I’m forever astounded by the natural diversity in California. It’s been a few years since I’ve visited Kings and Sequoia National Parks, and standing beneath these giants is just as mind-blowing as when I was a kid.

A photo taken from the base of a "smaller" sequoia tree, its truck fully lit by the sun and seeming to glow a golden red.

There were two sequoias near General Sherman where the trail led right through them and you were able to touch the bark. It was so unexpectedly soft, fuzzy textured and springy to the touch. Absolutely loved it, will have to come back and camp beneath these giants some day.

A close up of a few fingers on the sequoia bark, which is made up of fine orange-colored hairs with interspaced larger brown flakes.