Classy Redwoods

After leaving Eureka, we headed into the National Redwood Forest.  And after a brief stop at the Nature Center and a chat with friendly rangers, we headed off to the Lady Bird Johnson Grove.  And that's where I think we saw our largest redwoods of the trip.  It was a beautifully maintained 1.5 mile hike.

 Did you know that when forest fires sweep through a redwood grove, often the giants are unharmed because their bark is a foot thick?  And when they are burned, typically that injures their heartwood which rots away over time--leaving behind their outer shell which continues to grow?  Crazy.