Gary-Summer: Place: CA-Redwood Canyon

Sunday, January 18, 1970

Place: CA-Redwood Canyon

Redwood Canyon-3,622' (General Grant, Shadequarter Mountain) (36.6224894 -118.8947993)
Redwood Mountain-7,018' (General Grant) (36.6841524 -118.9248163)
Redwood Mountain Grove-6,214' (General Grant) (36.6949156, -118.9236781
Redwood Mountain Overlook-6,844' (General Grant) (36.7185572, -118.9184391)
Redwood Saddle-6,237' (General Grant) (36.7071684, -118.9206612)

Description:
Largest Sequoia grove in the world.

On the Castro Tree:

"I'm not a celebrity; I'm just Charlie Castro." Maybe so, but he's a celebrity in our eyes. Can you imagine climbing a burning giant sequoia to save Grant Grove? That's exactly what Charlie did!
In 1967, Charlie was called back to Kings Canyon National Park from a detail assignment. A professional firefighter and excellent climber, his expertise was needed to assist in fighting a fire burning inside the California Tree in Grant Grove. The tree had been struck by lightning days before. Winds can carry smoldering embers from a burning tree over half a mile away, and the fire threatened the General Grant Tree, or even all of Grant Grove.
Charlie spent hours climbing to the top of the tree (which involved climbing another tree to get close enough to the lowest limb on the sequoia). From the top, using his rope, he hoisted a fire hose up and placed the nozzle into the tree, and gave the signal. Hundreds of gallons of water flushed into the tree, and after several hours, Castro had successfully vanquished the flames.
In honor of his heroic feat, a giant sequoia was named the Castro Tree in his honor. You can find this 290 ft (83 m) giant sequoia along the Redwood Canyon Trail.
Charlie's story told often in Grant Grove. You might get to hear it from a ranger during a program!

From the Sequoia and Kings Canyon Facebook Page

From GNIS:

Redwood Canyon: Located in sec 15,T14S,R28E, Mount Diablo Meridian. In Kings Canyon National Park, separates Redwood Mountain on the southeast from Park Ridge on the northwest, 2.4 km (1.5 mi) west of Buena Vista Peak. (US-T121)

Trips: