Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

We are now in Mariposa, California at the County Fairgrounds and I am sitting in the car in a parking lot... it is the only place we can get WiFi in the entire area. Our reason for being in this out of the way mountain village is to visit Yosemite National Park... but, that is the next post. For now, let me tell you about our last stop.

We spent three nights in Kingsland, CA and while there visited two national parks. Every time I visit a NP, I fall in love with it and it happened again. The beauty was beyond words and it was enhanced by a recent snowfall. There are not many times when this snowbird can make that statement! Take a look and see what you think.

Our first day was cloudy and rainy and none of us knew what to expect; we even thought we may have to turn around and do something else with our time.

There was a creek running through the valley. The new greens of spring were everywhere.

As the elevation increased, the weather deteriorated and we were soon using the 4 wheel drive.

(Doesn't the snow on top the sign look like mittens...)

Around every corner was another calendar scene.

The snow was unbelievable. It was like what Minnesotans call "an old fashioned winter". Below you see an entry structure (and you can see how hard it was snowing) and that building that Bonnie is walking to, the one almost hidden by snow, is the visitor center. The first picture is one I just had to include because I liked it.

It is not possible to photograph the grandeur of the BIG TREES. The largest tree on earth is in this park. It is the General Sherman and we saw it. This tree was already growing when Jesus walked the earth. It is 275 feet tall, weighs 1,385 TONS and is nearly 103 feet in circumference at the ground. When you take a picture straight up one these trees, they look like broccoli... Barry took our picture by the monster and we are dwarfed by it.

The roads continued to be wet, but eventually the snow stopped and it was just wet. One of these sequoia trees fell in the med 1800's and was used as lodging, a tavern and a park headquarters for awhile. I posed in one hollowed out tree with snowball in hand.

As I left the park that first day, I knew I had evperienced a truly magical day in Sequoia National Park.

The next day found us in Kings Canyon National Park. These two are connected in the summer but in the winter the road between the two is closed so there are two separate entrances. We did not get to see the canyon as the road was blocked with snow; still being used by snowshoes. But we did get to see some more beautiful sights.

There were some times that we were driving in clouds.

We had lunch that day by this idylic mountain lake.

I could write more and show you more of my 280 pictures but my battery is low and it is kinda spooky sitting in the dark in this parking lot. Besides, I have to get up early tomorrow. I am taking a photography class from a person at Yosemite... who knows what you will see next time!