Vacation Hiking Road Trip: Part 4 of 4
After an entire day on the road, our final stop was to be Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park the following day. Following the recommendation of a total stranger on Facebook, I had taken a leap of faith and booked us a room at “The Branded Calf” Bed and Breakfast located just 40ish minutes from the park. Being a working cattle ranch, this is not the typical “Inn” style Bed and Breakfast. Instead, Connie has turned her 5-bedroom home into a very reasonably priced accommodation for those looking to stay close to the parks. Each room has its own bath, with full access to the common areas of the house.
Connie makes an amazing home cooked breakfast to be ready at any time of your choosing. Although not what I had come to expect from a “Bed and Breakfast,” it was indeed a “bed” and a “breakfast.” Connie is more than accommodating, very knowledgeable about the parks and surrounding areas and I have already booked another stay in July for a more in-depth exploration of the parks.
After a wonderful conversation with Connie about her prior backpacking excursions and an amazing breakfast consisting of Frittatas, biscuits, and a fruit bowl, we set off for a quick day trip to the park. Being early April, the main portions of both parks were still closed for the winter, so our access was very limited.
That being said, we saw the typical “tourist” attractions at a time when the tourist numbers were lower than usual. This allowed us, at least, the ability to see the General Sherman and General Grant trees with relatively little interruption.
These giant sequoias are enough to leave anyone speechless. They are beyond ginormous, with the General Grant tree measuring 107.6 feet in circumference at ground level. The General Sherman tree is only slightly smaller at 102.6 feet in circumference. I am truly a tree hugger and while I understand the need to protect these giants, I was saddened to learn I would not be able to at the very least touch them….. to feel their energy.
These particular trees are thought to be approximately 1650 and 2000 years old, respectively, so imagine the stories they could tell us. As I admired their steadfastness, I reflected on the importance of the foundational root (support) structure these giants must have formed to help them withstand the tests of time, and how this concept translates into the human experience.
We spent a short amount of time exploring the other giant, yet not as famous, Sequoias surrounding the General Sherman tree and then moved up the road to the Big Trees Trail. This 1.4-mile flat loop, around a beautiful meadow, was a worthwhile excursion. The meadow was still brown as it was just beginning its recovery from the freshly melted snow, so I could only imagine how beautiful it will look when the grasses turn green and wildflowers begin to bloom.
Surrounding the meadow are…. Well…. More big trees. I’m admittedly a tree person and can explore their bases, watch their tops dancing in the breeze, and appreciate each one for their uniqueness all day. “Tick-Tock, next stop”….. kept me moving forward while still taking time to explore their magnificence. If only they could speak….
Heeding the recommendation of Connie, we chose Tokopah Falls as our day hike. At 4.0 miles in length and with 639 feet of elevation gain, I would classify this as an “easy” hike. Keep in mind, though, at 6700-7400 ft altitude the air is thinner than many may be accustomed. This makes even the easiest of hikes more difficult. Although I live only slightly above sea level, I am quite accustomed to hiking at this altitude so my “easy” may prove to be more challenging for others.
What a beautiful area with the trail meandering through the trees following the Marble Fork Kaweah River. With several opportunities to divert from the trail and have access to the river, this would make for a wonderful place to cool off in the warmer months. As we neared the falls, the trees gave way to expose the towering granite face of “the Watchtower” which stands at 9974 feet. On the trail side of the river, there is ample opportunity for rock scrambling as the trail makes its way through the granite.
The waterfall was raging, and we made our way out onto a flat “sunning” rock to eat our snack while enjoying its beauty. The meditative sounds of the water flowing over the rocks, landing with a crash on the rocks below was relaxing. Although we had not long, this was the perfect opportunity to reflect on the amazing experiences we were blessed to have enjoyed over the past week. Four amazing parks, each with their own beauty. With Chris by my side, throughout this adventure, I felt blessed. As I pondered my many blessings, I came to realize others were rock scrambling to the top of the waterfall. Damn…… if I only had more time.
Feeling satiated, we returned to our car and made our way to our final stop….. Hume Lake. Although not technically in Kings Canyon, the lake is located in the Sequoia National Forest. It’s a relatively narrow and winding road that takes you to the lake at the bottom of the canyon. There you will find picnic areas, camping, lake sports, and even a hotel, store, service station and post office……. All oddly unexpected.
It’s a pretty lake, as lakes go, and there is a trail you can utilize to walk around its entire perimeter. With limited time, we enjoyed a quiet late evening stroll to the far side and returned the way we came. Given the facilities, I would imagine it gets quite crowded during the “on” season and I’m not sure I would return. Although not the alpine lake, nestled in granite basins, to which I’ve grown accustomed; it was a peaceful end to a wonderful week.
With that, we returned home. After five days on the road, I missed my dogs and was ready for my own bed. I am already planning an 8 day return to Kings Canyon and Sequoia National parks with a 40 mile 5 day backpacking excursion followed by 3 days of day hiking. I can’t wait to explore what the back country there has to offer……. Till next time.
Keep on trekkin’