Terry and Kathy Living Our Dream: Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

We left Olema, California on Sunday, October 9th earlier than usual hoping the bicyclist would not be on Sir Francis Drake Blvd until later in the morning. There were a few out early but they were very considerate to the motorist so it was a pleasant drive for us getting to I-580. We inched our way through Oakland with no space between the vehicles on the interstate. Once we passed the Oakland Raiders football stadium it was smooth sailing all the way to Yosemite South RV Park in Coarsegold, CA.

Our time to visit Yosemite National Park was limited to one day so we started out early Monday morning to see the highlights of the park. We entered the park at the south entrance and in no time at all we were seeing the destruction from the recent wildfires. Our first stop was at Tunnel View which offered spectacular views of Bridalveil Fall, Half Dome, Clouds Rest, and El Capitan. This view point is one of the most photographed locations in the park. Glacier Point was our final stop for the day which is 3000 feet above the valley floor. It was here where we had a birds eye view of Yosemite Valley, massive granite peaks and waterfalls.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks were next on our list of things to see while in this area. We had reservations at Country Manor Mobile Home Community which is a very nice 55+ park in Visalia. Visalia is in the Central Valley of California which is a large flat valley in the middle of the state and is California's single most productive agricultural region. It is also one of the most productive regions in the world. Over 7 million acres are irrigated through extensive reservoirs and canals and the drought that has been going on for over 6 years has presented many challenges to the farmers.

We have heard for years California was sinking. Well it is true at least in the Central Valley. It is sinking 2 inches per year and in a 1200 square mile area it is sinking 2 inches per month. This is the hidden disaster caused by the drought. The reason for this is due to the large amount of water that has been pumped out of the ground. Well diggers have emerged in the area like was done years ago with the gold rush when a water windfall was recently found in the Central Valley.

The Sequoia National Park is home to the General Sherman Tree which is the largest living tree on earth while it is neither the tallest nor the widest. It is considered the largest because of its volume. It weighs approximately 2.7 million pounds and is believed to be 2,200 years old. Its height is nearly 275 feet tall and its circumference at ground level is 102.6 feet. The trail to the tree is downhill 1/2 mile with many sets of stairs and is all uphill returning to the parking lot. Thankfully Terry and Joe made the uphill climb to get the Jeep while Cricket and I took a different route back to a parking lot where we waited for them.

Grant Grove is located in Kings Canyon and a short trail from the parking lot lead us to The General Grant Tree. This tree has a fire scar on one side and it is unbelievable how this tree continues to grow after being burned so badly. The sequoia trees grow natuarally at higher elevations . Terry was our designated driver to handle all the sharp turns and switchbacks as we climbed up the narrow road to see the Giant Forest.

I had a conversation with a woman that was born and raised in this area. I was telling her how amazed we were when we saw the giant sequoias. She responded with " I was so disappointed when I went to other parts of the country and there were no large trees like the sequoias. I thought large trees where all over the country not just here." I am sure it was a disappointment for her.

Massive granite peaks in Yosemite National Park.

A variety of beauty within one park gave us a glimpse of nature's richness.

Destruction from the pine beetle and wildfires were seen throughout the park.

Approaching the most photographed view in the park as you come out of the mile long tunnel.

Tunnel View Point

A busy scenic overlook. The Asian tourist on these buses were all about taking selfies.

A close up shot of the granite wall.

The sky was beautiful also.

Bridalveil Fall flows 600 feet down a sheer rock face. The water from the fall is blown by breezes into a fine mist. Native Americans called the fall Pohono, "spirit of the puffing wind".

I could not take my eyes off the clouds in the sky.

Geologists think the granite of Yosemite's walls solidified over 5 miles underground. As the overlying rock eroded away, the granites rose to their current exposed levels.

The landscape was so dramatic.

This bird had been begging for food in the parking lot.

To me it looked like the clouds were resting on top of the granite cliffs.

Terry checking out the creek.

White-headed woodpecker. It is the only North American bird that has a white head and black body and we spotted this one near the swinging bridge.

Sentinel Beach

We did see a few deer in the park but not in the meadows, they were near the campgrounds.

So peaceful!

This was the only tree we saw like this in the park.

View from Washburn Point.

Half Dome is still changing because of the wind, rain and ice.

We saw several rocks like this near the parking lots.

Vernal Fall- 5044 feet

Natural beauty of Half Dome

Campground near Merced River

Yosemite was first protected in 1864 is best known for its waterfalls but the meadows, wilderness, deep valleys and the sequoias offer 4 million visitors a year a place to marvel over the views.

View at Glacier Point

What do you see in this rock formation?

The waterfalls are fed by snowmelt and usually stop flowing in late August. Look close and you can see a lake above the waterfall.

This squirrel had a white ring around it's neck and white spots in its fur.

Trying to take it out of the trash can. Will he get it out?

Yes, very easily.

Look at these pine cone clusters.

We were traveling on the lower level of the Richmond Bridge on our way to Oakland.

This park is so over priced for what you get here. We called it the "dust bowl". There were speed bumps in this park that rearranged everything in our cabinets going over them.

Our sites in the "dust bowl". These sites were a little better than the first ones they sent us to.

Joe and Crickett kept their eyes on Terry for no surprises in this forest.

Very little water in this creek and many others in the park because most of the rainfall is during January thru mid-May.

A viewpoint on our way up to the higher elevations to see the Giant Forest.

A short hike to the top of Tunnel Rock.

So thankful for all of our experiences we shared this summer.

The Sentinel Tree- look down on the pavement that is a ruler to give visitors an idea
of the width and height of the tree.

Terry taking in the panoramic view from the top of this rock.

So much of the forest has died.

Terry pointing out the pollution. Polluted air is trapped in the valley and during the summer days as the air warms pollution rises into the parks.

This is not fog it is pollution and Sequoia and Kings Canyon suffer one of the worst air-pollution problems than any other national park.

Sequoia vs. Redwood
Height of sequoia up to 311 feet - redwood up to 367 feet
Age : sequoia 3,200 years - redwood 2,000 years
Weight: sequoia 2.7 million lbs. - redwood 1.6 million lbs.

This dead tree is providing a place for other plants to grow.

On this tree that had died the green plant growing on it looked very similar to some type of moss.

The walking trails were very nice.

Here it is! The largest tree on the planet surrounded by a wooden fence.

The bark on the sequoia trees are up to 31 inches thick. Every year the General Sherman
adds enough wood to make a 60 foot tree measuring one foot in diameter and it's still growing.

The diameter of the largest branch is 6.8 feet. Of the world's 37 largest sequoias, 21 are giant sequoias growing in Sequoia and Kings Canyon.

This mother did not mind at all when Joe ask to take a picture of this little guy napping on dad's back at the General Sherman. He is adorable and was resting well.

One thing different in this park from the redwoods was the sequoias were protected by wooden fences.

The lowest branches on the trees were over 100 feet from the ground.

The trunk of this giant sequoia shows how the growth is unaffected by forest fires.

The sequoias reproduce by seed only while the redwoods can reproduce
by seed or root sprout.

These ladies were showing their strength next to a downed giant with a tunnel to walk through.

Check out the length of this tree.

I was very fascinated by the roots of these trees.

The wood was so pretty.

Okay I have seen it all. These girls were smoking "left handed cigarettes" or some would call it a joint walking through the park. They were parked near our Jeep and decided to hitch a ride back to the parking lot instead of making the 1/2 mile uphill climb. It was quiet comical watching these girls hitchhike in a national park.

It worked. They caught a ride.

During the Giant Forest Restoration Project in the 1990's over 24 acres of asphalt were removed along with nearly 300 buildings, a gas station, a sewage treatment plant, a hotel and two markets.

Fallen Monarch Tree- The sign next to the tree states that even after they fall
they resist decay for hundreds or even thousands of years.

Joe and Cricket making their way through the Fallen Monarch Tree. In the 1890s the cavalry guarding the park stabled their horses here and construction crews in the 1900s set up camp here sleeping in beds inside the hollow log.

Here I am again fascinated by the root system of this tree.

We were making our way around the General Grant Tree. Notice the fire damage.

General Grant Tree was proclaimed to be the Nation's Christmas Tree by President Calvin Coolidge in 1926. In 1956, President Eisenhower designated it as a National Shrine, a living memorial for all those who have given their lives for our country.

A closer look at the fire scar on the General Grant. A ranger said that the prescribed fires had saved this grove of sequoias from a recent wildfire.

It would take 20 people holding hands to make a complete circle around the base
of the General Giant.

The branches are pretty impressive also.

Making good use of the fallen trees.

Gamlin Cabin built in 1872. The logs used were huge.

A sign of fall was seen on this tree.

Fires are a natural process to the ecosystem. The bark on the sequoias provide insulation to even the hottest flames. It is amazing how the tree to the right has burnt to the ground yet the giant sequoia next to it shows its resistant to the fires.