After More Than 100 Years, California's Iconic Tunnel Tree Is No More

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**reds8n**

http://gizmodo.com/after-more-than-100-years-californias-iconic-tunnel-tr-1790964594?utm_campaign=socialflow_gizmodo_facebook&utm_source=gizmodo_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

The Pioneer Cabin Tree, a giant sequoia in Calaveras Big Trees State Park that was tunneled through in the 1880s, has fallen due to severe winter weather. It was believed to be hundreds of years old.

Since it was first hollowed out in imitation of Yosemite’s Wawona Tunnel Tree, thousands of tourists and vehicles have passed through the sequoia. The Wawona tree was killed by the process and later fell during a storm in the 1960s, but the Pioneer Cabin Tree clung on, showing signs of life well into the 21st century.

“The pioneer cabin tree was chosen because of its extremely wide base and large fire scar,” wrote park interpretive specialist Wendy Harrison in 1990. “A few branches bearing green foliage tell us that this tree is still managing to survive.”

On Facebook, where the tree’s death was first announced, park visitors shared generations of memories involving the giant sequoia. The Calaveras Big Trees Association, however, offered a simple message about the tree’s return to the earth it sprouted from so many years ago.

“This iconic and still living tree—the tunnel tree—enchanted many visitors,” wrote the association. “The storm was just too much for it.”

**SagesStone**

2017 strikes already.

**LordofHats**

2017 decided killing our celebrities wasn't painful enough. Its going after our landmarks instead

**jhe90**

We got used to one pain.

2017 decides to adapt.

**kronk**

First the orcas, then the trees, next will be those eagles that ate that cat on the CCTV. You just watch!

**BrotherGecko**

Damnit 2017, just take more celebrities and leave the ancients alone.

**amazingturtles**

Poor tree. Those collapse pictures look so dang sad.

**Compel**

Is it just me, or is "believed to be hundreds of years old" about as useless a statement about a large tree as, "believed to be made of wood."

**Frazzled**

Compel wrote:
Is it just me, or is "believed to be hundreds of years old" about as useless a statement about a large tree as, "believed to be made of wood."

Except of course it makes it one of the oldest living beings on the face of the earth (or at least North America).
Of course I remember when it was a spry young seedling. I used to climb its brothers to escape those pesky wolves. Good thing Nog couldn't climb as fast as me.

**kronk**

Compel wrote:
Is it just me, or is "believed to be hundreds of years old" about as useless a statement about a large tree as, "believed to be made of wood."

The only way to know is to drill core samples or cut the fether down and count rings!

**Breotan**

Son of a... I was planning on making a road trip down there this summer.

Damnit.

**kronk**

Breotan wrote:
Son of a... I was planning on making a road trip down there this summer.

Damnit.

I'm sure it's still a nice area with lots of hippies and local grown honey or something. Wear flannel, though. Stay warm!

**A Town Called Malus**

Frazzled wrote:
Compel wrote:
Is it just me, or is "believed to be hundreds of years old" about as useless a statement about a large tree as, "believed to be made of wood."

Except of course it makes it one of the oldest living beings on the face of the earth (or at least North America).
Of course I remember when it was a spry young seedling. I used to climb its brothers to escape those pesky wolves. Good thing Nog couldn't climb as fast as me.

Hundreds is nothing for a tree:

http://mentalfloss.com/article/29879/6-oldest-trees-world

**jhe90**

A Town Called Malus wrote:
Frazzled wrote:
Compel wrote:
Is it just me, or is "believed to be hundreds of years old" about as useless a statement about a large tree as, "believed to be made of wood."

Except of course it makes it one of the oldest living beings on the face of the earth (or at least North America).
Of course I remember when it was a spry young seedling. I used to climb its brothers to escape those pesky wolves. Good thing Nog couldn't climb as fast as me.

Hundreds is nothing for a tree:

http://mentalfloss.com/article/29879/6-oldest-trees-world

There's that big I'm sure can easy last a few thousand. There utterly giant.
Long as no idiotic human chops them down...

**Breotan**

kronk wrote:
Breotan wrote:
Son of a... I was planning on making a road trip down there this summer.

Damnit.

I'm sure it's still a nice area with lots of hippies and local grown honey or something. Wear flannel, though. Stay warm!

Part of the draw is driving through that tree. Look at it this way, how would you feel if you planned a trip to Disneyworld for a year then, when you got there, the Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion rides were closed for a week long maintenance?

I'm still planning on heading to Northern California this trip but now I need to rethink my itinerary. Anyone know where that Bohemian Grove thing is?

**A Town Called Malus**

Breotan wrote:
Look at it this way, how would you feel if you planned a trip to Disneyworld for a year then, when you got there, the Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion rides were closed for a week long maintenance?

Like I didn't do a very good job of planning

**jhe90**

Still tons of impressive sights and trees in those areas.

**kronk**

jhe90 wrote:
Still tons of impressive sights and trees in those areas.

But can you drive through them?

Huh, can you?!

**A Town Called Malus**

kronk wrote:
jhe90 wrote:
Still tons of impressive sights and trees in those areas.

But can you drive through them?

Huh, can you?!

That depends on what car you're driving

**kronk**

A Town Called Malus wrote:
kronk wrote:
jhe90 wrote:
Still tons of impressive sights and trees in those areas.

But can you drive through them?

Huh, can you?!

That depends on what car you're driving

Ryan Dunn could have done it!

(Too soon?)

**Breotan**

Fine. I'll just write off Yosemite and hit up Leggett instead. This means I'll be staying north of Sacramento but I can go through Plumas, Lassen, and Modoc on my way back.