Sequoia National Park

On our drive to the park we could see the mountains had new snow.  The cars coming out of the park had snow on them, and the places along the way to the park that rent chains were doing a booming business.
















We checked in at the Ranger Station to see what the chances would be for our plan of hiking in the morning and waiting for some snow to melt, hoping the road would open.  He said our chances were "nil to nada"

Black Bears are active in the park and they are taken seriously.  Proper food storage is required at all times.  All food and odorous items should be put in the large metal boxes.  There are lots of signs posted and lots of boxes for food storage.  Even when you are parked for a hike, boxes are in the parking lot with signs explaining what smells attract bears.  We packed our lunch in the backpack and I wondered if bears like the smell of horses.

The car parked next to us had McDonald's garbage in it.  Guess they didn't read the sign.

Cool  canal along the beginning of the trail.

Red bud in bloom. 

More wild flowers. 

Wildflowers were all along the trail - just beautiful!

We've hiked in lots of places and one thing I have discovered is that heights bother me.
I'm reminded of a young boy who often camped with us on Lake George.  He would say, in a sort of southern drawl, "I'm not particularly fond of the water."  At which point Peter Hobson would promptly throw him in the water!

Well, "I'm not particularly fond of heights."

If there is a railing, a fence, a stone border - I'm good.
I just don't like being along the edge when there is nothing to stop me from falling.  And sand on top of rocks - scary.


 

So, this trip I bought a new pair of hiking shoes and they have nice grippy bottoms and it has made me a little teensy bit more confident.

(just wait till we get to Yosemite!)


Tom has no problem with heights - sometimes it makes me anxious just watching him.


   

Lots of fast moving rapids.







Here it is - Marble Falls
The pictures do not capture it.
Much of the rock was white sparkly marble - Beautiful!


Next stop - Hospital Rock

  

Kaweah River



Again - very fast moving water.
Lots of signs to be careful of slipping and falling into the water.




Pictograph

The Hospital Rock area was once the site of a Monache village housing up to 500 inhabitants who probably lived here around AD 1350.  Archaeologists believe the rock may have been a ceremonial gathering place.  

In 1860 pioneer John Swanson stayed here for three days while Native Americas treated his broken leg, but the place didn't get the nickname Hospital Rock until 1873, when an early Western pioneer and fur trapper named Alfred Everton lay here waiting while his friend went for help after Everton ironically injured himself with his own bear trap.



Mortero site - there were over 40 of them!



As we were getting back in the vehicle, we noticed that all of the sudden there were lots of cars coming down - and they all had snow on them.  Maybe the road opened up after all - and the people staying at the lodge higher up were just released. 

Time to check out the road to the Giant Forest.

 

Sure enough - the road was open!
The sign was up for chain requirement ... but it might have said 4-wheel drive vehicles with snow tires were ok too ... we went for it!

The General - the largest tree (by volume) in the world!

Giant Sequoia Belt - The world's 75 giant sequoia groves grow on moist, unglaciated ridges on the Sierra's west slope, between 5,000 and 7,000 feet in elevation.  This is the only place they grow.





Walking among these giants in the new snow was just amazing!
So glad we got to experience them!