We had a fun afternoon playing and exploring the Grandparents farm. It didn't take long for our little group to pick up a third party member as we made our way around. It was nice to have this little four-legged guide to help show us the way. Ridley was super excited about his gum, though he swallowed it not too long after. I guess he wasn't too afraid of it being stuck in his tummy for seven years like I was when I was a kid.
Herold's Lookout
in Adventure, Photography
After many hours of exploring and making my way through the woods, I finally made it to my destination, the Warner Mountain Lookout. It's one of only two working lookouts in the district and one of a handful in the state. As it's still a working lookout, I was very cautious and quite approaching. I stayed on the ground and photographed everything I could. There was a Jeep parked below the tower, and I could hear the radio from the inside, but I was unaware if anyone was home. I slowly started making my way when I heard "the view is better up here!". That's when I met Herold, a 17-year fire lookout veteran on the verge of retirement.
Herold knew more about those mountains and forests than anyone I've ever spoken too. He spoke of his experiences in the wild fondness as a father would talk about his children. He told me of sunsets/sunrises too grand for words, storms that would shake the whole tower, lighting storms that would strike so close it would knock you to your feet, and of wild animals and bears sometimes coming too close for comfort. It was a pleasure meeting him and getting to spend some time in his lookout asking questions.
Exploring California Day 5/5 | Kings Canyon & Pinnacles NP
Our last and final day was going to prove to be a big one. As if this trip wasn't large enough, we planned the night before to try and visit an additional park on our way home. The day had yet again started before sunrise as we left the lodge and headed into Kings Canyon. The feeling of dawn is so amazing to me, I think what I love about it is the quiet and stillness you get from the early hours, and so few see it compared to sunset. We watched the sunrise and made its way through the deep canyon as we charged in the opposite direction. We took some time where we could and grabbed a moment in a place called Muir Rock. There is something unique to know you relaxed in the same area as John Muir. Giving the moment as much time as we could spare, we then pushed on exploring a waterfall and an old 4x4 track.
Before we left the Sierra Nevadas, we made our way to Grant Grove for one last hike through the sequoias before heading back west to civilization. Neither of us knew much about Pinnacles, but we knew we wouldn't be any closer for a long time. The park was nice and quiet since we were there in its offseason. With a ten hour drive ahead of us, we decided one last hike would be good for our cramped legs. We set forth and soon found ourselves in the middle of a cave system with endangered frogs and a bat sanctuary before heading up and climbing a series of rocks to gain a view of a visible portion of the San Andreas fault.
I can honestly say this, to date, is the longest and busiest road trip I've ever attempted. In total, we covered somewhere north 2,500 miles in 49 hours over the five days. It was worth by far, and I wouldn't have changed anything (other than wanting more time). I've gained an entirely new respect for the geography of California; it is some of the most beautiful lands the West has.
Exploring California Day 4/5 | Sequoia NP
Though this was the park that inspired the whole trip, it was the place I struggled the most to capture, though I didn't realize it to its full extent until I returned home. To me, this place is exceptional, but it's the kind of place you need to experience to understand fully. I struggled to try and capture what I saw, their size, magnitude, and scale. So I focused on photographing my experience.
We spent the afternoon slowly walking through these giants admiring them in all their beauty. Going off the trail where we would, doing our best to pay respect and not damage their home. Our walk was probably our shortest hike of the trip, but you wouldn't guess that by how long we took. It was a pleasant slowdown. My brother, being a forester in training, told me fact after fact of these trees as he would occasionally measure them with his foresters tape measure.
Since Kings Canyon is so close to Sequoia, I opted to stay at one of the few lodges in the National Forest. This cut way back on driving letting us, for the first time, have a relaxing night. After hanging out next to General Sherman for at least an hour, we made our way to the lodge. We took advantage of our time there, kayaking on the lake, playing basketball, eating a home cooked dinner in the dining room with fellow adventurers, telling stories by the fireside, and ending the night taking astrophotography in the forest. I could have stayed there for a week.
Exploring California Day 3/5 | Death Valley NP
This day was the day I was looking forward too. I don't know exactly why, but I was the most excited to see Death Valley. We started the day off, yet again, bright and early making it to the edge of Death Valley just in time to greet the sunrise with the Joshua trees. We then found a pull off that led us down to a deep steep-walled ravine with an abundance of very out of place lava rock.
After making down into the valley floor, our first stop was the Sand Dunes. Since we got there early enough, it was still safe to head out to climb the tall dunes as there is a heat caution after 10 AM. We set our sights on the tallest dune that was still virgin to the day's footsteps and headed out. Even though I drank a rather large water bottle just before taking off, I was surprised how quickly the dry air sucked the moisture from my throat. The hike was only a mile at most, but in the sand, it could have been three. Once there, we quickly discovered it was worth every step.
For the rest of the morning and early afternoon, we explored the valley floor and its many sights. I've never been to a desert like this before. Most my experiences in the desert have been in high deserts with the terrain feeling so different from Death Valley. A unique place to me was Badwater Basin (the lowest point in North America at -282), it was so low, dry, and hot with salt everywhere. We later made our way up an old gravel road to a viewpoint a little over a mile above the valley. What a perspective to be that low and then that high in one afternoon seeing from the ground and the mountain what a mile of elevation looks and feels like blew my mind.
With the pressure of another long drive ahead of us, we took off for the day with plans to make one last stop at an old ghost town. To our fortune, this ghost town was on our way, but out of the way to most other travelers. This untraveled road must be well known to the locals, as a small pack of four curious coyotes casually crossed the highway ahead of us without a care. We jumped out to have a closer look and shared a few moments with these fantastic beasts.
