Sequoia National Park 2015

After Leaving Grand Canyon NP, we stopped at a little RV Park in Needles, CA and then on to a really nice park in Bakersfield, CA. The park in Needles was right on the Colorado River and featured great access to the river and a couple of beaches from which to enjoy the view. The park in Bakersfield was very unique. It was situated in the middle of an orange grove! On either side of the RV was an orange tree. We were just in time to pick some of the fruit. Also nearby was a fruit and nut outlet where we could buy a staggering variety of almonds, cashews, and pistachio’s along with oranges and citrus products. The park was very clean, well organized, and very friendly. We really enjoyed it. 

We left Bakersfield and took a short hop to the town of Three Rivers, CA. Here we stayed in a little RV park just outside of the south entrance to Sequoia National Park. We were reminded just how small a world we live in. Seems the manager of the park used to live in Wichita, KS and worked a short time for Boeing. It was a little before my time there but he was nice and gave us five days' stay for the price of four, just for our shared history. Nice guy! 

We started in to the park but soon found out that a winter storm had blown through the night before and chains were required for all folks traveling in the park beyond a certain point. Well we don’t make it a habit to carry chains or to be in a place where we need to use them. We could rent some from stores in Three Rivers for the “small” sum of $50 per day with a $100 deposit!!! We made a short stop at the visitors center for some information then headed back to the RV park for the night.

King's Canyon (small part of it!)

There are two separate but joined National Parks in the area. One is Sequoia, the other is Kings Canyon. We decided to take the day and explore Kings Canyon and see what it had to offer. We left the RV park and 1 1/2 hours later we arrived at the front gate! Didn’t expect that. We checked in with the Visitor's Center and the roads had been cleared and the requirement for chains was no longer in effect. We were free to drive about the park! The first thing we noticed was the dramatic drop in temperature. It was upper 60’s when we left, and here it was mid 40’s (glad we packed the jackets!). The road between the two parks is called the General's Highway. It gets its name from the two world record Sequoia’s that are linked by it. One is General Grant, which is one of the largest living trees in the world, located in Kings Canyon. The other is General Sherman, which is the world's largest tree by volume and weight, and is located in Sequoia NP. The immensity of the Sequoia is difficult to imagine if you haven’t seen one. These trees only grow between an altitude of 5,000 and 7,000 feet on the west side of the Sierra mountain range. Yet again on this trip, I am astounded and humbled by the grandeur and majesty of nature’s creations. The General Grant is 40 feet in diameter and is the 3rd largest tree in the world by volume. We then took the North Grove Loop hike. This is a nice 1 1/2 mile trail that gets you up close and personal with the “Big Trees” and a bonus quiet walk in the forest. So many tourists just drive up, look at Grant, then move on. While impressive, you can’t get very close to touch or look closely at it. On the Loop hike you can. We were the only ones on the trail and it was like we were totally alone in the woods with these silent giants. As we neared the end of our hike, the clouds began to roll in and the fog shrouded the forest. It was soooo cool!!

The fog rolls in.

Just the base of a fallen Sequoia!

The General Grant (and LTC Cunningham)

A perspective... Just how BIG these trees are!

We left General Grant and headed up the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway. It has that name for a reason. The views of the mountains, forests, rivers, and falls was different and surprising around every corner. We left the fog and clouds and were greeted by clear skies and awesome views. Again, pictures can’t come close to doing it justice. We seemed to stop at every turnout on the road yet saw something different each time. Stopping and getting out of the car allowed you to hear the wind in the canyon, the sound of water rushing over the rocks in the river bed far below, the cries of the birds as they circled above you. You could look at the different formations, colors, and consistencies in the rocks around you. It was amazing. By the time we finally got home, we were exhausted but consider the day a great success. 

Look at the ripples in this rock face!!

Grizzly Falls

More Kings Canyon

The next day dawned bright and sunny. We entered Sequoia and drove along the Generals Highway towards Moro Rock and Crescent Meadow. Moro Rock is a granite dome that dominates the landscape. By taking a 1/4 mile staircase that winds up 300 feet you are greeted with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. 

Moro Rock (from a distance)

Some of the steps up Moro Rock.

From the top of Moro

Precariously perched boulders

General Sherman Sequoia

Crescent Meadow was a 1 mile hike around a fragile wetland surrounded by the large Sequoia groves. Along the route was Thorpe’s Log, a cabin built inside of a fallen Sequoia in 1860 and inhabited by a rancher until the Park was established in 1890. While on the hike, we came across a Grizzly sow and her cub. We were probably closer than those in the forest service would like us to be so we took some pictures and carefully hiked around the bears heading back to our car. We finally made it to the General Sherman tree trail and took the 1/2 mile trail down to the tree. This tree is 36.5 feet in diameter at the base and still growing. It is approximately 2,200 years old. 

Thorpe's Log

A small part of Crescent Meadow

Mama Bear

and Baby Bear

     After all of the hiking we must have frazzled our brains. We spent the next day doing some generic housekeeping and then left for our next stop, Yosemite National Park, the day following. Well, it seems that we had our dates mixed up and we left Sequoia a day early! Luckily for us our campsite near Yosemite was not crowded and they could accommodate our early arrival and the addition of one day to our stay. First time we have EVER done that! Guess we're having too much fun to be concerned with what day of the week it is!!