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  29. Happy New Year, Cindy! Too bad about the drought, but good for your visit. I spent a week hiking on the wilderness trails that use the grove as a jumping off point many years ago. Still regard the grove as a special place–those giant pine cones! Great pics, you really do get a sense that you’re shooting one of the world’s treasures. Ken

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  30. Since I live on the edge of the Sequoia NP, you must have been relatively close recently. Good to know. Have a very great holiday and a wonderful New Year. its been great meeting and following you this year.

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    • Oh, I would so love to meet you for a hike!! And how fortunate are you to live in this magical place. Meeting you has been a joy and I look forward to 2014!

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    • I feel like you and I are traveling sisters in blogdom, we are always off somewhere wonderful, and I so look forward to seeing where you next alight! All the best to you!

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  48. I have always wanted to visit this place. I can only imagine how breathtaking it must be to stand in the presence of these trees. I hope you have a wonderful New Year, Cindy, and I can’t wait to see more of your beautiful photos in 2014!

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    • I hope you have a chance to visit soon Miranda! I feel the same about you and your wonderful blog. I look forward to following you in 2014! All good things my friend!

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    • And to you too my dear! What you do is so important and I support you and your efforts 100%! Cheers to you and thank you! Look forward to more of you in 2014~

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  55. Years have passed since we visited Kings Caynon-Sequoia area. We also visited in winter, but with several feet of snow. Only the area near the visitor’s center was open. They were doing controlled burns to reduce the under-brush. Odd to walk in snow with smoldering smoking coming up from here and there along the hike.
    Oscar

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    • Oh yes that would be an eerie experience and limited to the visitors center misses too much, but is better than not being there at all. This time we have total access to areas, trails that should have been closed and buried in snow. This drought is getting scary!

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  61. As always, your photos are astounding and I love the unique way you send your Happy New Year greetings. I am so late in responding since life has still not really slowed since the pre-Xmas trip to California. But I save your posts for catching up on and they are always worth saving! Happy New Year to you my friend and may you find many more fabulous photos to share. ~Dor

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  62. A wonderful place indeed to spend your New Years, Cindy. And Jim looks like he is truly enjoying communing with the trees. I like both Sequoia and Kings Canyon to the north. There are lots of great backpacking trips in the area, including one you can do out of Kings Canyon that includes Mt. Whitney (a slight hundred mile jaunt). šŸ™‚ ā€“Curt

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    • Jim passionately loves Sequoias and Red Woods in general. I have been going to Sequoia and Kings Canyon since I was a kid, but this was the first time in winter and definitely the best! I backpacked once when in high school, 13 miles in one day! 100? No way!!
      I want to buy a cabin on Mt Whitney but we can’t figure out how. Cheers to you Curt~

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  64. Liebe Cindy mit Schlangen ist nicht mein Ding aber die wunderschƶnen groƟen BƤume die gefallen mir sehr und wie klein der Mensch da ist einfach super Fotos danke dir fĆ¼r diese schƶnen Fotos ein gute Nacht wĆ¼nsche ich dir in Freundschaft Klaus

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  66. Your camra has captured the splendor, beauty and wonder of those magnificant trees.
    I felt I was in a sacred place when i visited the Giant Sequoias.
    Experiencing the tranquility of natural cathedrals is a blessing.
    Nice meeting Jim he looks at home with the wise old trees.

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  68. This one brought tears to my eyes. One of my favorite stories my father would tell me when I was a little girl, was his visit to California to see his father & when he first seen the Giant Sequoia Tree’s. Although I’m not sure if this is the exact same place my father visited, it was enough to trigger that memory & have me quiet & thoughtful…feeling as though my father was looking over my shoulder & smiling with me. Thank you Cindy! Jim’s feeding off the wisdom indeed~we could all use some of that natural wisdom from these majesties. What stout, proud soldiers standing guard over their forest. And you my dear, what a gift God has given you & how you’ve mastered that gift. You take our breath away Cindy, with each & every picture!! This is one of my favorites!! šŸ™‚

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    • I think your father must have been looking over your shoulder and smiling with you and this lovely image gives me goosebumps. It is impossible to be around these incredible ancient living giants without a strong sense of spiritual wonder. I as so very happy you feel this. Jim wishes to do a guest post about this particular tree and your synchronistic comment has nudged me to ask him to do so. Thank you and hugz to you both!

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  70. Stellar photos – WOW! I’ve been to the Muir Woods and that was stunning, but I’ve always wanted to visit the Giants of them all. What a perfect place to bring in the New Year!

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  71. We visited SNP in 2012 as part of our tour of the SW. We loved it, by far one of our favourite places, and before we started planning the trip [we are in the UK] we’d never heard of the place! And I love trees! SD

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  77. Reblogged this on From guestwriters and commented:
    The beautiful photos of Cindy Barton Knoke not only reflect the amazing splendour of God’s creation, they also clearly show the nullity of man in that great whole.

    These photos are also a wonderful gift to use every year to open it, with good intentions.

    We wish you a wonderful New Year, in a nature that we must certainly stand up for, so that people do not damage that beautiful wonder further.

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