Sequoia's Gifts

This poem was written last year at Bearpaw Meadow in Sequoia National Park. I was lying in a tent cabin at the high sierra camp at the time. It's really hard to describe the feeling of lying on a cot staring out the door at some of the most beautiful scenery on earth. The high Sierra camp is situated on the edge of a deep valley. On the other edge is the Great Western Divide. No matter how many times I go there, it's always the same breathtaking.

It is 11.5 miles from the Giant Forest to Bearpaw. As trails go I suppose that it is easy to moderate. But 11 miles any where is more than a-walk-in-the-park. The trail is relatively level for about 10 miles and then it drops down to Buck Creek. At this point after you are really worn down the trail heads nearly straight up. It goes up about 800 feet in half a mile. One way or another every one who visits Bearpaw has to pay their dues.

The poem is something of a travel log of the high sierra trail. It describes some of the scenery and challenges that can be found along the way. Most of all it attempts to lure those who are willing to pay the price.

Gale L. Wolfenbarger
16 May 1988

Sequoia's Gifts

When God created Sequoia, his love for man did show.
A place to leave his sorrows and to glimpse what God must know.

Her granite spires and rocky cliffs and verdant valley floors.
Her sparkling streams and silver falls, could man have asked for more?

But Sequoia's treasures are not a gift that man may simply take.
They are for him who pays the price, each mountain, tree and lake.

From Cresent Meadows sleeping giants to the eagles lofty view.
From Panther Creek to Alta Peak under skies of gray and blue.

Man must climb and walk the trails if these treasures he would own.
And come to where Gods gifts are at, far from house and home.

Yes, man must pay to see the falls at Mehrten's lovely creek.
And scale the walls of Alta Bluffs before he too may sleep.

Beneath the roar and swirling mists of mighty Nine mile Creek.
And play with deer who haunt the woods where men and nature meet.

Before you too may share the spell of Bearpaw's magic camp.
You too must scale Buck Canyon's walls and meadows cool and damp.

From Bearpaw's splendor you must choose the places you will go.
To where the valleys are cool and quiet or where still lingers snow.

Some may choose the rocky cliffs to Hamilton and her falls.
And see Valhalla's golden wings of soaring granite walls.

Others still may choose the hill with courage some may lack.
Cross Lone Pine's meadow and up the hill to feast on Tamarack.

And some may choose to test their nerve on the heights of Elizabeth Pass.
And others may desire the Kern and scale Kaweah Gap.

What ever treasure you desire there is a price to pay.
Some may take a week of toil and some a single day.

Yes, God's love is surely shown in Sequoia's mighty splendor.
A gift of choices given man and all that they engender.

But man must choose the gifts to take and thus enrich his life.
But with each choice each one must choose the way to pay the price.

Gale L. Wolfenbarger
27 July 1987