11-29-25 The General Sherman Tree: First Encounters - This Old Tree

In this episode of This Old Tree, with Doug Still...High up in California's Sierra Nevada mountains stands the largest tree on earth by volume - the General Sherman Tree. The famous giant sequoia has captivated millions of visitors, but few know the rich tapestry of stories woven around its massive trunk. Join us as we explore the “Giant Forest” of Sequoia National Park with former park ranger and author William C. Tweed. From the indigenous Monache and Yokuts who first walked among these giants, to ambitious Euro-American explorers like John Muir, to a Black Army Captain who became the park's first actual manager, discover how "first encounters" with giant sequoias become life-altering events. What evolutionary secrets enable sequoias to grow so large? Why do frequent fires help them to survive? And what is "sequoia time?" The General Sherman tree and its mates have changed how we view the natural world and our place within it.