Notice how open those trees are spaced. Until prescribed fire was started by NPS in the late 60s in both Yosemite and Sequoia Kings, these forested areas were often impenetrable thickets of young white fir and other pines, a result of over 100 years of fire suppression. In addition, there was little successful Giant Sequoia reproduction in the Sequoia Groves.
Early explorers had written of being able to ride their horses through these areas which was not possible after decades of fire suppression. I was lucky enough to have as my college adviser Harold Biswell (aka Harold the Torch) who was one of the early advocates and researchers in fire ecology. This photo is a terrific example of the success of those efforts.
Thanks for the post.
g.
None of the views expressed here in any way represent those of the unidentified agency that I work for or, often, reality. It's just me, fired up by coffee and powerful prose.
| 
