Giant Sequoias Fall Closing Popular Trail

SEQUOIA NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. (AP) -- The popular Trail of 100 Giants is closed in the Sequoia National Forest after two of the towering trees fell side by side over the trail, resulting in its closure.

   The Forest Service said the downed trees were reported on Friday. Officials were still working to determine the trees' ages and why they fell.

   Some of the giant trees in that area are 245 feet tall and have diameters of 18 feet.

   Photographs showed the root wads of the fallen trees were about three times as tall as a firefighter standing at the base.

   Forest Service officials said tourists can still see giant Sequoias at Freeman Creek Grove along Lloyd Meadow Road and other areas of the park.

   (Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)