Customer Reviews

A Guide to the Sequoia Groves of California

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Willard describes the 67 groves he recognizes into five sections, one northern (8 groves), four southern (59 groves). This excellent guide has many color photos, a generous number of B&W historical photos, five color regional maps plotting the groves, and a color and a B&W overview map. Scattered throughout the descriptions of the groves are ten mini essays on discovery, grove naming, logging, age (longevity), emotional response, management, distribution, tree size, the future, and Sequoiadendron versus Sequoia, but alas nothing on morphology, fire, or regeneration.
A revised edition of this 2000 book would be welcome to add some additional mini essays, to correct a few slips noted (e.g., the map on p. 73 omitting McKinley Grove, p. 110 with Wren Peak heading an alphabetical list), and to amplify and update the sparse bibliography. Adding GPS coordinates to the detailed "access guide" (pp. 113-118) to the 67 groves would give one the option of using Google Earth to fly over them.

Very nice book...high quality photos, interesting document about "largest living things on earth".

The author locates and describes 67 groves of Big Trees in five regions of the Sierras. This is a fine book to get you to the grove,
to tell you whether the grove is pristine, old-growth or logged, and to tell you what type of terrain, in and out
of your vehicle, you will meet finding the groves. The author also lists individual, named trees within each grove. There
is a map for each region. Very useful is a chart that coordinates grove with USGS 7.5 minute map title (so one knows which
one to purchase), as the section maps are not detailed. It would be risky to venture into the wilderness groves with only
this book. Also useful is a public agency web and phone book, as many of the
Sequoia roads are seasonal, and one must call ahead.
What I find disappointing is the absence of discrete directions (GPS would be great!)to individual trees.
For that one needs Wendell Flint's book. This is not really a guide book but a treasure book of Big Tree information.
The book is attractive and sturdy, the paper high quality and heavy, and the photographs outstanding.
Dwight Willard's passion for the Sequoias is evident in this outstanding, beautiful reference.
I highly recommend this book for all lovers of the Big Trees and the Sierras. Well done!