California Tunnel Tree, Yosemite

[Nihat Iyriboz]

Cut in 1895 to allow coaches to pass through it (and as a marketing scheme to attract visitors to the grove), this is the only living tree with a tunnel in it since the fall of the Wawona Tunnel Tree in 1969.

 

[Dave Phillips]

wow
that's some bit of history

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Ah, my favourite kind of tree, as you know, Nihat. Beautiful developing there.

 

[Nihat Iyriboz]

Thank you, Rob. After your Kew Gardens visit, the next natural stop is Mariposa Grove!

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Dave, I am fascinated by these giants as some live 3000+ years.

 

[Dennis Ernst]

Cut in 1895 to allow coaches to pass through it (and as a marketing scheme to attract visitors to the grove), this is the only living tree with a tunnel in it since the fall of the Wawona Tunnel Tree in 1969.

The Redwood on the northern California coast have several trees with big cuts. There is a Drive-thru tree but I think they have closed the drive 20 years ago. There is a redwood log house that was sculpt out of a huge log and many other unique creations.

The redwoods are wonderful to see and it's a shame we are slowly loosing the big ones. A great place to do some photography is Prairie Creek State Park, where elk still roam the meadows. One a foggy morning the big elk and huge trees are amazing!

 

[Nihat Iyriboz]

Thank you for the input, Dennis. I don't know how I missed your posts in the past. I'm going to visit your blog.

BTW, how practical is it to set Google blogger? I'm getting a lot of spam on my current one.

I believe California Tunnel Tree is the last Sequoia tunnel tree standing. It's a shame that these trees were wounded for tourist attraction.

I visited the Redwood forests of northern California in 1988 and 1998, and photographed them in 35mm with color slide film. I hope to scan them soon. I remember the Redwood Log House and the Chandelier Drive-thru Tree. The Redwood experience is quite different than the Sequoia experience.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

How did you get it with no one around?

When we were there it was mobbed by tourists (including us)

So we just got the standard group shot in the tree

 

[Nihat Iyriboz]

I am a loner, Chris

The parking was limited unless I went there early enough (6:30 a.m.) to get a spot. With large format, I need to plan ahead. Usually, the earlier it is the less crowd you get.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Yes, we had to park down the road and catch the tourist bus to the grove - but I was with family, so was on vacation rather than just taking photos!

 

[Beth Carter]

i hate when that happens chris.

very nice shot nihat. i love the comp., with the fences leading you through the tunnel.

 

[Nihat Iyriboz]

Chris, late 80s and all 90s were with almost no restrictions at Yosemite. I miss those years. With family, the rules are different, and you are exempt from any adventure.

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Thank you very much, Beth.

 

[Pete Askew]

Very nicely done Nihat. A super shot of a famous tree.