Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park

Sequoias -- Trees and More Trees

March 19-21
written March 20+

Dear Friends and Families,

We needed a break from chores and house matters, so we booked a couple of days up in Sequoia National Park. A great break. We drove directly east from Fresno on the Kings Canyon Highway, past orange orchards, with a few snow-capped peaks off in the distance. Normally, we might worry about snow up at our 7000-foot destination, but this year only the highest areas of the Sierras have the white stuff. Easy driving, but not what local farmers and gardeners would prefer, not to mention the poor skiers.

Long, flat, straight drive before the mountains

At the entrance to Kings Canyon Park, we bought our National Park passes for $10 each, a real bargain because they are good FOREVER, one of the few benefits of being seniors. The Sequoia National Forest and Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks form one of the largest wilderness areas in the lower-48 states, an area with no roads at all. Of course, we were on the more civilized parts on nice, but twisty, roads.

Forest entrance and a view over the wilderness area.

Once we hit mountains, the road became twisty and the forest much more dramatic

We had booked a room at the Wuksachi Lodge in the middle of the Sequoia National Park. The room was modern, but a bit simple. The bar served good wine and the restaurant had a broad selection, served in a wonderful window-lined room. We could get used to this.

Wuksachi Lodge

Out the window was a tree with a most interesting top formation -- a whole forest up in the air.

After dinner, we settled in and were asleep by 9, since there was poor wifi and no cell phone coverage - not quite off-the-net, but close.

Thursday morning I was up early, as usual, and headed out to take a few pictures. Stop one was the lodge parking lot, where I tried to capture the sunrise. When I am up in time for sunrise, I take a picture, no matter where I am or how good the picture might be. It's the memory I'm after. After that, I headed south and stopped first at the Wolverton "Snow Fun Area". This year, it was just an open field, but I could imagine the meadow filled with kids and sleds and saucers. Maybe next year.

The next stop was The Giant Forest, home to the General Sherman tree, the largest tree, by volume or weight, in the world. I had the Forest all to myself and the trees were truly amazing in their size and majesty. (The rather dull lighting and the scale of the trees made good pictures beyond me, but the memories remain outstanding.)

General Sherman, the largest tree in the world.

This cousin of Sherman had been cut in the early 1900's to protect rental cabins, which were allowed back then. Nowadays, no cabins and no cutting. The remaining risk is fire, but the giant Sequoias can recover from most fires by restoring the protective thick bark.

After that, it was a leisurely breakfast with Marianne back at Wuksachi. Then I headed out for a hike while she made good use of the lodge ambiance to read, write a note or two, and contemplate doing art.

Our waiter had recommended "an easy hike" on the Little Baldy Saddle, just a few minutes up the road. I hauled all my photo gear along just in case I came across that perfect moment. That didn't happen, nor did I finish the trail, but it was fun being alone in the woods.

On the drive back, I stopped on the side of the road to look out over the San Joaquin Valley, our new home.

After lunch, Marianne and I took a driving tour of several of the other famous named Sequoias, starting with The Sentinel, just in front of the Giant Forest Museum. We had intended to have a presentation by a park person, but were told that was only on Saturday. However, I guess we looked so disappointed that the museum people took pity on us and took us outside for an impromptu explanation on the history and ecology of the local forest. Thanks. From there is was more giant trees, until I think we were saturated.

The drive-through log, the four guard trees, and the "Auto Log" are often-photographed standards (see below for historic comparisons).

(Need a few historical pictures -- later)

The final stop was Moro Rock Trail. The view from the top promised to be absolutely spectacular, but I'll admit I chickened out about halfway up. Heights are not my thing and, despite the presence of strong (80-year-old) guardrails, my knees were shaking. Too much walking today. What I did see was nice enough.

One more stop at Sherman, to give Marianne a chance to say she'd seen it all, and it was home to Wuksachi.

I almost never use pictures Marianne or I did not take, but for Sequoia it is fun to look at tourism from long ago and make sure we had seen the change.

19th Century Army guards around General Sherman

The Tunel Tree and Auto Log

The Giant Forest Museum used to be a very busy market before commercial activity was removed from the Giant Forest in the 1960s.

Early Moro Rock climbers; braver than me!

On Friday there was no early morning photography, just another leisurely breakfast before we headed down into the valley and home. On that drive, we descended from 7,000- to 304-foot elevation and gas mileage was terrific. The Audi started out showing 90 miles left in the tank and, by the time we had descended most of the way, the gauge read 275 miles! We also went from jacket to shorts weather.

Now we are home again, and will be restarting chores, but we will remember our little break among giants.

Stay in touch.

John and Marianne

HOUSE DIARIES

Diaries - Travel - Photos

Previous Diary - Next Diary