One of the things California is known for is its Pioneer Cabin Tree, which is a giant sequoia tree that had a man-made large tunnel shaved through its base that tourists could walk through. At more than 100 feet tall and 32 feet in diameter, this tree was a monster and a sight to behold.
According to reports, however, such a landmark is no longer around. The tree reportedly fell to the ground on Sunday, January 8th, at around 2:00 P.M. due to sustained rain storms that were said to be “too much” for it.
The Calaveras Big Tree Association shared these photographs of the fallen tree on Facebook that very same day:
Tourists are said to have been walking underneath the tree as recently as the morning of the day it fell. Fortunately, no one was underneath it when it collapsed amid the significant rain storm, so no one was harmed as a result of the collapse.
Despite having that large gap inside the trunk, the tree was still living, and it was estimated to be around 2,000 years old. It reportedly had shallow roots, and barely any living branches, so the tree was certainly on its last legs. Of course, having fallen, the tree is living no more.
While 2,000 years might seem like a lot to you and I, these giant sequoia trees are known to live almost twice as long as that, so this was a relatively young one. It seems however that the tunnel inside of its base weakened the tree’s structure, making it harder for the tree to stand up to mother nature’s wrath.
While this historic tree may no longer be around, it fills the memories of many who have visited it and taken photographs with it. In fact, a quick Google search turns up a ton of photos of the tree, showing how it’s evolved over time.
Farewell, Pioneer Cabin Tree…
Source: The Huffington Post
