Giant Sequoia and Kings Canyon Backpacking

Last Tuesday we got to the first of the National Parks on the trip. Kings Canyon and Sequoia are actually right next to each other. We spent Tuesday doing the tourist thing in the Eastern side of the parks where the giant sequoia trees are.

At the Boole tree

These trees are by volume, the largest in the world.  The Boole tree (above) has a circumference of 113 feet.  It was so difficult to capture the size of these trees, but they are just so massive!  It is also amazing that the oldest of these trees still alive are about 3500 years old. They have survived through a whole lot.

Link for more photos.

Then on Wednesday we packed up, got our permit and headed off into the wilderness.  We walked up Bubbs creek. We were surrounded by large rocky mountains, weaving in and out of the forest.

Looking back down the valley.

The picture above was taken within 2 hours of leaving the car. It was so exciting to finally be headed off into the wilderness, which is what we really wanted to get out of this trip.  It was a long time building, since at this point it was a week and a half since we left Ithaca.

Viewpoint right near our campsite.

To then get to our campsite and be surrounded by that (above) was really what we need to finally relax a bit.  There is something that is so satisfying to the soul to be in a place like this and I think it has been too long.

The next day we actually had a lazy morning and did not get out of camp until about 10am. (We have been on the sun schedule of going to sleep at 9 and getting up at 6:30)  We continued to hike up to join the PCT for a little bit, and then head towards Kearsarge Pass.  I had no idea that some of the highest mountains of the Sierra were around here. We had some options of places to go and randomly chose this way.  And we were rewarded!

At Kearsarge Lake

Panorama from the top of the pass

The other side of the pass

The views all the way up were stunning! It was also quite interesting to get up to the top and see where we came from which was windy, chilly, and had a lot of green. And then to take one step over the pass, it got 10 degrees hotter, no wind, and you look off into the desert.

Apparently this is also a very popular spot for people thru hiking the PCT to head out and resupply. We were there at just the right time as well to pass by many of them and have a little chat. Then from here, we took a slightly different route back down to camp, and had another relaxed evening.

Going back down to camp

This trip was exactly what we were looking for, psych meter got up to 110%.

After getting out of the woods, we head on our way to Yosemite, and stayed in an RV campground. Interesting place after coming out of the backcountry, but at least they have showers and internet.  After I send this, we will head to Yosemite were I will meet up with a couple friends from Ithaca to climb half dome, and Nico will do a solo backpacking trip.

These pictures are the best yet.