HIGHS AND LOWS

Sequoia and Kings Canyon - October 21 - 23
South of Yosemite are Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks; our next destination.  The topography changed dramatically as we drove out of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, through the foothills, and into the San Joaquin Valley.  At Fresno, we turned east and again entered the foothills of the Sierra Mountains.  We set up camp at an RV park in the town of Three Rivers, not far from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

GIANT FOREST
Sequoia National Park's Generals Highway zigs and zags through the foothills and then into the mountain pine forests before getting to the sequoia groves.  Sequoias grow naturally only on the west slope of the Sierra Nevada, usually between 5,000 and 7,000 feet of elevation.  Because of the narrow hair-pin curves, it takes an hour to get from the park entrance to the first visitor's center.  Most of the mountain road is restricted to vehicles less than 27 feet long.

Although sequoias don't grow as tall as redwood trees, sequoias are giant and ancient. When sequoias quit growing in height, they continue to produce new wood on their trunks and branches.  The tree bark is about 2 feet thick. 

The thick bark as well as natural chemicals in the wood and bark, provides insulation to fire, and
resistance to insects and fungi. New bark is continually growing and will eventually cover the fire scar.

I'm not sure what the celebration was about, but a priest and group of people were singing beneath the trees.

Because of a shallow root system with no taproot, soil moisture
 as well as root damage and strong winds can topple these massive trees.

The largest of these trees is named the General Sherman, which is estimated to be 2,200 years old, is
 225 feet tall with a trunk circumference at ground of 109 feet, and it's largest branch is almost 7 feet in diameter.

We took a bumpy dirt road to Stump Meadow in Sequoia National Forest.  Logging was stopped in
 the late 1800's as residents in the San Joaquin Valley urged Congress to protect Sierra tracts from logging.

KINGS CANYON
We drove out of Sequoia NP, through part of the Sequoia National Forest, and into Kings Canyon National Park.  After maneuvering the twisting roads of Kings Canyon Scenic Byway to the canyon floor, we stopped for an ice cream cone at Kings Canyon Lodge.

Ice age glaciers carved these deep canyons. Elevations range from 1,500 to 14,500 feet.

The welcoming committee at Kings Canyon Lodge.

These old gas pumps at the lodge are still in operation, but at $4.95
 per liter, with a 5 gallon minimum, I'm glad we didn't need to buy any gas.
 

WINNERS AND LOSERS
One day we stopped at a restaurant near the entrance to the Park.  Jim asked the owner how much the government shut-down had hurt his business.  He said "It was pretty bad.  The only one who came out ahead around here on that deal was the guy that owns the Hardware Store.  A lot of "honey-do" lists got done."