Hot hot hot!
July 8, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 38 °C
Not sure the kids have ever felt heat like this - 102!
Pit stop at 4000' - still HOT
July 8, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 36 °C
Arrival in Dinuba, CA
July 8, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 39 °C
Kids missed a lot of olive trees and corn - which is to say they didn't miss much! The Best Western has a pool with our names on it though.
P.S. Who's the old guy who photo-bombed my shot here?
Breakfast at Grant's Grove
July 9, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Snagged a sweet camping spot at Azalea campground. Nice ranger helped us out. Now cooking a quick breakfast in the Grant Grove parking lot.
Grant Grove
July 9, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Walked among the giants. We loved climbing through the old, fallen trunks. We named the branches dragon-eating tree (left) and person raising tree hands high (right). Fun fact - General Grant tree isRead more
Setting up Camp
July 9, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Kids and I are setting up a bit. I taught Franklin how to wave me back into a spot. Samantha is just relaxing.
TravelerSo glad you are having the chance to see those amazing trees. And check out the contributions of the first African-American National Park Superintendent: "In the summer of 1903, Captain Charles Young would become the first African-American national park Superintendent when he and his troops were tasked to manage and maintain Sequoia National Park in northern California. Because the U.S. Army was tasked with protecting the national parks in these early years, the Army would send troops to manage, maintain and patrol them. Young and his troopers arrived in Sequoia National Park in the summer of 1903 and proceeded to construct roads and trails that other troops were unable to do in the years before them. As the leader of his troops, Young would inherit the title of Acting Superintendent of Sequoia National Park that year. He incorporated the local townsfolk to assist his troop's efforts and he and his troops' accomplishments from their summer of hard work were lauded by many throughout the area."
Big Stump Loop Trail
July 9, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
We went for a four mile hike through an area that had been logged a long time ago before the national park had been set up.
More stumps and bugs
July 9, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
We stood on the Mark Twain stump. People in New York didn't believe the slice of tree brought out in pieces and reassembled was real. They called it a hoax. We also saw a dying tree shedding its barkRead more
Quick dip at Hume Lake
July 9, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
A beautiful drive over to Hume Lake for a quick dip. Saw the remains of a forest fire from 1955! And - in the distance - snow!!
Dinner and relax
July 9, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Sloppy Joes!
Hot night in van!
July 10, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
We did NOT do very well last night - van was much hotter than air outside! We've talked about strategies and will try some new techniques tonight. Also we all started with our heads at one end with meRead more
Drive down to King's Canyon
July 10, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
Amazing drive down 22 miles - took about an hour. So many great vistas. We could hear the river roaring from way up high.
Zumwalt meadows P1
July 10, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
We stopped at the end of the road and checked in with the rangers. They advised us to take the river loop as the hike up to the misty falls was muddy. Then, as we were getting our packs ready, a groupRead more
Lunch by Roaring River waterfall
July 10, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
We drove just a few miles and made some freeze dried pasta - not bad. The waterfall was awesome - and loud!
Zumwalt Meadows - getting wet!
July 10, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
We took a turn on the loop that got closer to the river - thinking there would be more shade - but we ended up bush whacking across a very wet meadow and got our shoes soaked. The skies were darkeningRead more
Relaxing back at camp
July 10, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
First an almost nap in hammock - now we're going to play Boss Monster.
Dinner and entertainments
July 10, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Nice dinner of mac 'n' cheese 'n' hot dogs. Then a little pyro training.
Up and at 'em!
July 11, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
Well - not exactly..we slept very well - much better than the night before. I think we got about 11 hours of sleep!
One thing I mention only for posterity- Kha seemed to have packed for home ourRead more
Climbing Moro Rock
July 11, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
What a fun climb! The kids were a bit nervous - but they soldiered on. Right away the views were amazing and only got better as we went up.
We even found a little friend at the very top of theRead more
Atop Moro Rock
July 11, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Amazing! The ranger told us it was the best viewing day in many months! So beautiful! I kept switching from the long view of the snow covered mountains to the slope just below - where I was hoping toRead more
Tree Fun & Housekeeping
July 11, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
While mom may have had the kids shower every day in San Diego, let's just say that Daddy Camp plays by slightly different rules. We went and did laundry at a little general store - but we didn'tRead more
A change of plans
July 11, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
We stopped at LodgePole and saw a very nice little documentary about bears. WE LOVE THE BEARSIES!! We just want to hug them and squeeze them and kiss their little black nosies!
Sorry - anyway - weRead more
A quick hike to a waterfall
July 11, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
1.7 miles. That's what the guy told us - and every other sucker we met on the trail who all said (in one way or another) "1.7 miles my ass!" Still - the start of the hike was very pretty andRead more
Bearsies!!!
July 11, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
And then it happened! We'd seen several bears from the car last summer in Shenandoah - including a baby bear eating a deer by the side of the road. And we saw fresh scat on the trail when we wereRead more
The rest of the walk up
July 11, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
The rest of the walk was great - so many nice views and the roaring river often near by.
That's the Central Valley for you. Had been a huge lake there 100 years agp. On to the Sequoias!