Trek to Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
We've been silent a few months, as Marilyn, our post editor, had lower back surgery and so has been unable to travel. As she rebounded, I was able to take some short trips.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are some of my favorite local places to visit. Ricker and I headed out one December morning on a journey of 135 miles that took us to 7,000 feet in the Sierras—hard to believe we have such a beautiful area in our back yard. Sequoia is a mere 50 minutes from home and Kings Canyon is under 2 hours.
At Giant Forest we turned on Crescent Meadow Road. Our first stop was the Parker Group of Sequoias.
There are two famous species of Redwood trees in California: the Coast Redwood, Sequoia sempervirens, the tallest tree on earth, and the Giant Sequoia, Sequoiadendron giganteum, the largest tree on earth by volume. A third species, the Dawn Redwood, grows only in China, is much smaller, and is deciduous. Coast Redwoods grow on the Pacific Coast from south of Big Sur north to just over the Oregon border. Giant Sequoias grow only along the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Although Sequoia became a national park in 1890, the National Park Service was not created until 1916. From 1891 to 1913, the US Cavalry traveled each summer from San Francisco to the Sierras to protect the Giant Sequoias. The Parker Grove in was named for one of the leaders of the Cavalry, Captain James Parker.
Some of the trees show evidence of past fires.
Our next stop was the Auto Log, a Giant Sequoia with 21-foot base diameter that fell in 1917. For many years, cars drove on it.
I drove my bus across the log 15 years ago—another sign of how massive our Sequoiadendron giganteum are—but decay now prevents cars from traversing it.
Auto Log today.
Then it was on to Tunnel Log where many pictures are taken of cars going "through" a Giant Sequoia. The tree fell across Crescent Meadow Road in 1937.
We passed the turnoff to Moro Rock.
We hoped the day would clear by the time we returned that way so that we could take the 1/4-mile trail with 350 stairs that leads to 360-degree views from the top.
Arrived at Crescent Meadow, we parked the VW. Our first stop was the sign that marks the beginning of the High Sierra Trail.
At Trail Crest, roughly 60 miles into our trek, all but Andrew and I, who were suffering respectively from a hernia and plantar fasciitis, took the 5-mile-roundtrip spur trail to the summit of Mt Whitney. Upon their return, we all had the pleasure of descending the 100 switchbacks to Whitney Portal.
I had long dreamt of doing the High Sierra Trail, and it was definitely the hike of a lifetime.
Back with Ricker and me. We walked the first mile of the High Sierra Trail to Eagle View, but our vistas were limited by a low, dark cloud level.
Our next stop was Tharp’s Log Home. Hale Tharp ran cows in the area and in 1861 built his home in a downed Giant Sequoia.
Next we took a path that led us toward Chimney Tree.
Sequoiadendron giganteum are amazing and resilient. The trees are found only along the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, growing in clusters. They are the largest trees in the world by volume and live as long as 3,400 years.
Fire is a major part of their life, for Giant Sequoia cones will open and release their seeds only when subjected to heat. Their bark can grow as much as 18 inches thick, which helps to protect the trees from fast-moving fires.
Many living trees have Cat Eyes, places where a fire has penetrated the bark and burnt a hole in the tree. The tree then attempts to cover the scar with new bark.
A light rain had been falling for some time, so being a bit wet when we returned to the Crescent Meadow parking lot, we decided to put off Moro Rock and instead headed for Kings Canyon. The 20-mile Generals Highway connects Sequoia and Kings Canyon. It's named after the famous General Sherman and General Grant Sequoias, which are the first and second largest trees in the world by volume.
After a stop at Kings Canyon Visitors Center in Grant Grove Village, we were off to Converse Basin. It was here that harvesting of Sequoias was very prevalent in the 1880s. The short dirt road soon drops down into a meadow of large Sequoia stumps.
One of my necessary stops, Stump Meadow, signifies how much destruction took place during the harvesting of the Sequoias. It is hard to imagine the magnitude of the meadow before these wonders of nature fell to the axe. Today there are a few young Sequoias in the meadow among the multitude of massive stumps.
As the weather did not improve, Ricker and I left the park and headed down to the community of Yokuts Valley and a stop for pizza and a beer and more conversation. Then we completed our 135-mile loop, arriving home with great smiles.
Recently our neighbor Ricker and I decided we should do a trek to our local national parks, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, in my VW Westy. When he, Yvette, and Kellen moved to our neighborhood a few years ago, they noted my VW and decided they must meet us, much to our good fortune. Ricker recalls travels with his parents in their VW bus and later with Yvette.
Looking up into a group of Giant Sequoias can be dizzying.
Ricker's and my 135-mile day trek to our nearby national parks, Sequoia & Kings Canyon.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are some of my favorite local places to visit. Ricker and I headed out one December morning on a journey of 135 miles that took us to 7,000 feet in the Sierras—hard to believe we have such a beautiful area in our back yard. Sequoia is a mere 50 minutes from home and Kings Canyon is under 2 hours.
Our route to Sequoia took us past Lake Kaweah, a reservoir that offers the joy of kayaking when it is fuller.
One of many kayak outings over the years with friends at Lake Kaweah.
At present, the lake is low, awaiting winter’s snow melt.
When low, Lake Kaweah is a meandering Kaweah River.
Then it was on up winding Hwy 198 to Sequoia National Park.
En route to Sequoia National Park.
The 2021 KNP Complex Fire was devastating to Southern Sierra forests, burning over 88,000 acres, including nearly 4,500 acres in 16 different Giant Sequoia groves.
Trees burned in the 2021 KNP Complex Fire including the Giant Sequoia.
At Giant Forest we turned on Crescent Meadow Road. Our first stop was the Parker Group of Sequoias.
Ricker & VW at Parker Group.
There are two famous species of Redwood trees in California: the Coast Redwood, Sequoia sempervirens, the tallest tree on earth, and the Giant Sequoia, Sequoiadendron giganteum, the largest tree on earth by volume. A third species, the Dawn Redwood, grows only in China, is much smaller, and is deciduous. Coast Redwoods grow on the Pacific Coast from south of Big Sur north to just over the Oregon border. Giant Sequoias grow only along the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Parker Group.
Ricker & Parker Group of Sequoias.
Some of the trees show evidence of past fires.
Though burned by fire, Giant Sequoias continue to live.
Our next stop was the Auto Log, a Giant Sequoia with 21-foot base diameter that fell in 1917. For many years, cars drove on it.
The Auto Log before decay.
I drove my bus across the log 15 years ago—another sign of how massive our Sequoiadendron giganteum are—but decay now prevents cars from traversing it.
Auto Log today.Then it was on to Tunnel Log where many pictures are taken of cars going "through" a Giant Sequoia. The tree fell across Crescent Meadow Road in 1937.
VW approaching Tunnel Log.
We passed the turnoff to Moro Rock.
Moro Rock.
We hoped the day would clear by the time we returned that way so that we could take the 1/4-mile trail with 350 stairs that leads to 360-degree views from the top.
Stairs on trail to top of Moro Rock.
The view from the top of Moro Rock are spectacular.
Arrived at Crescent Meadow, we parked the VW. Our first stop was the sign that marks the beginning of the High Sierra Trail.
Beginning of High Sierra Trail at Crescent Meadow.
My son, a few friends, and I backpacked the trail over 9 days in 2007.
Son Andrew, then 18, & myself on the High Sierra Trail.
The High Sierra Trail climbs, descends, and winds 70+ miles from Crescent Meadow on the west side of the Sierras to Whitney Portal on the east side.
Map showing the High Sierra Trail.
Map showing elevation elevation gained & lost on the trail.
At Trail Crest, roughly 60 miles into our trek, all but Andrew and I, who were suffering respectively from a hernia and plantar fasciitis, took the 5-mile-roundtrip spur trail to the summit of Mt Whitney. Upon their return, we all had the pleasure of descending the 100 switchbacks to Whitney Portal.
The amazing group, a little worse for wear but smiling after a hot shower & real food: cheeseburgers.
Back with Ricker and me. We walked the first mile of the High Sierra Trail to Eagle View, but our vistas were limited by a low, dark cloud level.
View from Eagle View Lookout
Eagle View Lookout on High Sierra Trail. Top of Moro Rock is behind Doug to the left.
Returning down the trail, we continued around Crescent Meadow to Long Meadow.
Fallen Sequoia cut for the trail. Its diameter is about Ricker's height of well over 6 feet.
Standing next to a Giant Sequoia lends perspective to life.
A beautiful meadow.
Fall colors amid the day's gray.
Doug, trail around Long Meadow.
Ricker.
Doug works around a decaying log by the trail.
Tharp's Log Home.
Ricker at Tharp's front door.
Interior of Tharp's home. Note the bed platform in the back & the table on the left.
Next we took a path that led us toward Chimney Tree.
Though fire can penetrate the Giant Sequoia's thick bark, the tree has a chance of surviving.
Fire is a major part of their life, for Giant Sequoia cones will open and release their seeds only when subjected to heat. Their bark can grow as much as 18 inches thick, which helps to protect the trees from fast-moving fires.
Giant Sequoia with a Cat Eye.
Many living trees have Cat Eyes, places where a fire has penetrated the bark and burnt a hole in the tree. The tree then attempts to cover the scar with new bark.
Doug standing by a Cat Eye. The immensity of Giant Sequoias is difficult to comprehend.
Chimney Tree did not survive fire. Fire was able to penetrate its thick bark and burned it from the inside out.
Chimney Tree.
Ricker entering Chimney Tree.
Looking up the inside of Chimney Tree.
A Sequoia with major fire damage that continues to live.
A light rain had been falling for some time, so being a bit wet when we returned to the Crescent Meadow parking lot, we decided to put off Moro Rock and instead headed for Kings Canyon. The 20-mile Generals Highway connects Sequoia and Kings Canyon. It's named after the famous General Sherman and General Grant Sequoias, which are the first and second largest trees in the world by volume.
Along the road from Grant Grove Village to Converse Basin.
After a stop at Kings Canyon Visitors Center in Grant Grove Village, we were off to Converse Basin. It was here that harvesting of Sequoias was very prevalent in the 1880s. The short dirt road soon drops down into a meadow of large Sequoia stumps.
Stump Meadow
One of my necessary stops, Stump Meadow, signifies how much destruction took place during the harvesting of the Sequoias. It is hard to imagine the magnitude of the meadow before these wonders of nature fell to the axe. Today there are a few young Sequoias in the meadow among the multitude of massive stumps.
Young Sequoias among the massive stumps of Sequoias that were felled.
As the weather did not improve, Ricker and I left the park and headed down to the community of Yokuts Valley and a stop for pizza and a beer and more conversation. Then we completed our 135-mile loop, arriving home with great smiles.
Great day!
ReplyDeleteYes, it was!
DeleteThank you for reminding me of many great memories of the park. Steve
ReplyDeleteYou are welocme!
DeleteAgain, wonderful photos! I sure miss the place, the Sequoias.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the compliment. You need to get up here!
DeleteMarvelous pictures and narration. I had no idea there was a Parker group of trees! -Kathleen Parker
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kathleen. Maybe you're related?
Delete