Running Wild in Giant Forest

You are officially in the HOME STRETCH! Just 25-miles to go on your 200-mile journey - you’ve come so far! Before you enter this last leg of your race take a minute to stop and take in the journey of these last few weeks. Think about all the places you have traveled, the people you have seen, and the all beautiful places you’ve discovered. You’ve been a part of this amazing thing and it’s important to take the time to reflect and enjoy it! We want to reflect with you!! Share some videos and pictures of your race journey up until now don’t forget to tag us @sequoiaparksconservancy and use the hashtag #running wild. 

We can’t think of a better way to celebrate 175-miles than to introduce you to the Senate Group in Giant Forest. Henry David Thoreau said “ the question is not what you look at, but what you see”.  The trees growing in the Senate Group have always made an impression. Early US settlers were so impacted by the trees of Giant Forest that they sought to bring as many people to see this space as possible. Naming this group of trees after a governmental body helped to convince leaders in the east that there was something truly special out here in the mountains of California.

The Senate Group wasn’t named for the governing body but rather for the power which the words Congress, President, House, and Senate held. It was hoped to entice the government to take ownership of the land, prevent deforestation, and invest in trails and roads so more people could see these trees and feel their presence. 

As you stand in front of the Senate group you are also standing in an old growth forest. This place stands as a reminder to what a forest is, a tribute not only to the giant sequoia but to the ponderosa pine, the dogwood, the lupine flower, and the multiple other plants, animals and fungi that live here.

What do you see when you look at a giant sequoia? 

We can't wait to see you in 25-miles – until then keep your chin up, you’ve got this! 

The SPC Race Team