Kings Canyon / Sequoia N.P

Kingsburg, CA

46 deg. clear, SE wind @ 5 mph.

Forecast = Overcast with a chance of rain, then rain in the afternoon. High of 66F. Winds from the SSE at 5 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.

It was about 9:45 when Jim and Linda drove CLT (Cute Little Truck), out of this park Tuesday morning and headed for the Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park. Jim had talked to the owner of this park and had asked him which was the best way to get there. He not only told Jim the best way, but drew him a map too.

That was sure nice of him. : )

The route from this park to the North Entrance of the N.P. was to leave the park on Rd 28. Take it to Rd 400. Turn Right on 400 and take it to Rd 120 and turn left. Follow 120 (which joined up with CA 63) until it comes to CA 180. Then, turn right on 180 and follow it right into the N.P.

On the way over there, they had to stop and buy CLT a drink of 87 octane because there are no gas stations inside the park. So, they stopped at Squaw Valley and filled him up.


Shortly after leaving Squaw Valley, they came upon a pull-off where Jim got out and took this photo.

They had already climbed to almost 3000' by this time, (the park here in Kingsburg is at about 300'), and were looking down on the valley.

CLT said that from that point on, he was never out of 3rd gear all the way up to the turn-off for the Kings Canyon Visitor Center, which is at 6589' !!!!

After Jim presented his "Old Foggy Card" , they were given a tag to put on CLT's windshield and proceeded into the park. The Ranger gave Jim a newspaper and a pamphlet that showed what attractions were in the park as well as a driving map.

The main reason for coming to this park was to see the giant redwood trees, so from the Visitor's Center, they drove about a mile to the General Grant Grove.

There are a whole bunch of the giant redwoods there and the parking lot was right in the middle of the grove. Linda said that no matter which way you looked, you were looking at some of the magnificent trees.

CLT said that Jim and Linda both got out and just stood and looked at the trees.

They're so big that it's almost impossible to describe the feeling you get when surrounded by these huge trees. It was such an emotional experience for Linda that at one point, she told Jim that she felt like crying.

The photo below may give you some idea of the size of these trees, but pictures don't really show it well. This is another one of those things that you just have to see for yourself to really appreciate it. (That's Jim standing in front of the trees).

After spending almost an hour looking at the trees, both Jim and Linda decided not to go any farther into the park. The Generals Highway is very long, twisty, hilly, and right now, is also under construction, with up to 2 hour delays.

What they really went there to see was the giant sequoias, they saw them, and that's what counts.

It was about 2:30 by the time they returned here to the park and they were both still talking about their experience.

As for CLT, he just wanted to rest. Going from about 300' to over 6500' and back down again almost did him in. ; )

Oh, when they returned Jim walked over by the river and took this photo. There was no wind and hardly a ripple on the water. I think it's kind of neat so I though I'd share it with you.

It rained all day here yesterday and at times it really rained hard. In fact as of last night, it rained over an inch and a half. (Jim had put his rain gauge out the night before).Being that it rained almost all day, about the only thing that happened was that Jim went up to the office and paid for 3 more nights.

All the weather forecasts are saying that it should clear up by Sunday.

Oh, one more thing. Jim talked to Jeff on the phone and it was decided that we would get to Portland on the 8th of May. We'll stay for 3 weeks and will leave on the 29th of May, the day after the Memorial Day Holiday. Because we're going to be there for 3 weeks and Jim wanted to make sure we had a site for that period of time, he has already called the park and made reservations for me.

So now, for only the second time on this trip, (The first one being the CG just outside of Death Valley), we're locked into a date. That's OK though. I would sure hate to get to Portland and then not have a place to stay.

Did you know that the General Sherman Sequoia Tree in Sequoia N.P is the earth's largest tree? It's estimated to be 2,200 years old, its largest branch is almost seven feet in diameter and every year it grows enough new wood to make a 60-foot-tall tree of usual proportions.