Human Activity

Native American’s lived in these Southern Sierra mountains long before the tourists of today have set foot on them. For 1000’s of years Indians from the Yokuts preoccupied the foothills while the Western Mono tribes and Monache tribes roamed the upper mountains. These Indians controlled these lands until the late 1700’s when Europeans began to invade their territory. A Spanish missionary by the name of Font came along exploring the area recognizing it for its beautiful snowy mountains which is what gave the mountain range its name, “Sierra Nevada’s.” As the Spaniards continued to explore the lower areas around the mountains known as the San Joaquin Valley they spread diseases the Yokut tribes causing many of their deaths. These Europeans brought with them the idea of expansion with that came mining, logging, trapping, sheepherding, etc which these Indian hunters and gathers were not use to. As the early 1800’s hit these Spaniards were wanting more water and area so they worked their way up into the mountains. In the clash of interest between the natives and the invaders they created Sequoia National Park in order to keep the land under protection from industrialization. As for the Indians who were there first, their tribes exist of about 1000 peoples which is less than half of the original size. Today the park is opened for campers, backpackers, and nature lovers of all kinds to come and enjoy the beautiful redwoods.
Information source: http://www.nps.gov/seki/historyculture/index.htm

Friend and myself and Moro Rock, one of the top sites to see within the park. It is considered the best 360 view in the park at which you can see teh Great Western Divide on one side and on the other Visalia the last city at the very base of the mountain as well as the entire road that brings you into the park. I put these pictures because Moro Rock was where the Mono Indians would come to look out for predators and enemies at the bottom of the hill. It gave them the ability to know what was going on before hand.