(Sequoiadendron giganteum along roadway)
The Dreemport Worldmappin Week 3 challenge was to describe my favorite place.
Are you kidding me?! That's like asking me to tell you my favorite friend. Everyone else will take that wrong, and might never speak to me again.
Okay, not everyone. But some will feel confused, or smitten. The same goes for the many places around the world that have shared their hearts and souls with me. So before I answer, my loving condolences to all the other people and places I've loved.
(Hiking above timberline in Sequoia National Park)
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks lay side-by-side in central California, adjacent to the Great Western Divide. Mount Whitney, the tallest peak in the continental United States, lies on its eastern border.
I first fell in love with this 866,000 acre region while hiking in a region called Mineral King. Since then, I have hiked, camped, and vacationed in many segments of this vast area. We have brought our children here since they were infants. It has been our favorite escape place, where after spending fifteen minutes setting up our tent and stringing the hammock, we would let nature melt our cares away.
(South Fork, Kings River; Cedar Grove)
Our favorite place for chilling out is the Cedar Grove area of Kings Canyon. It is a five hour drive from home, and required driving Highway 180, and engineering marvel that hugs cliff sides to reach road's end, where a small number of campgrounds exist. The glacier carved valley rivals Yosemite in its beauty and stature. Thanks to limited traffic, our family could bicycle along the rolling Kings River while admiring canyon walls rising over 4000 feet on both sides, watch fly fishermen seek out an elusive trout, and admire bears geting their fills from rotted trees. At dusk, bats would weave through the trees in search of food.
(Kaweah River along Highway 198 to Sequoia National Park)
Whether getting there from the north entrance on Highway 180, or via the south entrance on Highway 198 to connect with 180, giant sequoia trees will greet you with their staggering height. These gentle giants are the largest volume trees in the world, with some being over 2000 years old. The ecosystems atop the tallest is different from that found at the base.
(Hiker in Sequoia Grove)
Like many things in nature, these giants can take on different shapes and sizes. I like the picture I took here, where two adjacent trees look like the immense paws of an ancient soul that looks after its bretheran, even nurturing some children at its feet.
(Sequoia trunks)
There's plenty of floral color to absorb while roaming these protected vast lands. Every season brings different plants, all pleasantly coexisting along majestic peaks and pristine valleys.
(Alpine flowers)
Some trails take you through grouping of sequoias. Its easy to simply stand and admire these sentinels. Each has witness the passing of hundreds, or in some cases, thousands of years, taking one day at a time.
I've been fortunate to bring many friends here, or in this case, organize a weekend for hiking friends and aquaintances. All waked away with humble adoration for the gifts these parks shower upon us.
(Hiking group)
I will always love these parks, and the joy they always grace me with. All it takes is a few moments of walking among the giants for my soul to be at peace again. I can think of no better reason to escape to their bosom.
(Sequoia grove)
(All pictures were taken by and are property of the author)