CALAVERAS COUNTY, Calif. -- A giant sequoia tree well-known for the huge tunnel carved through it has toppled during California's weekend storms.
The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the historic Pioneer Cabin in Calaveras Big Trees State Park in Calaveras County came down during heavy rains on Sunday.
The tree was hollowed out in the 1880s to allow tourists to pass through it.
Cars later used the massive tunnel, but more recently it has hosted only hikers.
Park volunteer Jim Allday of Arnold says the tree shattered as it hit the ground.
There was no immediate word on what caused the tree to fall, but the Chronicle reports that it probably had to do with the tree's shallow root system and the inundation.
Dennis
Sure. Blame the storm.
Warren Searfoss
maybe the reporter there should have read the article… the tree was hollowed in in the 1800s it has been there much longer then 1800s
Writer Girl
Very sad to see this old, majestic tree is gone for good.
magicmikexxsm
All living things die..even trees, the damn thing was probably rotten to the core, just took a big wind to blow it over…
who cares big deal, take whats left to the saw mill probably get some board footage out of it, to make some tables…lol
Writer Girl
You’re such an (uneducated) charmer!
Ithaca, ny. tree hugger
The tree would still be alive if humans didn’t put a big hole in it for money.
jimbrony
Says the person sitting in their wooden chair, with their computer sitting on wooden desk, as they keep warm by their wood burner. Let me guess – your house is made of – wood?
Ithaca, ny. tree hugger
Jimbrony- I live in a van down by Cayuga Lake. I have no computer to put on a wooden desk. Just an I phone. I don’t burn wood for heat. Just the van heater. My house is my van. My van isn’t made from wood.
jimbrony
Your IP address says otherwise.
be careful
If I was jimbrony I’d be a little careful hacking people’s IP address without a court order.
Amanda
You obviously didn’t read the article. The holewas carved in the late 1800’s. Giant Sequoias are also very resilient and can stay alive and keep growing even after being carved out by man or nature. So the hole in the tree didn’t kill it.
Sam I Am
Sorry fella but other news sources state that the tunnel did contribute to its falling over, and it doesn’t take a genius to see that by removing that much of any trees base that it will weaken it.
Sam I Am
Well if you’re so confident that The tunnel didn’t kill it, then remove the same amount from your house foundation.
Saddened Nature Lover
So sad to hear that one of Earth’s natural beauties has “gone with the wind”…