The tree, which is deep within the park and has no trails resulting in it, has confronted critical environmental degradation from thrill-seekers who’ve visited since 2006, when it was discovered by a pair of naturalists.
The coast redwood (sequoia sempervirens) tree is 115.92 meters (380 ft) tall and its identify is derived from Greek mythology — Hyperion was one of many Titans and the daddy of solar god Helios and moon goddess Selene.
Hyperion’s trunk diameter is 4.84 meters (13 ft).
Stephen Moehle/Shutterstock
“Hyperion is positioned off path by dense vegetation and requires heavy ‘bushwhacking’ as a way to attain the tree,” reads an announcement on the nationwide park’s web site.
“Regardless of the tough journey, elevated recognition as a result of bloggers, journey writers, and web sites of this off-trail tree has resulted within the devastation of the habitat surrounding Hyperion,” the assertion says. “As a customer, you need to determine if you can be a part of the preservation of this distinctive panorama – or will you be a part of its destruction?”
Along with erosion and harm induced on the base of the tree, there are secondary points that come from an inflow of individuals.
“There was trash, and folks had been creating much more facet trails to make use of the toilet. They go away used bathroom paper and human waste — it is not a very good factor,” Arguello mentioned.
Human guests should not the one danger to those large timber.
Wildfires are a rising concern all through California’s nationwide parks.
In 2021, officers at Sequoia and Kings Canyon Nationwide Parks took excessive measures to guard a few of the world’s greatest timber from fireplace.
Hyperion tree picture by way of Shutterstock