Vacation
Last Saturday, Cass and I embarked on a nice, long camping trip.
Saturday, we left Fontucky and hit the road. It took us about 5 hours to reach our destination in Sequoia / Kings Canyon National Park. Our site (in the Azalea campground near Grant Grove) was easily the second best site. It had a great view of the sunset and a great secluded location. Saturday night, Cass discovered (the hard way) that her sleeping bag wasn't rated for cool weather. With overnight lows down to 30F, she had a very uncomfortable night.
Sunday we visited the "National Christmas Tree", General Grant. It is the 2nd largest tree in the world by volume. The walk through Grant Grove was ruined by a group of foreigners that felt the fencing around the trees were there for decorative purposes. These apparently Eastern Europeans needed to get a real close up picture with the tree. I was so angered that I had to leave, as there was no reasoning with people who could pretend to not understand English.
Monday, We embarked on a 6 mile hike in Redwood Canyon. This is an experimental forest, in which Prescribed fires have proven to be a boon to the Giant Sequoia population. Redwood Grove is now the worlds largest Giant Sequoia stand. The hike was easy, except for the last 1.5 miles back to the parking lot. I'm sure if we had brought our lunch along, not just trail mix, we would have had a better experience.
Tuesday, I had wanted to drive to Cedar Grove, in King's Canyon proper. We were met by a fierce rainstorm at 4000'. Having checked the weather forecast prior to departure, I had decided against packing my tire chains. We agreed that the weather at 7000' could be worse, so we headed back to camp. Shortly after we returned, the cloudy day turned rainy, which soon turned snowy. Cass pointed out that if I had brought tire chains, she would have felt more comfortable sticking around until Wednesday. I lit the remaining firewood, made some lunch and we packed up.
Although the trip was cut short by a day, I am so glad that we went. I brought home with me a Giant Sequoia sapling (Sequoiadendron Giganteum), perhaps I can make it a family heirloom, and the care of tree can be charged to my descendants. I would love to time travel 1000 years into the future to see it in full adulthood.
Saturday, we left Fontucky and hit the road. It took us about 5 hours to reach our destination in Sequoia / Kings Canyon National Park. Our site (in the Azalea campground near Grant Grove) was easily the second best site. It had a great view of the sunset and a great secluded location. Saturday night, Cass discovered (the hard way) that her sleeping bag wasn't rated for cool weather. With overnight lows down to 30F, she had a very uncomfortable night.
Sunday we visited the "National Christmas Tree", General Grant. It is the 2nd largest tree in the world by volume. The walk through Grant Grove was ruined by a group of foreigners that felt the fencing around the trees were there for decorative purposes. These apparently Eastern Europeans needed to get a real close up picture with the tree. I was so angered that I had to leave, as there was no reasoning with people who could pretend to not understand English.
Monday, We embarked on a 6 mile hike in Redwood Canyon. This is an experimental forest, in which Prescribed fires have proven to be a boon to the Giant Sequoia population. Redwood Grove is now the worlds largest Giant Sequoia stand. The hike was easy, except for the last 1.5 miles back to the parking lot. I'm sure if we had brought our lunch along, not just trail mix, we would have had a better experience.
Tuesday, I had wanted to drive to Cedar Grove, in King's Canyon proper. We were met by a fierce rainstorm at 4000'. Having checked the weather forecast prior to departure, I had decided against packing my tire chains. We agreed that the weather at 7000' could be worse, so we headed back to camp. Shortly after we returned, the cloudy day turned rainy, which soon turned snowy. Cass pointed out that if I had brought tire chains, she would have felt more comfortable sticking around until Wednesday. I lit the remaining firewood, made some lunch and we packed up.
Although the trip was cut short by a day, I am so glad that we went. I brought home with me a Giant Sequoia sapling (Sequoiadendron Giganteum), perhaps I can make it a family heirloom, and the care of tree can be charged to my descendants. I would love to time travel 1000 years into the future to see it in full adulthood.