February 21, 2013 - Balconies Trail

Trail head: Old Pinnacles Parking Lot

Hike Info:
Trail: Balconies Trail
Destination: Balconies Caves
Distance: 6.0
Travel Time: 3:10 (1.89 mph)
Moving Time:  2:25 (2.48 mph)
Elevation Rise: 826'
Maximum Elevation: 1.523'

Campsite #59

 Description:

I woke up first and read a few minutes from the Imitation of Christ. Then worked on this blog. Andrea got up about 45 minutes later, followed by Sherri. It is oatmeal for breakfast again. Yummy. Then we all pack up camp. Andrea leaves us around 10:30 and we head off to the trail head, after breaking camp.

Chalone Canyon

The trail head which we started at is called The Old Pinnacles Road. Way back when I was in Boy Scouts, we would camp there. Now, it is paved, instead of a dirt road. Also, there is nothing at the end of the road instead of an undeveloped campground. I think the campground was closer to the cave than where the parking lot is.

Balconies

We get out of the car and hit the road around 11. The Balconies Trail is pretty level, with some small ups and downs. Part way it follows the old road. It is hard packed, sandy soil, mostly in the shade. Chalone Creek creeps past us, sometimes flowing, other times disappearing. But what really strikes you is the huge rock cliffs which start to loom above us as we get closer to the caves. The area narrows down until we get to the base of a rock fall. These are the caves.

Sherri Climbing

Pondering the Climb

We don our headlamps and enter the boulder field. The boulders are stacked 40-80' high. Right from the get-go, these are not the caves I remember. The public could pretty much walk through them then. But now, we have to crawl up places, being careful not to bump our heads-Sherri did a few times, ouch! We also climbed up some steep , small steps in places-glad we had boots on. The headlamps came in use many times. There are no large caverns on this trip. But the clutter of rock make the caves interesting. Towards the end of the cave section, we come across several chockstones wedged straight above us-in some places causing us to duck. After going through there, I felt like Aron Ralston, but with two arms, thankfully.

Above the Caves

Yours truly, forgot to bring, or even pack, our lunch. So we had to be content to eat a Clif bar at the end of the trail, just after crossing the creek. We then decided to use a trail which bypasses the caves, but goes up towards the base of the Balconies. This ascent, reminded me, more in texture and temperature, than duration and rise of Refrigerator Canyon in Zion. The redness of the rock and the rising up to see the lay of the land. But the ascent only took about 20 minutes.

California Condor

Condors at their Next

When we got close to the base, we saw some black looking birds circling high up. One of them landed in a hole in the rock wall. The rest circled around. We looked at them for a good 15 minutes. Looked like some California Condors to us. As we traveled the base of the cliffs, we were able to look down on the boulder field which created the Balconies caves. It is still pretty impressive. We got back to the car around 2pm and took off.

Instead of coming back via Hollister, like we came, we went south down highway 25, towards Coalinga. There is some. Beautiful spring scenery in that area. Also, pretty isolated territory. Enjoyable drive. Had a Subway sandwich in Coalinga, then headed home. Got back to the house around 5.:30. Unpacked and had dinner at Casa. Pretty satisfying trip.

References:
Feb 19th Hike
Feb 20th Hike

February 20, 2013 - High Peaks Trail, Pinnacles

Trail head: Bear Gulch Parking Lot

Hike Info:
Trail: Condor, High Peaks, Rim, Bear Gulch Trails, also the Bench Trail
Distance: 8.8
Travel Time: 7:00 (1.26 mph)
Moving Time: 4:03  (2.17 mph)
Elevation Rise: 2,450'
Maximum Elevation: 2,623'


Description:
When I got up, a bit late, went out for a short walk up the Bench Trail to a fire access road. Cold. How cold was it? The rain drops on the bushes from last night's rain were frozen to them; frost was layered on the cars. But it was beautiful and clear.

Sherri and Andrea taking a break

Once everyone else got up, we fixed oatmeal for breakfast. Then got ready for our hike with the meet up group. We were there shortly after 9, at the appointed time. After waiting awhile, we were talking about what our plans should be since we were not seeing them. But about the time we were going to leave, we heard a caravan of cars coming up the road-our wonderful companions from Fresno, all 18 of them.

Condor-look close--it is tagged as #59, same as our campsite

After getting some instruction, we hit the trail. It is a pretty good incline. One person in the group asks parenthentically, is this an easy to moderate hike? But the morning is cool and the group is good, so the adventure is fun. We sort of split into two groups-those have the ability to go fast, and those of us with the ability to observe the small things on the trail. I have been noticing that I fall much more into the later group these days. There is still hail on the ground from yesterday. One of the things which makes us forget any incline is watching the condors gliding overhead. Such grace!

High Peaks

As we hit the top of the ridge, we have the chance to enjoy the view of the park. We descend a short ways on the west side of the ridge, and that is when the trail becomes interesting. You get to climb up steps cut into the rock, not regulation type of steps, but just a little bit more than toe holds. There is a rail to help steady us. But this only makes it a bit better to climb. Some in our group have thoughts of turning back, but to their credit, they continued on and overcame their fears. That is courage. The worse part was coming down steps on the other side. I went down facing the rock, seemed much more like coming down a ladder that way.

Sherri and Andrea on our rock

Close to the top, we meet a guy who is monitoring the condors. He is very informative. We stopped for a lunch-mine was the other half of the Subway sandwich we bought yesterday. Tasted even better the second day. We came to the junction of the High Peaks and Rim Trails. This is where Andrea and I went down to Moss Springs yesterday. We go the opposite direction today. Still nice, maybe even better in the sun.

Moss and Sherri

At the reservoir, Andrea takes off down the Cholane Peak Trail. she still has a lot of energy. Sherri and I go down the trail back to Moss Springs. Some of us, go through the caves, others go around it. Sherri, John and I are the last people. We back-track a few times, but nothing too serious. We get to the Bear Gulch parking lot a few minutes after everyone else does. We all enjoyed ourselves, I think. The meetup group takes off for dinner in San Juan Baptista.

Creek through cave

Sherri and I decide to walk back to camp, about two miles. Mostly flat, but a little downhill in one place. We start getting dinner ready and Andrea comes in shortly after us. It has been a pretty good day. Andrea starts a fire, and we enjoy our spaghetti, chicken, white sauce concoction.by the time the fire burns out, it is close to ten and I am ready for the comforts of my sleeping bag.

Sherri caught in the smoke

References:
Feb 19th Hike
Feb 21st Hike

February 19, 2013 - Bear Gulch Caves Pinnacles

Trail head: Moss Springs Parking Lot

Hike Info:
Trail: Bear Gulch Cave, Rim Trail
Destination: Bear Gulch Reservoir
Distance: about 2 miles


Description:

Start of Hike

This is a three day camping trip, with Andrea at the new Pinnacles National Park. Sherri and I leave from Fresno a little after 8am and stop only in Hollister to get a Subway sandwich for us all. The weather has been warm for February, but the weather forecast says there will be a change. The weather does not disappoint. We find a campsite, #59 in the Pinnacles Campground. We get the tent pitched and go for a walk to pay our fee while waiting for Andrea. The rains start and it turns cold. But Andrea arrives round this time. She has a table rain cover which works out good (probably would work better pitched a little different.)

Andrea

While the rains came, we ate or sandwich. Then crawled into our tent and played Ticket to Ride on Sherri's iPad. Andrea won-pretty good for a first timer. The rain started slacking a little before four. So Andrea and I decided to go for a short walk around Bear Gulch. First opportunity to wear a pair of rain pants David got me a couple years go.

Falls in Caves

We went up to the Moss Springs parking lot and started from there. Up the trail-I am puffing some trying to keep up with Andrea's slow pace. But we get to the caves, which are more like giant rocks thrown into piles, forming tunnel ways through the rock. But there is a small creek going through the rocks with some nice little places where water drops down 20-30 feet. We enjoy our time walking among the rock. We even chose a route in on place which led us astray, but not badly. I needed to crawl through one or two places. Fun stuff.

Bear Gulch Reservoir

We come up on the reservoir and gawk at the sun being gloomed upon by some mending rain clouds. But the over all picture is one of beauty with the reflection on the reservoir. We met a couple of guys surveying old mines for NPS. They had been caught out in the storm. Said hat it even snowed a bit on them. Later on we would figure they were a little above 2000' up. We move on, going up the Rim Trail. Nice views from this trail, looking down into the ravine where Bear Gulch resides. At the junction with the High Peaks Trail, we decide to head back. It had been sprinkling on and off, and then it turned into hail. Just enough hail to turn the ground white in places. Got back to the car a little after five and headed back to camp in a jolly good mood.

Hail in Hand

When we got back to the car, we came upon the two people we met at the reservoir. Andrea discovered the pack's rain cover had slipped off. So she went up the trail to retrieve it. Turned out to be about a mile plus. While she was doing that, I talked with the guys. Turned out they were up Frog Canyon. They ultimately report their findings to Denver NPS.

Enterance into Bear Gulch Cave

The rain has started up again. But dinner needs to be cooked. It is Sherri's left over drunken chicken with brown rice. We eat and enjoy, albeit a bit cold. After cleaning up, we retreat into the tent for a rematch of Ticket to Ride. Then it is off to our sleeping bags, and the warmth in them. Andrea is sleeping in her tent.


References:
Feb 20th Hike
Feb 21st Hike

January 30, 2013-Kreyenhagen Peak

Title: Jan 30, 2013, Hike
Trail head: Mineral Springs close to Coalinga

Hike Info:
Trail: Mineral Springs Trail
Destination: Kreyenhagen Peak
Distance: 4.8
Travel Time: 3:54 (1.23 mph)
Moving Time: 2:29 (1.93mph)
Elevation Rise: 1,495'
Maximum Elevation: 3,564'



Description:
Got to Kohls at 6:30. Sherri discovered she did not have her boots. So we tell the group that we will meet them in Coalinga before heading up. We get to Coalinga before most of them and stopped at the McDonalds there. After we regrouped, we pulled out and drove the 30 minutes to the Count park on Mineral Springs Road.

All 20+ of us got out and once ready started our hike up. Jerry K is our leader as John and Cathy were not able to make it this time. Going northwest out of the parking area, we cross a trough and start our ascent. It is foothill hiking, filled with sage brush, juniper, and yucca plants. Kreyenhagen Peak looms over us. We climb the western side of the peak, which keeps us in shadows much of the morning. Fortunately, it is not too cold, nor too warm. While the ascent keeps our heart beating, it is pretty good going. Enough so, that I am down to my T-shirt before long. We are in the back third of the pack, mostly hiking with Bill. Each rise brings us to a new perspective of the ridges along the Diablo Range.

The trail is narrow, but well marked with trail signed every quarter of a mile. The narrowness of the trail is not a problem as there is not any really dangerous drop offs. But there are drop offs and in some places the trail is not graded very well.

We get to the spine of the peak and walk along that for the final half mile. From this vantage point, we are able to look over into the Los Gatos County Park area on the eastern side, and in to the Salinas Valley, beyond a ridge, on the west side. Most of the people have made it up to the top before us and are enjoying a late morning munch. We sit next to Rose--who recognizes from some of the REI classes we have taken. Plenty of rocks to recline on and to enjoy the view. The view itself is 360.  I pull one tick off of me here. Sherri has made us sandwiches, thickly covered with peanut butter and nutella--what else?

We take up our places in the rear.  I stop quite a few times, taking in the sights. Such as a red-tail hawk floating over the top of the peak, or the many ridges. I catch up quickly, most of the time. Sherri is hiking with Bill and I go on down the mountain with a couple of German ladies. The hiking poles were of great use as the grade of the trail was somewhat slanted towards the downhill slope. Also in places, the trail had drops of three or four feet. On one of these drops, a lady slipped and banged her head, enough to bleed some. But she was able to make it down the trail back to the car.

This is a good winter or spring hike. Not too cold and definitely not hot. But in the middle summer, it would be pretty hot. Some people went out to Harris Ranch for lunch. But with our sandwiches, Sherri and I did not think that was a good end to the hike. So we headed off to Hanford and Superior Diary and its best in the world ice cream. Now that was the way to end the hike. Got back home around 4:15.

January 12, 2012-Lewis Creek Trail

Title: January 12, 2012

Trail head: Highway 41

Hike Info:

Trail: Lewis Creek Trail

Destination: Red Rock Falls

Actual Destination: Red Rock Falls and Sugar Pine

Distance: 4.5 miles

Travel Time: 2:42 (1.67 mph)

Moving Time: 2:08 (2.11 mph)

Elevation Rise: 758'

Maximum Elevation: 4,320'

 Description:

Start of trip

We should call this the Deep Freeze hike. Karol of the Central Valley Hiking meetup group lead us on this hike. We met at 8:30 at the Kohl's parking lot. It is cold—about 30F in Fresno. It is predicted to be 30F at the trailhead above Oakhurst at 10am. We get up to the trailhead off of 41, above Cedar Valley Rd around 10:10 and hit the the trail at 10:25. We put on SnowTraks for better traction, since we anticipate some icy conditions.



Snow on the ground and white breath in the air—that is how we started. We cross Lewis Creek on a bridge—one slip on the bridge, not by me for a change. But it was not a problem. A bit up the trail, Sherri realizes she forgot her GPS-problem. So I go back, about a quarter of a mile, not a big deal. Joe is waiting for me when I return. With the cold, I put on another pair of gloves over my liners, but other than that I am pretty warm. Someplace along the lines, a SnowTrak comes off of one of my boots, but I do good going up.

We do get to Red Rock Falls in about an hour. There is ohhs and ahhs at the frozen water, with the rushing falls right beside it. Just a really nice winter sight. After a little stop, we go on up the trail to the Sugar Pine Road.

Red Rock Falls

Ice and Falls

Ice in Lewis Creek

Snow Covered Trees

We did a return trip back to the trailhead. Nothing exciting as far as the walk is concerned. Just a walk along the creek, through beautifully snow covered trees, with some pretty enjoyable people. We then end up at Todd's in Oakhurst. I have an over the top Tipsy Texas sandwich—Beef Briquet's with sausage, wonderful topping to a hike.

January 5, 2013 – Mt Owens (Cooper Mtn)

Title: January 5, 2013 – Mt Owens (Copper Mtn)

Trail head: Blasingame Ranch

Hike Info:

Trail: Blasingame Ranch to Mt Owens (Private)

Destination: Mt. Owens (Cooper Mtn)

Distance: 9.7 miles

Travel Time: 4:15 (2.28mph)

Moving Time: 3:23 (2.87mph)

Elevation Rise: 1,397'

Maximum Elevation: 1,629'

Description:
This is my second time with the Central Valley Hiking meetup group. Today we are going over to the Blasingame ranch and hike to the top of Mt Owens. It is a private ranch-we are invited guests. We meet at a north Fresno Starbucks and car pool up to the ranch, along Auberry Road. Surprise—Lisa, one of the people whom I worked at with FUSD is on this trip.

The Group-Central Valley Hiking

The ranch and the rolling hills behind it, reminds me of the area around Rockville Hills Regional Park—only thing, what we are seeing is a sea of emerald green grass, stretching from the road, up to the top of the ridge. We drive about a quarter mile into the ranch and park at some of the livestock pens. Marianne gives us instructions on how to get to the top and then we set out, after some photo's. We are a herd of about 18 hikers.

We go pretty level for the first three-quarters of a mile, stopping at an outhouse. Then up a slope. The whole hills we are surrounded are lush and green. So relaxing, so inviting. Up we go. Marianne shows us a grinding rock where Native American's ground their acorns. Even the pestles are there.

Copper Mountain

Sierra's to the east

We move on. I have been walking with Nate and we are talking about our wives. After the grinding stone, I walk with Wayne, Bob and Adam. Adam is Bob's son, who is going to CSU, Fresno and is working towards being a pilot in the Air Force. He is a young man who had his head screwed on right. We are one of the slower groups, going a touch below 3mph. But we make it. The sight from the top is 360. From the Central Valley and Fresno State to looking northward and Millerton Lake and then beyond to the southern mountains of Yosemite. Eastward at the San Joaquin drainage, and the a bit more southward to the Kings River area and the National Parks there. The snow covered mountains were spectacular.



After having lunch and a granola bar, it was time to go down. We split up into two groups. The larger number decides to go cross country, across hill tops and ridges. Six of us, including me, decide to go back via the road/trail which we came up on. I started walking with Wayne. After a ways, switched off and talked with Jeanne. Like Sherri and I, she retired from FUSD a year and a half ago. Later on, got a chance to talk with Jim, her husband about The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings. Very enjoyable. We got down before the other group.

Road behind; Mountains before us

Oaks on a ridge

Afterwards, we go to Friant and have fun socializing at the Pizza Factory.

Christmas 2012 Newsletter

December 2012

What a year! It has been a season where we have experience a tremendous amount of fun and excitement. From making an annual pilgrimage to Denver to hiking our feet off in the Sierra's, to going foreign—just barely—to taking a plunge into the midst of the Pacific Ocean it has been a year not be missed.





Retiring when we did has been a blessing. It has given us the time to spend with Gary's parents. The timing of our retirement has fit in with the needs of our family. This year has been a year of several big milestones—Gary's Mom and Dad turned 90 years old and celebrated their 60 years together. Being able to bring together their friends to celebrate was exciting, fun and challenging. We also were able to take them to San Diego and visit Mom's sister. In addition, we went on two other trips with them. The first was to Victoria, British Columbia in June. This was a leisurely trip up the coast, enjoying the water and the cliffs. We went through the coastal part of Olympic NP-another place added to our list of future adventures. When we got to Victoria, a day was spent fulfilling one of Mom's dreams—seeing Buchart Gardens. It was well worth the trip. Another day we traveled around Victoria's water front. On our way back, we saw Dad's sister and family.


My brother's friend, Kevin, made his condo in Kona, Hawaii available to our parents and so the five of us took advantage of it, doing a week's stay on the Big Island. And what a week it was. Lava, coffee, and water, along with lush jungles and water falls! We got to snorkel for the first time-swimming with dolphins and sea turtles, little yellow fish and sea urchins, and go up over coral. It was worth the trip just for that. But, as the commercials say, there was more. David took us on a trip around the island, including stops at an out-of-this world bakery for some of the best bread we have eaten. Then there were black sand beaches, the lava beds extending into the ocean, and classic paradise like waterfalls—the visual is too much for my writing talent. In Hilo, we went up to Hawai'i Volcanoes NP and saw the Halemua'uma'u Crater with its active lava. But the week came to an end with us wanting to come back.

Most of you know we attempted the John Muir Trail, aka JMT. We made it 90 miles, about 8 miles beyond the Devil's Postpile. Eight days out we stopped because of a potential medical condition--it was better to be able to hike another day than to push forward. Once back, we got some medicines adjusted. But before turning back we saw some really DDG country—that is Drop Dead Gorgeous. Granite peaks with ice-blue Sierra lakes provided relaxation for our tired bodies and minds each night.

After turning around, we were back on the trail with Andrea for seven days. This time, we went out of Florence Lake up to the Evolution Valley area. We then headed cross-country for two days, camping by Davis Lakes—which Andrea claims is the most beautiful lake in the world. We then came back, it was down Goddard Canyon and back to Florence Lake. This recreated part of a route Gary did in his youth, 40+ years ago. This trip, which was made without incident, was more strenuous than the JMT we did earlier, so the medical issue was taken care of.

Speaking of our oldest daughter, we teamed up with her, becoming Team Thing One, Thing Two to play the Capture California game. It is a photo scavenger hunt, taking us from the Oregon border to San Diego, hiking, bagging all 21 missions, frolicking on beaches, and gaining an understanding of our State's history. How did we do? Out of the 250 teams signed up there was none who gathered more points than us. Its fun and free, so you might want to sign up for it next May.

So how are the kids doing, you might be asking? Rachel is still working as a live-in nanny in San Gabriel. But she is exploring career possibilities, but nothing definitive yet. While Steven is preparing for the possibility of going to Fresno State next year. As you can see, Andrea is still into her adventures and finding a permanent teaching job.

So what does this new year have in store for us? We do not think we will slow down too much. We hope to continue to spend a lot of time with Gary's parents, enjoying being with them and vacationing with them. Will we complete the JMT this year? (We are still deciding that one.) Rick Warren notes that service gives purpose to life. We continue to look for places of significance to pour our lives into.

Our prayer is that each of you will find new refreshment in our Lord this year.

Some online sites we maintain:

• Capture California Blog
• Summer Hikes
• Winter Trips
• Gary's Book Blog

September 11, 2012 – Grant Grove Area

Title: September 11, 2012 – Grant Grove Area

Trail head: Grant Grove Parking Lot

Hike Info:

Trail: Sunset Trail, Dead Giant Loop, North Grove Loop, General Grant Loop

Destination: Grant Grove Parking Lot

Distance: 6.9 miles

Travel Time:

Moving Time:

Elevation Rise:

Maximum Elevation:

Description:
We got to our camp spot in Grant Grove's Azela Campground--#19 to be specific—around 3:15. Got our tent pitched and everything ready by 3:45pm. Certainly is a slow process in getting packed when you have not gone camping in 3 months or more. But we are up here for the night.



We went on four trails today, one which was incidental. The trails sort of lead into each other. There was the North Grove Trail, The Sunset Trail, The Dead Giant Loop and the General Grant Loop. These are trails which we are used to and do enjoy. Just a short drive from our home, yet strenuous enough to satisfy our need for exertion.

• North Grove Trail. We start from the Grant Grove parking lot and go westward, descending. Lots of sequoia trees which forms an overhead canopy. But we are not on this trail very long before we turn off onto the Sunset Trail. We will rejoin the North Grove Trail in a ways.
  
• Sunset Trail. This is more of a jeep road, or actually an old tourist road, which feels like it will lead us down to Lake Sequoia. But along the way, we branch off to follow the Dead Giant Loop.
 

 
• Dead Giant Loop. This loop starts from the Sunset Trail. We take the northern side first. It skirts along a very nice meadow. We shortly pass by a very large sequoia, laying in the meadow. But this is not the Dead Giant. Further along, we come to the Dead Giant. The girth is monstrous, but through the years, fire and lightening took its toll on the top. Compared to other sequoias, the Dead Giant looks a bit stubby. But you can tell that in its day, this was the king of the forest. The loop continues around this short ridge till we can get a good look at Lake Sequoia. Lake Sequoia is a YMCA camp. Our three kids spent a lot of time here, along with Gary while they were all in YMCA Indian Guides. The sight always brings back fond memories. A couple was also at the overlook and was interested in Ella Falls—where we would like to go. But they are concerned with the descent and coming back up. The Sunset Trail is a short distance from this point and we reach it pretty quickly.

• Sunset Trail. Back to the Sunset trail. We continue down it and it starts to descend rather steeply. We are looking for the trail off of here to Ella Falls. We have visited these Falls, but always from the Lake Sequoia side. We see one path, but it does not look like it has been used in years. So we continue on. We get to a dirt road, with a sign pointing down to Lake Sequoia. We pass by a corral like area, which may be used by the YMCA for campfires away from the Lake. When we continue on, it looks like we are heading to the wrong end of Lake Sequoia to find Ella Falls. After checking our GPS, it confirms our suspicions. We turn back and go to the Sunset Trail and continue down it for a ways. But we are starting to see that this is a bit farther than we anticipated. Coming from the closed Sunset campground would have been better. After trailing down the Sunset trail for another 15 minutes, we decide, it is time to return and do the North Grove trail. On the way back, we scare up a doe and a couple fawns. After climbing up a ways further, we meet the same three deer. They run, we are always amazed to see such createes gracefully take a hill which we are huffing and puffing. In a little while farther, we reach the junction with the North Grove trail. So off we go down that one. After traveling two and a half or three miles on this trail, I do not see too much to recommend about it, except for being able to go to the Dead Giant Loop.

• North Grove Trail. We are back on this trail and down we go again. When I say down, I do mean down. For as much as I have travelled this, both on foot and on ski's, it always seems steep down and steep up again. About half way around, we meet another couple who must have had the same thoughts. They were wondering if they were on the right trail. Strangers from New York, but they were enjoying themselves and felt assured they were doing good. The north side of this trail is the best. As you climb up, you start meeting up with a creek and the life which goes with water. The ferns start appearing and the sequoias look like they have a multitude of subjects around their feet. Even with it being steep, the climb is relieved by such views, until we go over a ridge and meet up with the incoming trail about 50 yards from the Grant Grove parking lot.

• General Grant Loop Trail. But is Sherri and Gary done yet? No! A trip to this area would feel incomplete without paying homage to General Grant. So up we go on the paved path, up to the Nation's Christmas Tree. But first we pass the Oregon Tree, then the California Tree. The Centennial Stump has always held my amusement that the people back east would think a tree like the sequoia would not exist—but of course, if I had only seen trees the size of our good sized pines, I probably would be the same way. Then we reach the high point of the walk—the Gamlin Cabin. It is the high point, because it is the highest point of our walk. Now comes the General Grant Tree. One of the largest living things in existence. Where the first Sunday of December there is a ceremony marking it as the Nation's Christmas Tree-our church's Brass Choir has played here several times. Then it is back down to the car as it is almost dark and we must still get dinner ready.