Introduction to the Giant Redwoods
The coast redwood is a biological marvel and a living link to prehistoric times. These trees are the tallest living things on Earth, with some reaching heights of nearly 380 feet. They are incredibly resilient organisms with rot-resistant wood, allowing them to live for over two thousand years.
In Northern California, ancient redwood forests once covered two million acres. The arrival of European settlers and high-speed logging machinery led to the destruction of nearly 96 percent of these virgin woods. In 1963, naturalist Paul Zahl found a record-breaking specimen called the Tall Tree, which helped justify the creation of Redwood National Park and protect the remaining fragments.
For most of human history, the world at the top of the forest remained entirely unexplored. Humans evolved away from the forest canopy millions of years ago, developing bodies suited for walking rather than climbing. Early scientists who wanted to study the treetops had to rely on crude methods like firing fishing lines over branches or using primitive belts to ascend.
In October 1987, a biology student named Steve Sillett felt a deep pull toward these massive trees. He traveled to Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park with his brother and a friend to experience the ancient forest firsthand. As they walked among the giants, Sillett viewed the forest as a complex web of life where time moved at a glacial pace.
Deep in the woods, Sillett and his friend Marwood Harris decided to climb a massive redwood without ropes or safety gear. They used a smaller neighboring tree as a ladder to reach the giant's first branches. Sillett had to overcome a paralyzing fear of heights to make a terrifying leap across the open space between the two trees.
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