Kings Canyon

About a month ago, I purchased a tent.  It was a small purchase made with big intentions...a love of the outdoors is a trait that was instilled in my sister and me at an early age by my parents, and it has only grown stronger since I moved to California.  However, even though I have lived in this awesome state for almost a year, I had yet to properly explore it with a camping trip!  To remedy this, Edel and I packed up his little truck, and made the 4 hour drive out to Kings Canyon National Park.


Kings Canyon is neighbors with the famous Sequoia National Park (essentially they are one in the same), yet, somehow, it is much less busy.  It reminded me of Yosemite, but without all the crowds and traffic.  Basically, IT WAS AMAZING.  But don't take my word for it.  Just look at all of my pictures instead!

Me exploring the creek behind our campsite in style.

Pretty river.

A cool bridge on our 9 mile hike to Mist Falls

Hiking through the canyon to Mist Falls.  The scenery changed with the drop of a dime.

General Grant tree.  Not as famous as General Sherman tree, but still pretty big if you ask me...

This guy hitchhiked a ride for a few miles.

 

(Left) Edel is proudly displaying his handy work.  (Right) Some of the scenery on the drive to Kings Canyon

(Left) A sizable tree at our campground.

(Right) On our way to see Roaring River Falls

We walked along this river on our day hike to Mist Falls.  It was pretty darn picturesque.

Roaring River Falls basically just rushes out of a granite chute.  Pretty cool!

 (Left) Edel's truck (which we named 'Pepe') was such a trooper.  Over 12,000 feet of elevation change overall, and he still got almost 30 mpg!  

(Right) The creek by our campsite

Hiking in style

 

Edel's old man bones were feeling those hikes by the end of the day! Above is me on the way to Mist Falls, frolicking in the ferns.

"I'M KING OF THE WOOORRRLLD!!!" 

Another pretty river shot on the way to Mist Falls.  These trusty walking sticks did us a lot of good along the way! 

Spectacular views.  Zero crowds.

We finally made it to Mist Falls, and the view was well worth the hike.  I promise, a picture doesn't do justice to its size!  This is one of the parks largest waterfalls, and it's about 4.5 miles from the nearest road.

Edel enjoyed our lunch break at Mist Falls by testing out the waters of the river.  It was really cold.

We drove past this cute little fall (Grizzly Falls) on our way home.

This picture is more for my father than anyone.  If he understood how far down the bottom of the canyon was, he would not have approved of my posing like this.  I promise that I wasn't in any danger, but it made even Edel nervous.

On our way home we stopped at a sequoia grove to marvel at some big trees, and we weren't disappointed.  They were pretty big.