Blogs from Sequoia National Park, California, United States, North America - page 8

Oh, what an early start to the day. We got all our stuff packed into the Pacifica and went to Albertsons for the remainder of our essential supplies. Peanut butter, fruit, sunscreen, ice, and a cooler later, we hit the road by 8:15am. I drove us out of LA and then Allyn took over for the rest of the day. Traffic wasn't bad at all for which we were all hugely thankful. Then we got off the main highway and headed cross country on California SR 245. This was a tremendously hilly and curvy road. We climbed from a very flat Central Valley up 6000+ feet over the course of the morning. When we were 12 miles from the Big Stump entrance of King's Canyon/Sequoia National Parks, a restroom break was desperately needed by all. Conversation ... read more

So we are already more then a week on the roads. we've just left an amazing Scandinavian cabin near lake tau. Roy ranked it as his favorite place till now until we saw a brown bear near our cabin and change his and his sister mind totally. before lake tau, we spent 3 days in San Francisco on the usual staff (golden gate, Pier 39, etc...). After San Francisco, we moved to Yosemite national park spending wonderful 3 days. for those who are well familiar with us, we'll surprise you with many trails that we did every day (Roy alone, Michal was brave although spent a lot of time on my shoulders). beside the amazing views, the wildlife is rich and the kids enjoyed watching the animals and bathing in very cold glacier lakes. the ... read more

Partially restored - our journey northward from CA towards OR and WA. From about Willits to Fortuna, and on the sidetrip through Honeydew.... read more

From Death Valley to Kings Canyon you have to drive around the Sierra Nevada mountains - over 300 miles. So after 2 days and stops in Bakersfield and a much cuter town called Visalia, we passed through acres of orange groves to reach the west side of the Sierras. We literally looked up from the orange groves to the snow peaked mountains. 10 miles climbing up the hills it was evident the snow was going to be a problem for our little Mustang. Andy had already worked out that we were going to stop for snow chains. It was evident that it was essential. We crawled on up the hill and the snow and the trees were magnificent. The Sequoia trees are the largest trees in the world - 12 metres diameter - what!! Having lived ... read more

Once again, my Evite for an overnight trip to see a Meteor shower fell on deaf ears. With not one person interested or able to make it, there was only one option- go alone and experience nature in its purest form- free from social distractions! Sequoia National Park was created by Congress in 1890, becoming the Second National Park in the United States- established even before Yosemite. Only Yellowstone National Park, created in 1872, is older. When logging of the Giant Sequoia's began in the late 1800's, locals from Visalia and Fresno championed efforts to save these ancient sentinels of the forest who could not defend themselves against the saw. In the mid 19th century, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks were expanded and effectively managed as one park. One could argue that Sequoia and Kings ... read more