What Caused This Iconic Giant Sequoia Tree to Topple?
Jan. 9, 2017 - A giant sequoia tree that was barely holding onto life fell down recently during a winter storm. The iconic "Pioneer Cabin" tree was 150 feet tall and was a popular tourist attraction to visitors of Calaveras Big Trees State Park in California because of the tunnel that earlier landowners had carved in its base. At one point, visitors could even drive cars through the tunnel. Unfortunately, the tunnel weakened the tree and may have led it to eventually topple over in the storm.
Read more about Pioneer Cabin and other "tunnel trees."Select photos of “Pioneer Cabin” courtesy Alan Beymer and Claudia Beymer
"Wawona" photo by Melville B. Grosvenor
The iconic “Pioneer Cabin” tree has fallen.
Calaveras Big Trees State Park, California
The giant sequoia in California may have been more than 1,000 years old.
It fell during a recent winter storm.
In the 1880s, landowners carved a tunnel through the tree's base.
Other tunnel trees have existed, including the famous "Wawona" in Yosemite National Park, which fell in 1969.
While popular tourist attractions, the tunnels may have led to these trees’ demise.
