A REALLY NICE PARK…AND…HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Saturday, May 12 – We arrived here in at Park of the Sierras an Escapee Co-Op Park early Friday. We had some difficulty getting a site. We called the past three days only to be told they were full and to keep trying. We decided to head to Coarsegold, CA,, where the park is located, and see if a site was available when we arrived. If not we had a back-up spot at the Oakhurst Elks (located 7 miles from Coarsegold). Every once and awhile we get lucky....there was one spot available for 3 days. We took it!

Site 408

Looking up from the side street.

Looking to our right.


Looking to our left.

This is one of the nicest Escapee Parks we've stayed in. It is the nicest park we've stayed in this calendar year!  The sites are not lined up row after row. Rather, the 250 sites are scattered throughout the woods in no particular pattern. The club house is beautiful, a very nice laundry – which Marsha quickly took advantage of, the people go out of their way to be friendly, a nice library, and all at a very reasonable rate. We are very happy with our decision to come here!

Clubhouse


Two huge back patios.


Upstairs

Little Bella loves her new home.

As she watches this Quill strut his stuff.

We wish all you moms out there a very HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y'all back real soon. Have a great day.

AWE INSPIRING…KINGS CANYON

Thursday, May 10 – Having taken yesterday off from exploring (We needed a day of rest.), we headed to Kings Canyon this morning.

This canyon was carved to a depth of 8,000 feet by the Kings River, making it one of the deepest in North America – even deeper than the Grand Canyon.

The Kings Canyon Scenic Byway (Highway 180) winds its way through the canyon, uncovering many wonderful stops.

If you have a weak stomach, don't try this.

Kings Canyon reminded us of being in Colorado.

There is a big section of Giant Sequoia Trees at the beginning, but they are technically in Sequoia National Forest, not Kings Canyon. This area has more rugged mountains, with many pine trees, rivers, hiking trails, and beautiful high vistas, than you see in Sequoia NP.

General Grant Tree…third largest on the Earth.
Height: 268 ft.; Weight: 1,254 tons; Age: 1,700 yrs.; Volume: 46,608 cu. ft.

You drive for many miles through switch-backs climbing up the mountains and then back down to the King River before reaching Kings Canyon. The River is gorgeous! The many rapids, waterfalls, and clear clean water awes you with its immense power. There are frequent warning signs about being cautious around the river.

The number one cause of accidental death in the park is a result of people falling in the river. The water is very cold and the current is ferocious!

Grizzly Falls

Roaring River Falls

There is a beautiful suspension bridge that carries hikers over to the meadows. We were hoping to see some bear here, but no such luck. We were surprised that in most areas of the park we were often the only visitors present. Occasionally, there were others but it felt like the park was all ours!

Many people suggested not to miss Panorama Point but unfortunately, it was not yet open. Surprisingly, all the roads were open - this area received far fewer inches of snow than normal – but most of the campgrounds and some vistas were still closed.

We had a wonderful day and another very long mountain drive. We climbed from 443 feet above sea level at the base of the mountains to over 6801 feet at the mountain top. Thank goodness we were in our Honda CRV and not the motor home. We agreed on the drive home, if you had to choose only one stop, visit Sequoia NP but you won't be disappointed with Kings Canyon.

If you would like to enjoy more photos from our visit, please click here.

Our next stop is Yosemite National Park, so stop back and hear our report on this nationally recognized gem!

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y'all back real soon. Have a great day!

A LAND OF GIANTS…SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK

Tuesday, May 8 – What a wonderful and unbelievable place – Sequoia National Park. How do you describe or explain the beauty? It's one of those places you just have to see to believe!

We got an early start for the 45 minute drive to Sequoia NP arriving at the gate about 9 a.m. Our first stop was the visitors center where the Ranger gave us a quick route for today's visit. Quick because due to road closures, we had to get to the construction zone by 10 o'clock for the escorted passage. If we're late, we wait till noon! They are re-building most of the high, winding, mountain road leading to the main section of the park.

This is what was in front of us with twice as many behind us waiting to get through construction site.

First, a few notes about the Sequoia Trees. The oldest Giant Sequoia Trees are estimated to be about 4000 years old. The belong to the cypress family. You will notice fire damage around their base. This does not do them harm. It is actually necessary.

The seeds in the pine cones will not open until heated. They then must fall onto bare soil (the grasses will have been burned off by the forest fire) to germinate. The fires also burn away competing vegetation so the tree can get a good start. Finally, the bark on the tree is so thick that most fires do not harm the tree.

The park is making an effort to save the Sequoia forest by removing buildings, keeping people on trails and not let them wonder near the trees compressing the soil, reducing parking lots, and other forest saving techniques. It's amazing to see before and after pictures of the forest after these steps have been taken.

This pictures shows where a cabin used to be.

The now new look.

There is a great video presentation in the Visitor's Center showing the park over-crowed with cabins, cars, people, and other tourist supporting businesses and how the beauty has been restored today. Be aware.....that means NO GAS is sold in the Park. Fill-up BEFORE visiting.

The best way to explain the beauty of Sequoia NP is trough our pictures. Marsha took over 150 pictures in the park. I wish you could enjoy them all, but here are many for your enjoyment.

The granddaddy of them all. Some trees grow taller, and some are bigger around, but no tree has greater mass than the General Sherman tree. It is the LARGEST tree on Earth.

Height: 275 ft.; Weight: 1,385 tons; Age: 2,200 years; Circumference 103 ft.; Volume: 52,500 cu. ft..

These trees are so big you just can't wrap your arms around them. This was a little one.

Just trying to take it all in.

From this little pine cone comes this magnificent tree.

How did the tree grow round this boulder?

Snow still remains on Alta Peak…11,204'

We love this Park. Even though we were there, looking right at these monsters, we couldn't believe our eyes. If you are any where near this area, DO NOT MISS IT!

There is so much more beauty in this park. If you would like to see more photos of our visit, please click here.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y'all back real soon. Have a great day!