Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park

Can you name a word that has all five vowels? If you guessed Sequoia you also know random trivia like Terry does. We just got back from our 4 day camping trip to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park. Now we've gone camping every year since Ian was a baby but this was our first trip without extended family and with 2 mobile kids. And to make things worse we arrived to find that to get to our campsite from our truck involved a steep 30 foot hike down a hill and across a stream. It was also about 10 ft away from a gushing river. Oh and the bear box in which you have to keep anything with a scent in was broken so we were going to have to hike about 200 feet to the "extra" camp bear box to get anything. I almost started crying. Luckily the campers next to us wanted our site and they had a spare site so we got it... for the 1st night. Then we had to move sites the next day to a nice site away from the river, up a 30 foot hill this time. Campsites aside we had a great time. Poor Heidi who thinks she is a professional walker fell about every 2 steps due to rocks and uneven ground. Our main goal for 4 days was to find some way to confine her and keep her happy. In every picture where she is being held she is throwing a fit because she wanted to get down and explore. She would literally scream and draw lots of attention then the second you put her down she would smile and take off to do her own thing. Here is a summary of the trip through pictures because that is how my mind works.
2 bear cubs and their mommy. Terry saw them on our way into the park.











Creative ways to confine Heidi while we set up camp.












The General Sherman tree- the largest living thing. It is an estimated 3200 years old. It is truly amazing to hike around these huge trees. They are all so big you really can't tell which is the biggest.
















Our 2nd campground up the hill. I am standing halfway up the hill the take the picture.














The top of Moro Rock. Note the monkey leash on Ian. Just a safety precaution since the entire hike was up a shear cliff. His hand was tightly grasped into mine the entire time. Ian thought he was a dog with the leash and spent the hike actually sniffing the ground and panting like a dog. He made it a point to pant loudly to each passerby and say to them "I'm a dog" We got a lot of strange looks and a few laughs.













Hiking in Grants grove near the General Grant (3rd largest living thing) Notice how happy Heidi is walking along out of the stroller.











Roaring River Falls in Cedar Grove








Waking up in the tent