California Deserts & Anza NHT - Spring 2015

[Pmount]

Saturday, March 28, 2015

Start & Finish: Buckeye Flats campground, Sequoia National Park


Click here for this RTA Library Map

Very late morning in camp, enjoyable weather and quiet surroundings. Shortly before noon we left camp and drove across Sequoia National Park into Kings Canyon National Park. We stopped at Giant Forest Museum for passport stamp and to walk the Tall Trees trail.

Tall Trees trail at Sequoia National Park


We stopped for a picnic lunch along the way, much cooler even in the early afternoon. The lack of snow in the Sierras is evident and part of the severe drought throughout the state. We saw a few patches along the road, but nothing significant. Even the high peaks of the Sierras had some snow, but much less than normal for this time of year.

On the way back to camp we stopped for a few flower pictures of flowers I had spotted on the way up.

Flowers of the day



Back at camp a short trail went up canyon and crossed the Middle Fork Kaweah River. More flowers along the way and a squirrel posed before reaching the rushing water. We heard birds around camp, but the foliage made it difficult to see and identify. We definitely prefer the desert environment for bird watching.

Tree squirrel


Middle Fork of Kaweah River


Passport Stamp
Sequoia National Park - Giant Forest, CA
Kings Canyon National Park - Grant Grove, CA

Wildlife sightings
Fox Squirrel
Ground Squirrel
Lizard

Dark-eyed Junco
Common Raven