We Interrupt This Program
You may be wondering where the post(s) are for the post-trip review. Well as the title states, it has been interrupted. I have been back since Saturday; however, I have kept myself occupied with life. I have used the opportunity to decompress while seeing local friends/family for lunch and stuff. Last week I was invited by a friend for a somewhat spontaneous camping trip. Having just returned from my road trip and camping in Death Valley, how could I say no?! I absolutely said yes and flaked rescheduled with someone so I could visit more National Parks.
Day 1 [2021-06-04]
The camping trip was going to be (2) two nights and (3) three days in Sequoia & Kings Canyon (SEKI). Other than packing I was completely unprepared for what to expect this weekend. I did not look into any trails or points of interest, I was going in blind. We went to the grocery store for supplies and loaded up the vehicle. We left slightly later than anticipated, but not too late. It was Friday early afternoon and the traffic in Los Angeles was the worst. If I remember correctly, traffic did not clear up until just past Six Flags? I am glad going that general direction is not my normal commute. We made no stops unless related to traffic or necessary for things such as fuel. It was hot most of the way the up towards our destination, but we have the luxury of internal climate control.
We finally made it, hours later, to the mountain. As we ascended there was a loud pop. What happened?! Elevation. My friend pointed out it was likely (1) one of the (2) two bags of chips we purchased for the weekend. We would have to find out later once we made it to Sunset Campground. Since camp is at elevation it was not as hot as it was in the foothills.
We made it to the campsite around 1940 and setup camp before sunset. Particular items (anything with a scent) were stored in the bear box for safety. I was told this is a decent sized bear box. This was my first time camping with the potential for bears, so the concept of a bear box was new to me. Our site was in a relatively good location since it was near the washroom (not too close) and disposal bin. The only issue I experienced was the walk back from the washroom because it was uphill...and not being acclimated to elevation sucks! Stupid sea level body and altitude.
There is considerable overlap between the intelligence of the smartest bears and the dumbest tourists.
I was reminded of the above quote by my friend after I asked about opening the bear box. I was happy to have figured it out without intervention. Local firewood needed to be sourced after camp was setup and to our surprise a well stocked market was only a few minutes away. Grant Grove has quite a few services if you forget some items and or food. My friend started a fire when we got back while the other prepared dinner...and I patiently waited. I am useless until it is time to eat. We ate dinner, roasted marshmallows, and talked while sitting around the fire. It was a clear a night with a dark sky providing an opportunity to see more stars again similar to Death Valley. We eventually turned in for the night and I learned pasta water smells delicious when used to put out a fire.
Day 2 [2021-06-05]
I had a good night's sleep even though nature likes to wake up when the sun rises...around 0530 again. I eventually woke up around 0730 and waited around camp while my friends went to find coffee. I watched some wildlife do wildlife things while waiting. My friends eventually made it back and I thought they were lost for a bit. Not lost, just too early for the market so they had to wait for it to open. They tried to let me know but I had absolutely no cellular service. I lost service on Friday well before making it to camp. They prepared breakfast and we ate before heading out to see the parks.
While on our way towards The General Sherman Tree we passed by a scenic overlook. As you can this area has a lot of rocks. I may have lost my footing for a second while near the towers, but I did not harm any of the (inanimate) objects. We took some photos and we were back on our way towards the tree.
The parking lot area for The General Sherman Tree had quite a few cars in it, but it was not completely full. There is a sign before the walk warning visitors of elevation:
WARNING STEEP TRAIL HIGH ALTITUDE GENERAL SHERMAN TREE 0.4 MILE (700 M)
The General Sherman Tree is at an elevation 212 feet below this area. The walk back is steep. There are benches along the way where you can catch your breath.
I slightly regret leaving my water in the car before heading down. As we descended down the path we saw people utilizing the benches and we also heard people catching their breath. I was beginning to worry because I recall how my body dealt with walking up a small hill. We finally made it to the tree and I still cannot believe how large it is. According to the infographic near the site, it is the largest (known) tree by volume of its trunk on Earth. The largest. It was busy near the tree so we did not linger too long after taking some photos. It was time to ascend again...and it was tough. I made it though because I am no.
We got back on Generals Highway with no real destination. My friend did see something about Crystal Cave in their book so we thought we might check it out. However, the book was limited on information so we went back towards General Sherman hoping to speak with a Park Ranger.
The park ranger we saw earlier was no longer in the same location. We headed towards Wolverton to see what was there and eat some snacks. After parking we saw a ranger and I inquired about Crystal Cave. The book suggested we might be able to buy same-day tickets, but the ranger let me know it is currently by reservation. The ranger also said if they remembered correctly it was booked out for at least a few weeks. Crystal Cave was a wash but we could still eat some snacks before heading back to camp. NOTE: There are not a lot of turnouts available when heading from General Sherman towards Grant Grove.
While heading back to camp we were discussing possible options for the remainder of the day. We could do an earlier dinner and go to Sunset Rock. We ended up scrapping the idea because sunset is not until just after 2000 so timing was not ideal. Kings Canyon National Park was the other way down the highway though and our next stop after lunch. Please remember to use turnouts and not impede traffic. Especially on (2) two lane roads. You are considered a slow moving vehicle and a hazard.
Vehicles proceeding at a speed less than the flow of traffic and moving on a two-lane highway where passing is unsafe, must turn off the roadway at the nearest place designated as a turnout or wherever sufficient area for a safe turnout exists, if a line of 5 or more vehicles forms behind them.
The road to and through Kings Canyon is amazing. It has twists, hairpins, descents (or ascents depending on direction), and smooth. However, those conditions do not come without some risk such as other humans, loose gravel, or lack of guard rails. I would likely ragdoll/superman over guard rails if in place. I would have loved to be on the bike for this but I still have my reservations about it. So like most mountain roads be mindful of surroundings. We knew the route we were on would eventually loop us back around at Road's End and take us back the way we came.
We continued to descend and found additional campgrounds...in a warmer climate due to lower elevation. At some points on and near the road, there were people solo or in groups. There was a particular person who did not observe the childhood rule of look both ways before crossing. We saw them as they looked one way but not in our direction. Please be careful when crossing a street (ideally in a straight line, not diagonal) even in low traffic areas. Otherwise you may end up like roadkill if both parties are negligent.
There it was, just off the highway, Boyden Cavern. An unexpected surprise to us all so we decided to check. We saw this sign as we approached the small building:
CAVE TOURS DEPART FROM 10 TO 5 TIX AND INFO AT WINDOW -> -> -> ->
It was only 1608 and we thought it could be fun. My friend purchased our tickets for the next available tour and we waited while enjoying the beautiful landscape. It was another steep walk up to the cave entrance. This time I felt the burn in my legs as we walked up the slope with the rest of the group.
The cave entrance ominous with the gate and bars. The tour guide said we would walk through the mountain ~750 feet and the temperature would drop to ~55 degrees Fahrenheit. Since this is a paid tour I had the expectation of some tourism perks. My expectation did not disappoint as there are handrails and smooth surface to walk on. It is still a cave so some sections require maneuvering around formations and low clearance areas. It reminded me of navigating through the lava tube in Mojave.
The tour guide pointed out various formations and provided explanations as well. From calcite deposits, stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and more. They highlighted particular formations such as the one seen in the above photo. The formation above referred to as a Christmas Tree.
We made it near the end and a person strayed a few steps away. Once we were gathered the tour guide announced they would show us darkness. The stray person immediately hurried back while asking to pause the event until they were in the cluster. True panic. The tour guide somewhat prepared us for what to expect before shutting off the electric lights through the cave...and then it happened. Pitch black. I could not even see my hand in front of me when they asked us to check. Darkness is not my ally. The lights were not out for more than a minute but it was terrifying. I had fears going in without my own light source other than a cellular device coupled with a potential earthquake. The total darkness fueled my fears and reminded me of this incident in Thailand. I cannot begin to imagine the experience that team went through or other people involved in similar situations.
On the way out we opted for the adventure route we were informed about at the start. It would have some water but not much in its current state. If the group before us which included an adult with a baby strapped to their chest could do it...I could probably do it. My friends opted for the route as well so naturally I followed. The route was down a ladder and onto some wet rocks. We followed the path which included some tight squeezes and sections with deeper puddles. Water coupled with geological time is unstoppable.
We finally made it outside so we could continue our journey. As we continued, my friends searched for wildlife and I looked for photo opportunities from the vehicle. To our dismay we did not see any bears or deer, only other humans. We finally made it to Road's End and then began the trip back to the camp. While on the way down we saw someone wearing a skimpy outfit likely posing for the gram? Well instead of a human posing on our way back...the Outback posed for some photo ops. The stop was worth it for the view even if I was worried about tumbling down the ledge. The drive up felt shorter and we made it back to camp before sunset.
We still had no intention of going to Sunset Rock even with the time available. We have the opportunity back home to see other decent sunsets, right? My friend prepared dinner while the sunset could be seen through the many trees at camp. I did it again, I gorged myself leaving no room for s'mores. My second trip without s'mores. Maybe one day. It certainly felt colder this night too but at least we still had a fire. We called it early tonight because it was a long day and checkout tomorrow.
I forgot to mention, earlier in the day I stumbled upon reading material. The material posted outside the washroom with campground information. It warned about the dangers trees pose to humans. I went to bed a little paranoid. I was worried about being encased in my mummy sleeping bag and being crushed by a tree and or branch. Apparently it was not my only paranoia for the night either because I would wake up several times this evening.
Day 3 [2021-06-06]
I woke up worried my tent was going to slide down to the campsite below. So I made (a lot) of noise repositioning myself on my sleeping pad away from the perceived slope. At some other point I thought I heard things just outside the tent. What would I do if there was a bear? Again I am vulnerable in a sleeping bag, so I guess just accept my fate. My cellular phone was packed away charging so I had no idea on the times I was waking up. I only knew what time it was once I heard birds again with some light. It was around 0530 again and I needed to relieve myself. Cue more noise from the sleeping pad.
I went back to sleep for a bit again until my friends were out. One said they were going to pop my sleeping pad. I did warn them prior to the trip and now I may need to look into other options. It is rather annoying for me too, but it is definitely more comfortable than the ground. We skipped a cooked breakfast today to save some time.
We went to see our last stop for the trip, The General Grant Tree. My friends knew going early would be ideal from their excursion the day before (waiting for the market to open). There were a few vehicles when we arrived and we walked the easy path. We were able to walk through a hollow fell tree trunk on this path. While walking this path we were reminded of people and the need for some to graffiti. Why do people do this? It is sad and irritating.
Remember the few vehicles I mentioned? Well there happened to be a large group of approximately (13) thirteen people taking photos near General Grant. I personally prefer traveling with a smaller group. It is still difficult to comprehend the massive size of these trees. Years ago it was even called a "California Hoax" by people in Philadelphia. The General Grant Tree is the third largest (known) tree by volume, in the world. This tree is also know as the Nation's Christmas Tree per President Coolidge in 1926. In one weekend I have seen the first and third largest (known) trees by volume. After seeing General Grant we headed back to camp to pack up.
We collapsed down our site and packed away everything. We did not use the roof rack this time to alleviate concerns of losing items. Everything was packed up and loaded in under an hour. I was finally almost acclimated to elevation and we were leaving. We went to the visitor center around 1000 for my passport stamp and to buy items from the gift shop. The market gift ship did not open until 1100 so we did not get to shop there. We queued up and waited our turn as it is limited to (6) six people due to COVID-19 restrictions. We purchased merchandise and wrote a postcard to thank another friend for the campsite. The Post Office was nearby to send it out as well...that is if you have a stamp. Neither of the open stores nearby had stamps and it was Sunday. My stamps unfortunately are in my vehicles which did us no good. Mailing out our postcard from SEKI was not possible this time.
Down the mountain and towards home. I also forgot about The NPS App until I was scrolling through my apps on the way home. I have had the app on my phone for months which could have been useful this trip, it also includes an offline mode (per park). A short but amazing trip with great company. I finally had cellular service again as we neared civilization Fresno. I received some messages, but more importantly my Google Timeline May update. It is not completely accurate though because it claims I only walked (8) eight miles or (2) two hours. I would say it is at least a couple miles off, but I guess close enough.
67% around the world this year
You've traveled a total of 16,776 miles so far in 2021
I might be making up for the lack of travel in 2020? We stopped for fuel in town for the car and our bodies. The closest and easier accessible drive thru being a busy McDonald's. It reminded me of Office Space while we waited in the dual order lanes. Once we had our food we hit the road and did not stop until home. Thankfully traffic was nowhere near as bad as it was on Friday, but it was just as hot. We made it back just before 1600 which left us with enough time to wind down before Monday.
I thought about going to REI to window shop but I decided it could wait. I met up with some other friends on the way home for an impromptu dinner at Rodeo 39. We met up, had dinner, and caught up for a bit. I had to call it a little early as it was my last night of freedom. I made it home so I could unpack and prepare for a case.
p.s. I was working on this post before bed until I nodded off...and then I banged my head on the wall while attempting to catch its fall. I finalized this post on Tuesday [2021-06-08] after work.
p.p.s. This trip has been made possible by John Muir.