Sequoia National Park
Three Rivers, California:
I realize that I have not cleared-up the River Mystery from three days ago.
The Kaweah River has three forks, and they all come
together here at Three Rivers, California. Speaking of the river - the
Kaweah River has returned to the same level as it was when we arrived four
days ago. The water is again clear.
We had the most disappointing day! The weather, however, was simply
spectacular - so we were so excited to start our hike to the top of Moro
Rock. This hike consists of a little walk, then a 400-step climb (at 7000
feet elevation) to the top of a huge stone mountain! Of course, DT had to
run five miles before he left for the park. (I am calling this his "road
kill" run. There are new critter corpses to jog over each morning in this
mountain community.) By ten o'clock, we had gathered our hiking packs,
various granola bars and sun screen and headed out to Moro Rock.
Unbelievably, Moro Rock was "closed". A store can be closed. A concert can
even be sold out. But how do you close a rock? Crews were up on the trail
falling dangerous trees and the trail will be closed through Thursday
afternoon! What bad luck. Or, as I think of it - GOOD LUCK. Now we must
return to this fabulous park to hike to the top of Moro Rock!
Instead, we hiked around a pretty meadow - over snowy trails - and here are
photos of our little, short, mercifully flat, hike.
Amazing sights on our meadow hike
Young and Old: A little Sequoia, just starting out and a 2000+ topless
Sequoia (far right)
After reaching 1000-1500 years old a Sequoia tree loses its "crown". The
tree will then get no taller, but will become larger around. Nearly every Sequoia dies from falling over. Fires rarely do
much to deter these ancient trees and nearly every 2000 year old Sequoia is
scarred by fire. When a fire comes through the forest, the heat pops open
the cones on the ground and seeds from the trees sprout to start the life
cycle over again. At some point, the tree just gets too big to support the
shallow roots and they fall over. This week a tree fell in the park and
tourists in the area said it sounded like a freight train and the earth
shook when it landed!
Sneaking in a few more flower photos: Flannel Bush and Common Tarweed
California Poppies and poppies on a cliff side, with clover
Live Forever plants - hanging from the rocks in Sequoia National Park.
The leaves are eaten raw and are considered a delicacy
Moro Rock. Imagine us on the top!
If you look up to Moro Rock with your binoculars, you can
easily see the railings in place to enclose hikers. We are sorry you are not
looking at photos taken FROM the rock, instead of photos taken OF the rock!
Next time!
On the way home, we stopped "in town" for an ice cream at a famed local
spot,
Reimer's Candies.
Reimer's is known for their home-made candies and Wild
Blackberry
Ice Cream. It was delicous! Reimer's Wild Blackberry Ice Cream was a sweet ending to a disappointing day. I also
prepared a very delicious dinner tonight - spaghetti with meatballs, garlic
bread and a Caesar Salad. We are enjoying the Mariners again!
Now thatsa meat ball!
RV Park:
Kaweah Park Resort