Day 74: Three Rivers to Sequoia National Park (again)

September 3, 2014

0 miles
Back to Sequoia National Park

Cynthia had to work 8-2, and I had things I could get done in town like post office and library.

After she got off work we drove up to Sequoia and stopped at the picnic area where I had been the day before to cool off and reload on water. We walked down to the river to go swimming in one of the pools. It was very deep and clear, the cool water was a welcome break from the hot hair. We climbed up one of the rocks that had water flowing over it, sat in the stream, and rode the waterfall down into the pool like a waterslide.

After swimming we went towards Big Baldy/Little Baldy, but realized the sun was probably setting too fast, so instead we detoured towards Mono Rock, one of the short hikes I missed the day before. Mono rock gave a magnificent view of the surrounding mountains, the valley below, and Three Rivers.

Trying not to squint because of the sun.

Sitting on the throne.

The sun was getting low, and the shadows were long so we went down the mountain again. We ended the day with a night-swim in the local river, and figuring out how I could stay in Three Rivers a while longer without paying too much so that we can have another adventure. She knows the owners of a campground, so I will be staying there for a few nights until Cynthia comes back from Fresno and we will do some other adventure together.

The changing plans keep changing!

Day 73: Sequoia National Park

September 2, 2014 Sequoia National Park to Three Rivers

Things did not go as planned today.

Construction delayed and lengthened my stop to see the world's largest tree, but it was a blessing in disguise because I got to hike through some quieter trails, and even got to see a juvenile bear cross the trail about 10 meters in front of me. No photo, sorry!

And in the end I did get to see General Sherman: the world's largest tree (by volume).

I'm a tree-hugger!

After hiking to see the tree, I still had time to hike some other trails, including Mono Rock and a meadow trail. However I started going downhill, missed my turn, and 20 minutes later was thousands of feet lower, and was not going to spend the time to go back up the hill.



The hill was so steep and so windy that my brakes became very hot. So hot that when I sprayed water on them, they steamed like eggs on a hot griddle. I took a video the second time, but I had been more cautious about not overheating them so it wasn't as dramatic.

At the lower elevation, the temperatures are miserable. I slogged forward and eventually stopped at a little restaurant, which was very serendipitous because I met Cynthia there.

Cynthia made me a delicious sandwich, pointed out some things that I should see in California on my map, and told me about some camping spots near the city.

I was waiting in a turnout for the park people to lock up the park I was going to be staying in when Cynthia drove by on her way home and checked up on me. We made plans to hike in Sequoia, so it appears I will be staying in Three Rivers longer than I planned!

Day 72: General Grand Grove, Sequoia National Park

September 1, 2014

Day 72 Sequoia National Park: General Grant Grove

Good morning from General Grant Grove, in Sequoia National Park!

There are some massive trees in this park, and I'm told I haven't even seen the biggest group of them yet. 

To celebrate labor day, I will rest. Which, like rest day when I went whitewater rafting, means that I will be doing something active that is not biking.

General Grant Grove is just a short walk from the campground, so I ambled on over and got to see the world's third largest tree by volume. They are very quick to remind you of those technicalities like volume, height and girth, in this park. I get the feeling that there's some jealous competition between Sequoia national park and Redwood national park for biggest tree. Sequoias are biggest by volume, redwoods are biggest by height.

I counted 140ish rings before I got to the outer rings that were too hard to count. It's old. And not even nearly the oldest in the park.

I crawled under one of the sequoias. 

Here's General Grand in all his glory. 

It's funny how quickly you can get away from the hustle and bustle of the crowded areas by going on any hike over a mile away from the parking lot. I went on the meziadin Trail to a fire watchtower, and then looped over to Panoramic Point.

They also make very large pinecones

Yum yum a pineconecone!

I walked a nice little trail to a fire look out.

Also huge mushrooms.

This is a view into King's Canyon from Panoramic Point.

I have officially added Kings Canyon to my list of places to backpack to. I won't be able to go there this trip because I don't want to have to bike out of there... guess I'm lazy.

Day 71: Pine Flat Lake to Sequoia National Park

August 31, 2014

Pine Flat Lake to Sequoia National Park

This is about how I felt waking up after sleeping on a pile of rocks after riding through 90 plus degree heat all night after eating only cookie cream sandwhiches.



Getting higher!



Heat killing me but I'm getting higher!



Made it to Kings Canyon/Sequoia National Park!



I made less than 50 miles today, barely, which is a rare occurance.

I am camping in Sunset campground in General Grant Grove. I chanced to come across an incredibly kind couple, Jim and Jean. As I was registering for my campsite, I exclaimed at the high $18 fee. Jim offered to share a campsite, and I gratefully accepted!

Jim and Jean were great campsite friends, and even better because Jean is a veteran school teacher. I got to talk education, which is something I have done very little of since the school year ended.

The campsite is FULL of people, some of them very party hardy for labor day. About the time we called it a night, an RV pulled up and whipped out some floodlights. No joke. I guess there's a first for everything.

Day 70: Bass Lake to Pine Lake

August 30, 2014
Bass Lake to Pine Flat Lake
60 miles

California heat will be the end of me. I got a late start and made 10 miles before stopping at a library at noon. I figured I would wait out the hottest part of the day and continue in the evening after the library closed.

When I left the library at 5:00 the temperature was still in the upper 90's. Progress was slow, and I had little water.

Fortunately I saw some paramedics as they were walking in from their ambulance and they let me fill up my bottles. Better from a bottle than an IV line.

I decided I would pedal through the night, so I whipped out the old headlamp and rear lights. Night riding is the way to go, the temperatures are a nice cool 85 degrees.

The hills are very steep, and it is hard to maintain a rhythm because you go up and then you go down and before you can shift into the proper gear you are going up again.

I got to ride through a cattle grazing land, and nearly ran over some cows that were standing in the middle of the road. That was about the most exciting part of the day. Besides the paramedics and their jokes. I love paramedics.

Extreme exhaustion combined with my fading battery power on my headlamps forced me to cowboy camp beside a turn out point along a reservoir. It was extremely rocky, nay, bouldery, but somehow I managed to fall asleep. From time to time a car would pass by and twice the drivers stopped to see if I was okay. It must have been a sight.

I also probably felt lethargic because all I ate were cookie cream sandwhiches.




If you are into this sort of landscape it would be really pretty. The roads would be amazing to bike on without all my gear!



Sun is setting and it is still 95 degrees.

  

Day 69: Yosemite to Bass Lake

August 29, 2014
Yosemite to Bass Lake

Good morning from Camp 4!

I had plans to hike to Nevada and Vernal Falls before heading out, but decided against it because I was afraid I would have difficulty getting out of the park and finding a place to camp if I didn't leave early enough. The hike would take several hours, and I have to climb a couple thousand feet on bike to get out of the valley, out of the park. So I will have more things to do when I come back to Yosemite!

Last night Brandon and I got new camping mates. We had hoped for some hot climber/yoga girls to show up but fortunately our wishes didn't come true because we got something better. The three guys that showed up were really nice, and one of them was Guatemalan. I was able to get his email and I will be able to meet up with his cousin when I get to Guatemala. He told me about some places to see, and also assuaged my concerns about safety. In the morning, when he was more sober, his views on the safety were also more sober. "Do lock your stuff up." he told me

Thanks Sergio!

I did take one more lap around the valley on my bike, a nice consolation prize. I bike beneath the famous rock climbing spot, El Capitan.

On the way out, I went through a long, dark tunnel.

And later I found this nice little tablet that someone apparently dropped out of a car window and left on the ground. It still works. Their loss. I turned it into the visitor's center and if no one claims it I might be able to keep it.

They had lots of these signs.

I left the park and made it to Bass Lake, which is actually a reservoir. I hate that they call reservoirs lakes as if they naturally exist. But I like that they provide water in the middle of a desert.

I wish I could have stayed in Yosemite Longer, but I didn't want to put up with Labor Day traffic. I'll just have to go back some time!

Day 68: Yosemite: Glacier Point

August 28, 2014
0 miles
Yosemite

Late last night I met one of the people I'm sharing the site space with, Brandon. He's road tripping by himself and doing a lot of hiking and biking. He offered to drive to Glacier Point, and so I went along with him and had a great time talking with him, and it was good that we both let the scenery soak in at the same slow pace.


Here's a view from Glacier Point. Half Dome on the left. Oh, and Brandon and I might be on Google Earth. We saw the Google man with his crazy camera thing walking around. We're not there yet, but check for the trail views or the panoramic views and maybe we will be. 





After taking in Glacier Point, we took a short hike starting about a couple of miles down the hill from Glacier point. I enjoyed this one much better. A 360 panorama, and the wind felt amazing.

Half dome on right, Nevada and Vernal Falls center, our campsite somewhere in the valley. I was happy I didn't have to ride my bike up here.

 

Brandon having one of the best nectarines ever. I saw it. It looked very juicy.

This spot was my favorite. Obviously the view is fantastic, but even better is if you are sitting on the rock you can feel the full force of the wind coming up from the valley. It's a powerful experience.



In the evening, we went down the mountain to relax in the river. I'll have to add it to my list of most beautiful places I've swam.

And I had fun racing leaves down the stream. No better way to end the day.