Kings Canyon 2016

This is our fall 2016 vacation. We started early morning at Hart Memorial Park in lovely Bakersfield, CA. Then we headed east to our first night destination of Oak Flat Lookout, a 40 foot high tower that was once a manned fire lookout in the Tehachapi Mountains. More recently replaced by aerial fire monitoring,  it is today a very cool  place to rent for the night. 360% views at nearly 5000 feet elevation  make this a unique place to stay.  We had a beautiful sunset, moonlit night, stars, and a spectacular sunrise. There is no water or electricity and getting to it poses quite a problem in a minivan. But once there, it’s as close to sleeping under the stars as you can get with a roof over your head!

The next morning we headed off to Kings Canyon. We set up an early camping spot in Sentinel Campground, prepared dinner, did the dishes, and then slept at Cedar Grove Lodge overnight -- yes -- true urban roughing it! Mostly we just wanted hot showers. The rest of our camping venture was, in fact, camping in a beautiful spot in Sentinel Campground. We offer our highest recommendation for Zumwalt Meadow just a few miles beyond Cedar Grove, especially in its fall glory.

Our last day was up in the clouds, literally, at Grant Grove. The Sequoias were shrouded in mist and their tops were hidden, but they were nevertheless still spectacular.

PS  I hope Dad enjoys his new resting places.