A Special Docent Moment in the Cathedral Redwoods

The Cathedral Redwoods can be an awesome experience — but seeing them from a different perspective can lead to a very special moment.

In my education as a docent, I learned that “fairy rings” occurred naturally as the Coastal Redwood trees reproduced by cloning (as well as seeds), where sometimes the original (“mother”) tree may have been completely burned away, leaving a ring of trees. The theory went on that sometimes a ring grew around the ring which might have disappeared, leaving a space in the middle which sometimes got referred to as “Redwood Cathedrals”.

Then another theory surfaced in a book called “Forged By Fire” by Lee Klinger, who pointed out that the larger (30–100'+) tree circles had numerous characteristics that suggested that they were formed differently:

• Coastal Redwood stumps are big — but not that big
• the remnant of such a stump (or groupings of stump rings) is missing from these large redwood circles
• it is not uncommon to find “single stem genets” amongst the trees in the bigger circles — suggesting that they were not clonally related, but instead had arrived by seed or had been planted

Lee goes on to describe various fire-oriented aspects of the large tree rings, as well as a modern ambiance he has regularly observed, including how people tend to quiet their voices when entering a large circle of trees, in a manner similar to people entering a cathedral. He concludes with a theory that many indigenous tribes “didn’t build their temples — they grew them!”

Wow! I was totally intrigued by this theory. One day my docent buddy Dave and I decided to hike up to the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park landmark named “Cathedral Redwoods” and view the area with this theory in mind.

When we got there, we encountered Gabriel Garcia, a professional musician, playing beautiful music and creating a video of the moment — which he shared with us.

Seeing the Cathedral Redwoods as an indigenous creation — and then experiencing that special musical performance totally by happenstance — has created that very special experience as a docent that helps me believe we have a lot to learn there in the forest. Plus it adds a new dimension to the park as my church. And my gym. And my saloon!