OUR NATIONAL PARK CHALLENGE: TO VISIT ALL 51 NATIONAL PARKS LOCATED IN THE LOWER 48 STATES
COMPLETED
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STILL TO GO
51
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SUNDAY - With only 26-miles to travel between our campsite here in Kings Canyon National Park and our next campsite in Sequoia National Park we remained on our site until 11:00AM.
Both campgrounds have NOON check-in and check-out times so we shouldn't have any arrival time issues today.
We arrived right on time at Lodgepole Campground in Sequoia National Park, only to find our campsite still occupied at 12:02PM. That's alright, because they were almost done packing up to leave and we still need to dump our waste tanks and fill with fresh water before setting up.
Generals Highway is the road that connects Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. It is named after two of the largest and most famous Giant Sequoia Trees, the General Grant Tree in Kings Canyon National Park and General Sherman Tree here in Sequoia National Park.
A short 6.5-mile section of the highway runs outside of both National Parks and instead is in the Sequoia National Forest.
TRAVEL DAY PHOTOS
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While still within Kings Canyon NP we could see the results of last years wildfire season.
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That doesn't mean this year is without it's own wildfires burning in the area.
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Just before leaving Kings Canyon NP we got on more view from an overlook along the highway.
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Oddly enough the Sequoia National Forest looked relatively untounched by wildfire.
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It was nice driving along through this shady section of Sequoia National Forest.
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Here's what it looks like standing just inside of Sequoia NP looking out at the National Forest.
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Other side of the same sign, just outside of Sequoia NP looking in at the National Park. Notice any difference in the way the trees look?
We've done it! With our visit to Sequoia National Park it completes the 4th and final "Travel Quest" that we initially set for ourselves when we started this fulltime traveling lifestyle.
With all four of these initial quests accomplished, what do we do now? Quit traveling? OH HECK NO!
We modify some of our initial quests and add several new ones to the list. We've got plenty to keep us busy for the next few years!
MONDAY - Two days ago Hurricane Rachel came ashore just south of San Diego, CA and made it's way inland as far as Las Vegas, NV. While we didn't get any of the winds or rain from the storm, what we did get was colder weather.
Up until this morning we've been waking to temperatures in the low to mid-50°Fs, quite comfortable really, when there's no wind to go along with it.
Then this morning we experienced outside temperatures of 36°F, all thanks to the void the storm left behind letting the colder weather creep in off the ocean. We've got a few days of these kind of mornings and have decided to take some time off from our sightseeing.
TUESDAY - Well, the pleasure of sitting still didn't take too long to wear off. So today we're going to take a driving tour and check out this National Park from the comfort of ROVER's heated front seats.
Yesterday was very cloudy and never got above 41°F all day. Today it was 30°F when we awoke with frost all over ROVER and THE POD, but it's expected to reach 50°F by mid-afternoon, so we're off to go exploring.
GENERALS HIGHWAY IN SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK (BETWEEN LODGEPOLE CAMPGROUND AND THE FOOTHILLS ENTRANCE)
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Here we are driving through the "Giant Forest" section of Sequoia National Park.
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Those three trees in a row are called "The Three Graces".
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As you can see the Three Graces have suffered some fire damage in their life.
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We've stopped at the Giant Forest Museum where even the fence posts are photo worthy.
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With 30°F temperatures and moisture in the air, it's no wonder that frost covers everything.
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All this moisture is why the trees grow so large in the area.
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Speaking of large trees, here is the Sentinel Tree, 25' around at the base and 258' tall.
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The Sentinel Tree is right outside the front door of the Giant Forest Museum.
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Further south on Generals Highway we drove between two of "The Four Guardsmen".
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This photo was taken looking west at the aptly named "Eleven Range Overlook".
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There was a little smoke in the air from the wildfires near Los Angeles.
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We can see The Generals Highway far below, winding its way through the canyon.
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Cars stopped on the road and people pointing at the trees? We knew exactly what to expect.
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We tried to capture a photo too of the bear as we slowly drove by.
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Here we were able to stop and take video of another bear further down the road.
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We stopped at the "Hospital Rock Picnic Area" and immediately recognized these holes. They are grinding holes where native Indians ground their food into flour and meal.
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Hospital Rock was once home to 500 Potwisha Native Americans. Evidence shows settlement here as early as 1350.
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From this angle it looks like the rocks have some kind of red staining.
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Bit if you climb a little bit higher the ancient pictographs become apparent.
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Underneath the rock is covered in soot from man-made fires.
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On the opposite side of the rock there is another alcove with soot stains.
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There is even a gap at the bottom where items could be passed back and forth.
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Now all we have to do is walk back down to where ROVER is waiting for us to return.
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Every few minutes a helicopter flys by carrying what I believe is fire fighting equipment.
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From just about anywhere on the highway you can see where Moro Rock is located.
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The Generals Highway follows the path of the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River.
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Tunnel Rock was created when a giant granite slab fell over the original highway.
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The road has been re-routed around it so you can no longer drive under it.
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You can defintely walk under it and many people did while we were here today.
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The old roadway is still there under the rock.
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This mammoth 4'x10' sign was carved from a fallen 2000 year old tree. Since 1935, this sign has stood near the entrance of the nation's second-oldest national park.
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Returning back to THE POD Tricia saw another bear walking away in the woods.
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Vehicles more than 22' are not advised to travel this section of the road, thanks to a dozen or more hairpin turns with no shoulders on either side.
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Around this tight corner is a lookout with a 360° view of the park.
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This area is simply called "Overlook" on the park maps.
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Google Maps lists it as "Amphitheater Point Viewpoint".
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From the Viewpoint we had an unobstructed view of Moro Rock high up above us.
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Zooming in on the granite dome makes it look even more imposing.
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Yet, if you look real close you can see people up there!
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Lots of people, behind a railing to keep them safe.
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Here's a not so glamorous photo of Castle Rocks with cloud cover and shadows.
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Tricia and I always say, if you see a sign warning of wildlife, it means you won't see any.
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Looking back down upon the road we've already traveled on, twice now, down and then up!
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Here's a video of us driving back through the "Four Guardsmen".
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Of course we were going to run into "tree cutting" traffic again!
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This time they are stacking the cut down trees right on the roadway.
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That means at least one lane will probably be closed for more than a day or two.
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Somehow these big trees make everything else look smaller than normal.
It was a little after 1:30PM when we arrived back at THE POD after our morning drive. We grabbed a quick lunch and then waited until mid-afternoon before we headed back out to go see "the largest tree in the world".
GENERAL SHERMAN TREE TRAIL
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The Sherman Tree Trail is listed as a "Challenging Hike" in the park brochure. Even though it's only 1-mile round trip, there is 205' of elevation change over its course.
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Here we can see an elderly woman resting after her 1/2-mile climb back to the start.
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At the overlook there is a tile mosaic of General Sherman's footprint, to actual size.
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Here's a side view of the 275' tall, 36.5' wide, General Sherman Tree.
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We waited in a short line to get our photo taken in front of this record breaking tree.
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It's said there is enough lumber in this tree to build 120 average-sized houses.
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That large limb up there is 7' in diameter and 130' from the ground.
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Here's a short video taken form the same location.
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That limb up there is bigger than most ordinary trees.
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Even General Sherman has not escaped being damaged by wildfire.
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I'm sure General Sherman has withstood many fires over it's 2000+ year lifespan.
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The most recent fire in this area was in 2021.
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Here you can see people standing in line and the big burn scar on the General Sherman.
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Usually during the severe winters a branch may fall from the tree.
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Well time to start heading back up the slope to the parking lot.
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There are a lot less people here at the overlook at 3:45PM.
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Slow and Steady wins the race! Just four stairs at a time!
WEDNESDAY - We waited until just after lunch to head out sightseeing today.
Tricia is going on a hike by herself today on the Congress Trail. It's a 3-mile loop with 600' of elevation change, but if I drop her off and pick her up at the Handicap Accessible Parking Lot for the General Sherman Trail, it will shave a full mile off the distance. Making it a more manageable 2-mile hike with only 400' of elevation change.
It was a little bit more than I want to try and besides, she promised me she'd bring back photos of the whole trail!
THE CONGRESS TRAIL
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I dropped Tricia off here at the Shuttle Stop for the General Sherman Tree. Once the Shuttle stops runnng in early September it's becomes a permissible activity.
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The trail starts out with a very interesting feature.
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The trail passes right through a downed Sequoia tree.
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How cool is that?
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Why people feel the need to deface something like this just doesn't make sense to me?
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She'll be seeing many of these Giant Sequoia's along the trail today.
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The trail passes right between these two trees, named "The Tough Twins".
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Now it's time to actually start hiking upon The Congress Trail.
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Here the water appears out of nowhere. Do you hear the bird chirping?
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Tricia started playing "Hide and Seek" with the noisy little creature.
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This was an oddly shaped burn scar on the base of this tree.
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Most burn scars appear more like these do.
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Occaisionally the fire gets inside the protective bark of the tree.
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But this badly burned tree appears to be doing just fine.
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Another burn scar deformity.
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It's hard to believe a tree this badly damaged can survive.
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And yet this one too seems to be doing just fine.
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This tree might quite possibly be called "The President Tree", there was no signage.
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This grouping of trees are collectively called "The Senate".
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It was quite a tight grouping of five average sized Sequoias.
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Looking up into the middle of The Senate Trees.
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Sequoias aren't the only variety of trees found here in the park.
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This group up ahead on the right is called "The House".
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Are you beginning to realize why this is called The Congress Trail?
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Here Tricia holds up a Sequoia Cone which all these giants begin life as.
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Looking up into the center of "The House".
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If I were out on the trail that would be a welcome sight.
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Two separate trees with new found daylight between them.
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Hey, there's a second fun little tunnel to walk through up ahead.
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This one doesn't appear to have suffered from the vandals.
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A young man on the trail, visiting from Germany, was kind enough to take this photo.
THURSDAY - It was another cold morning, 35°F when we woke up, so we waited until it warmed up a little. It would be 69°F by mid-afternoon when we planned our little hike for the day.
We waited until about 11:00AM before we headed out for the day's planned activities.
Tricia packed a picnic lunch that we'll enjoy just before we get to the hiking portion of today's plans.
CRESCENT MEADOW ROAD SCENIC DRIVE
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The beginning of Crescent Meadow Road is right near the Giant Forest Museum.
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This is the first of several planned stops along the roadway.
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Like the sign said, automobiles used to be photgraphed driving on top of this downed tree.
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It doesn't look as if anyone has driven on top of this recently.
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It's still just a little slice of history here in the National Park.
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This collection of Sequoia's in called The Parker Group. It's named after Captain James Parker who served as the Acting Superintendent of Sequoia National Park from 1893-1894.
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People are encouraged to park, get out and walk among the trees, but not carve into them.
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This next stop is the one I've been looking forward to.
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Since I wasn't able to drive ROVER through any Redwood Trees this summer...
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...I'm happy that this Sequoia Tree is more than capable of fitting us through.
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Ready or not, here we come! Plenty of room left over!
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Crescent Meadow has a wonderful picnic area next to the parking lot where we ate lunch. There is also a 1.9-mile loop trail with several historic dwellings to check out.
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There seems to be nowhere in the park that has escaped wildfires over the last 100-years.
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There's only one way to improve on this photo of a Sequoia Tree root ball...
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...and that's to put a high paid fashion model in front of it.
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The fire seems to have reached very high up on these trees.
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As you can read, this is called "The Chimney Tree".
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Crawling inside and looking up will explain the name.
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You can just imagine the fire consuming this tree from the inside out.
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Is it possible that this one little squirrel did all that damage to this tree?
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I believe, given enough time, he absolutely did!
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The damaged trees just seem to be everywhere.
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What is that hiding behind that downed tree?
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It looks as if someone built a home inside of a downed Sequoia Tree.
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That's exactly what Hale Tharp did back in 1861.
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Which made him the first non-Native American to live in the Giant Forest.
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It's a modest cabin but it does have a dining room table and bench seat.
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There's a mantle and a bedroom all the way in the back.
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There's also a fireplace to cook in and keep the place warm during the winters.
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Not sure how he kept the roof waterproof, but I'm sure he figured it out.
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It does kind of blend in with the neighborhood.
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I must admit, I didn't make it this far along the trail today. I've decided to save myself for tomorrows much anticipated hike.
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Is that two trees, or just one tree?
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Wait a minute! Can you spot the neighbors house in this photo?
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This home is called the "Squatters Cabin", built in the 1880s on Hale Tharps land.
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The builder was forced to leave and find somewhere else to build his home.
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It's a much nicer home that Hale Tharp's Log home. Maybe he relocated! I would.
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This identifies as the Western Jack-O'-Lantern Mushroom, an orange to brown-colored gilled poisonous mushroom endemic to the North American west coast.
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Look how the long finger-like bark stretches out to support the leaning tree.
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It's hard to describe just how large this burn scar really is.
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Maybe this will help!
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Almost done with the hike now, time to get back home.
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Here's another video of ROVER and the TWO PEAS driving through the Tunnel Log.
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Here's a sneak peek at the hike I'm looking forward to tomorrow.
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You can see just how high above the parking lot the peak really is.
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From the beginning it doesn't look all that bad.
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I'm sure I won't be wandering off trail on this one.
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A very dangerous portion of the Crescent Meadow drive.
FRIDAY - Today's the day I've personally been looking forward to all week.
It's finally time to test myself with what's listed in the park's brochure as a "Very Challenging Hike".
It's the Moro Rock Trail, listed as only .4-mile round trip, but with a 265' change in elevation. The trail includes over 350 stairs and several steeply sloped walkways.
We watched two YouTube videos last night on what it takes to reach the top and both of us agreed we could do it.
MORO ROCK TRAIL
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At exactly 1:35PM we tackled the first of the 350 stairs. That wasn't so tough!
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As the trail ascends it crosses back and forth from the east to the west side of Moro Rock.
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We've already completed 50 of the stairs and the road is fading away below us.
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The views to the east are of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, known as the Great Western Divide.
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I'm more like the tortoise than the hare, so I keep plodding along while Tricia takes photos.
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The view to the west are of the road leading out of the south end of Sequoia National Park.
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It hard to believe a tree could grow out of solid granite rock.
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No steps here, just grooved asphalt to make it less slippery.
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Ah! The first rest stop, but we're only about 1/3 of the way up the trail.
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We've still got a lot more climbing to do before we reach the top.
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A quick peek over the side might not be a smart thing to do for some people.
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This can't be the top already, it's too soon.
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Nope, just another switchback in the trail.
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San Joaquin Valley stretches out below us to the west.
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Just like the Energizer Bunny, I just keep going and going!
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The top of Moro Rock is at 6725' and I believe we're getting close.
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There were a few tight squeezes where passing was impossible.
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Those are some steep narrow stairs with no handrails.
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See that guy standing up ahead? He's standing on the top!
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We made it! It looks as if a few other people did too.
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That would be a long fall!
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It looks as if we'll have to wait in another line to take photos and the trail's end.
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At least the scenery is nice while we wait.
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LOOK! Proof I made it to the end of the trail.
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Oh yeah! Tricia made it to the end too!
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A 180° view from trail end, east to south to west.
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Here's a little bit better photo of the Castle Mountains from Moro Rock.
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Just 26-miles due east of here is the tallest peak in the Lower 48, Mount Whitney at 14,505'. The mountain's west slope is inside of Sequoia National Park.
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We've been up here on top for 20-minutes and if it were up to Tricia we'd stay until sunset. I tried to give her my "I'm ready to go look" but she didn't pick up on it, or maybe she did.
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Any way, I figured if I just started walking she would soon follow.
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It's a lot easier going down these stairs than they were coming up.
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Good boy ROVER! You stayed right where we left you an hour and a half ago.
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Here's a video driving away from Moro Rock and leaving down Crescent Meadow Road.
SATURDAY - For our final day here in Sequoia National Park we decided to treat ourselves to breakfast at the upscale Wuksachi Lodge, about 2-miles up the road from our campsite.
They have a Breakfast Buffet offer for $25.99 with all the usual items. Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, Sausage, Hash Browns, Potatoes O'Brien, Biscuits and Gravy, Pancakes, Waffles, Fruit, Oatmeal, Breads and of course Coffee, Juice and Hot Chocolate.
I checked under all the hoods before ordering the buffet and all the food "looked" good, but nearly everything was less than luke warm. When will I learn NOT to order the buffet when visiting these concessionaire restaurants in the National Parks.
The one exception to this rule would be the buffet in Zion National Park, it was fresh and hot and delicious.
Tricia ordered the Breakfast Sandwich and received a huge meal, enough that she brought more than half of it home for tomorrow's breakfast.
Tomorrow we start our "slow roll" back to Florida with a bunch of back to back 1-2-3 night stops. For that reason I'll be posting just one once a week until we make it back to Florida.
The trip back won't be totally without any sightseeing to share, just no more National Park visits or destination specific locations.
Our Pacific Coast Year went pretty much as planned, with the exception of one re-route due to a wildfire in Southern Oregon. We saw and experienced just about everthing we had on our list. ROVER and THE POD preformed admirably, although ROVER, now with 156,000 miles, will be getting a couple of concerns checked out this winter before we head out for next year's adventures.
Looking for our Visited States Map and Data? How about our State by State Bucket Lists or Visited Campgrounds List? If so, click on the sign below to be taken to our other website.
While still within Kings Canyon NP we could see the results of last years wildfire season.
That doesn't mean this year is without it's own wildfires burning in the area.
Just before leaving Kings Canyon NP we got on more view from an overlook along the highway.
Oddly enough the Sequoia National Forest looked relatively untounched by wildfire.
It was nice driving along through this shady section of Sequoia National Forest.
Here's what it looks like standing just inside of Sequoia NP looking out at the National Forest.
Here we are driving through the "Giant Forest" section of Sequoia National Park.
Those three trees in a row are called "The Three Graces".
As you can see the Three Graces have suffered some fire damage in their life.
We've stopped at the Giant Forest Museum where even the fence posts are photo worthy.
With 30°F temperatures and moisture in the air, it's no wonder that frost covers everything.
All this moisture is why the trees grow so large in the area.
Speaking of large trees, here is the Sentinel Tree, 25' around at the base and 258' tall.
The Sentinel Tree is right outside the front door of the Giant Forest Museum.
Further south on Generals Highway we drove between two of "The Four Guardsmen".
This photo was taken looking west at the aptly named "Eleven Range Overlook".
There was a little smoke in the air from the wildfires near Los Angeles.
We can see The Generals Highway far below, winding its way through the canyon.
We tried to capture a photo too of the bear as we slowly drove by.
We stopped at the "Hospital Rock Picnic Area" and immediately recognized these holes.
Hospital Rock was once home to 500 Potwisha Native Americans.
From this angle it looks like the rocks have some kind of red staining.
Bit if you climb a little bit higher the ancient pictographs become apparent.
Underneath the rock is covered in soot from man-made fires.
On the opposite side of the rock there is another alcove with soot stains.
There is even a gap at the bottom where items could be passed back and forth.
Now all we have to do is walk back down to where ROVER is waiting for us to return.
From just about anywhere on the highway you can see where Moro Rock is located.
The Generals Highway follows the path of the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River.
Tunnel Rock was created when a giant granite slab fell over the original highway.
The road has been re-routed around it so you can no longer drive under it.
You can defintely walk under it and many people did while we were here today.
The old roadway is still there under the rock.
This mammoth 4'x10' sign was carved from a fallen 2000 year old tree. Since 1935,
Returning back to THE POD Tricia saw another bear walking away in the woods.
Vehicles more than 22' are not advised to travel this section of the road,
Around this tight corner is a lookout with a 360° view of the park.
This area is simply called "Overlook" on the park maps.
Google Maps lists it as "Amphitheater Point Viewpoint".
From the Viewpoint we had an unobstructed view of Moro Rock high up above us.
Zooming in on the granite dome makes it look even more imposing.
Yet, if you look real close you can see people up there!
Lots of people, behind a railing to keep them safe.
Here's a not so glamorous photo of Castle Rocks with cloud cover and shadows.
Tricia and I always say, if you see a sign warning of wildlife, it means you won't see any.
Looking back down upon the road we've already traveled on, twice now, down and then up!
Of course we were going to run into "tree cutting" traffic again!
This time they are stacking the cut down trees right on the roadway.
That means at least one lane will probably be closed for more than a day or two.
Somehow these big trees make everything else look smaller than normal.
The Sherman Tree Trail is listed as a "Challenging Hike" in the park brochure.
Here we can see an elderly woman resting after her 1/2-mile climb back to the start.
At the overlook there is a tile mosaic of General Sherman's footprint, to actual size.
Here's a side view of the 275' tall, 36.5' wide, General Sherman Tree.
We waited in a short line to get our photo taken in front of this record breaking tree.
It's said there is enough lumber in this tree to build 120 average-sized houses.
That large limb up there is 7' in diameter and 130' from the ground.
That limb up there is bigger than most ordinary trees.
Even General Sherman has not escaped being damaged by wildfire.
I'm sure General Sherman has withstood many fires over it's 2000+ year lifespan.
The most recent fire in this area was in 2021.
Here you can see people standing in line and the big burn scar on the General Sherman.
Usually during the severe winters a branch may fall from the tree.
Well time to start heading back up the slope to the parking lot.
There are a lot less people here at the overlook at 3:45PM.
Slow and Steady wins the race! Just four stairs at a time!
I dropped Tricia off here at the Shuttle Stop for the General Sherman Tree.
The trail starts out with a very interesting feature.
The trail passes right through a downed Sequoia tree.
How cool is that?
Why people feel the need to deface something like this just doesn't make sense to me?
She'll be seeing many of these Giant Sequoia's along the trail today.
The trail passes right between these two trees, named "The Tough Twins".
Now it's time to actually start hiking upon The Congress Trail.
This was an oddly shaped burn scar on the base of this tree.
Most burn scars appear more like these do.
Occaisionally the fire gets inside the protective bark of the tree.
But this badly burned tree appears to be doing just fine.
Another burn scar deformity.
It's hard to believe a tree this badly damaged can survive.
And yet this one too seems to be doing just fine.
This grouping of trees are collectively called "The Senate".
It was quite a tight grouping of five average sized Sequoias.
Looking up into the middle of The Senate Trees.
Sequoias aren't the only variety of trees found here in the park.
This group up ahead on the right is called "The House".
Are you beginning to realize why this is called The Congress Trail?
Here Tricia holds up a Sequoia Cone which all these giants begin life as.
Looking up into the center of "The House".
If I were out on the trail that would be a welcome sight.
Two separate trees with new found daylight between them.
Hey, there's a second fun little tunnel to walk through up ahead.
This one doesn't appear to have suffered from the vandals.
A young man on the trail, visiting from Germany, was kind enough to take this photo.
The beginning of Crescent Meadow Road is right near the Giant Forest Museum.
This is the first of several planned stops along the roadway.
Like the sign said, automobiles used to be photgraphed driving on top of this downed tree.
It doesn't look as if anyone has driven on top of this recently.
It's still just a little slice of history here in the National Park.
This collection of Sequoia's in called The Parker Group. It's named after Captain James Parker
This next stop is the one I've been looking forward to.
Since I wasn't able to drive ROVER through any Redwood Trees this summer...
...I'm happy that this Sequoia Tree is more than capable of fitting us through.
Crescent Meadow has a wonderful picnic area next to the parking lot where we ate lunch.
There seems to be nowhere in the park that has escaped wildfires over the last 100-years.
There's only one way to improve on this photo of a Sequoia Tree root ball...
...and that's to put a high paid fashion model in front of it.
The fire seems to have reached very high up on these trees.
As you can read, this is called "The Chimney Tree".
Crawling inside and looking up will explain the name.
You can just imagine the fire consuming this tree from the inside out.
Is it possible that this one little squirrel did all that damage to this tree?
The damaged trees just seem to be everywhere.
What is that hiding behind that downed tree?
It looks as if someone built a home inside of a downed Sequoia Tree.
That's exactly what Hale Tharp did back in 1861.
Which made him the first non-Native American to live in the Giant Forest.
It's a modest cabin but it does have a dining room table and bench seat.
There's a mantle and a bedroom all the way in the back.
There's also a fireplace to cook in and keep the place warm during the winters.
Not sure how he kept the roof waterproof, but I'm sure he figured it out.
It does kind of blend in with the neighborhood.
I must admit, I didn't make it this far along the trail today.
Is that two trees, or just one tree?
Wait a minute! Can you spot the neighbors house in this photo?
This home is called the "Squatters Cabin", built in the 1880s on Hale Tharps land.
The builder was forced to leave and find somewhere else to build his home.
It's a much nicer home that Hale Tharp's Log home. Maybe he relocated! I would.
This identifies as the Western Jack-O'-Lantern Mushroom, an orange to brown-colored
Look how the long finger-like bark stretches out to support the leaning tree.
It's hard to describe just how large this burn scar really is.
Maybe this will help!
Almost done with the hike now, time to get back home.
Here's a sneak peek at the hike I'm looking forward to tomorrow.
You can see just how high above the parking lot the peak really is.
From the beginning it doesn't look all that bad.
I'm sure I won't be wandering off trail on this one.
At exactly 1:35PM we tackled the first of the 350 stairs. That wasn't so tough!
As the trail ascends it crosses back and forth from the east to the west side of Moro Rock.
We've already completed 50 of the stairs and the road is fading away below us.
The views to the east are of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, known as the Great Western Divide.
I'm more like the tortoise than the hare, so I keep plodding along while Tricia takes photos.
The view to the west are of the road leading out of the south end of Sequoia National Park.
It hard to believe a tree could grow out of solid granite rock.
No steps here, just grooved asphalt to make it less slippery.
Ah! The first rest stop, but we're only about 1/3 of the way up the trail.
We've still got a lot more climbing to do before we reach the top.
A quick peek over the side might not be a smart thing to do for some people.
This can't be the top already, it's too soon.
Nope, just another switchback in the trail.
San Joaquin Valley stretches out below us to the west.
Just like the Energizer Bunny, I just keep going and going!
The top of Moro Rock is at 6725' and I believe we're getting close.
There were a few tight squeezes where passing was impossible.
Those are some steep narrow stairs with no handrails.
See that guy standing up ahead? He's standing on the top!
We made it! It looks as if a few other people did too.
That would be a long fall!
It looks as if we'll have to wait in another line to take photos and the trail's end.
At least the scenery is nice while we wait.
LOOK! Proof I made it to the end of the trail.
Oh yeah! Tricia made it to the end too!
Here's a little bit better photo of the Castle Mountains from Moro Rock.
Just 26-miles due east of here is the tallest peak in the Lower 48, Mount Whitney at 14,505'.
We've been up here on top for 20-minutes and if it were up to Tricia we'd stay until sunset.
Any way, I figured if I just started walking she would soon follow.
It's a lot easier going down these stairs than they were coming up.
Good boy ROVER! You stayed right where we left you an hour and a half ago.
