Bear Alert!

Our trip to Sequoia National Park with Gene's daughter, Terri, and granddaughter, Nanaette, was quite exciting. Every night black bears came into the campground looking for food. We were warned to take all food, gum, car deodorizer, toiletries (anything with an odor) out of our car and put it in the bear-proof box. Since the park's opening two weeks before our arrival, there had been eight car break-ins by bears. They simple smash in the windows and search for food.

As soon as it would get dark, you could hear people shouting, clapping their hands and chasing off the bears. Because the bears are black and there was no moon, we never saw the bears. Glad we were not in a tent. We even brought our step in at night! One can't be too safe.


Nanaette is now a Junior Ranger and promised to pick up litter and care for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.


This waterfall in Kings Canyon feeds into the Kings River. The canyon was discovered on the Feast of the Three Kings, thus its name. Nanaette loved wading in the creek below the falls.


Nanaette stands inside a big log in the Giant Forest at Sequoia National Park.


The General Sherman giant Sequoia is the largest living thing on this planet! It is estimated to be 2300-2700 years old, is 274' tall, over 100' around at the base and absolutely magnifient. The tallest tree in the world is a coastal redwood approx. 100' taller than General Sherman. The oldest tree is a Calif. bristlecone pine at about 4900 years old.


I told Nanaette, "If you walk up very quietly, maybe you can get a better look." I had to stop her before she got TOO close.


There were sugar pine cones scattered all about our campsite. These are the largest pine cones in the world. They are about half as long as Nanaette is tall.