This tree along the High Sierra Trail in Sequoia National Park was struck by lightning and killed. The top foot of the tree where it was struck was killed instantly, the rest died later from the 2" wide gap the bolt created in its bark. The bolt continued on a downward spiral until it hit a piece of wire that was nailed into the tree at both ends. The bolt then arced along the thin wire to the bottom, and then continued down the tree and into the ground where it blew a small hole and instantly killed a manzanita rooted there. View pics in "original" size especially for the last photo. The tree is located at the first campsite at Mehrten Creek.