this is the parking lot, and one of the overland ski and snowshoeing trailheads at Grant’s Grove in Kings Canyon National Park. Snow play great here too …never mind the giant tree vistas as well. Only about 45 minutes east of Fresno California ( my town ) , easy drive with ( usually ) clear main highway roads. Lunch at the main lodge is great …plus a “ outdoors “ pick-up “ window for food. Many picnic tables tho you might have to dig them out of the snow if they aren’t already.
QOL post …. In keeping with Kocopr’s ... - Advanced Prostate...
QOL post …. In keeping with Kocopr’s winter sports fun, this is the snowshoe and ski trailhead in Kings Canyon national park.
Written by
Kaliber
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Beautiful! Thanks for sharing. ❄️
That's a gorgeous picture. Mahalo for that QoL Pic. Keep it coming Bruddah
Love the redwoods.
there are dozens of local tribes and they own sizable chunks of the wilderness….. you find some of them “ deep in the slot machines “ counting their newfound millions. Yayahahahaya.
Which btw is another great place to QOL at. This resort ( one of many locally ) , even if you don’t gamble is 4stars, heated pool, spa… fabulous restaurants and extensive gaming if you are into that. They are extremely wheelchair friendly and that’s makes QOL visits a Breeze.
Chuckchansi casino
Looks like a great getaway Special-K. I bet you really pick up some elevation on the drive up there. Just for kicks I looked at the distance from there to Mammoth where I ski, and it’s only about 80 air miles, but to drive there, it’s about 400 miles down to Bakersfield and around to 395-N. Interesting geography, and very few passes through the Sierras in the winter.
the drive up there to kings canyon is easy on your car as Sierra roads go, good quality with no switchbacks. It’s around 6500’ ,I think , in the grants grove. Roads across the sierras, or should I say reasonable roads , are few. There is Tioga pass road in Yosemite during summer before it snows. It’s long and slow at 45 mph in most places and switchbacks ( heavily patrolled by park speed radar cars ) but one of the most scenic trans Sierra roads ever at 10,000’ altitude at the peak. There’s I-80 and going around at Bakersfield , thru Tehachapi up 395. There are other rough going ways but , they are rough.
I love mammoth … not for skiing but I love the thermal features and Volcanic fumaroles. Right where you turn into Mammoth, across the road , is the big thermal power plant. There are fields of fumaroles around the outside of the plant spewing - spitting steam and colored chemicals …the ground can melt your soles in places. It’s a wonderland of volcanic surprises at night if you take a good quality gen 3 thermal imager and roam those fields and the creek below. An experience you’ll remember forever. The whole volcanic cauldron there is worth the trip alone. There are many volcanic hot water and steam hikes along the creek. If you exit Mammoth , turn south on 395, down the hill a number of miles there is that large dead forest on the right heading south. Poisonous volcanic gases escaped out of the ground there and killed that whole forest. It’s still escapes now in lesser amounts, you can take a personal gas detector there and it sets off the alarm. There is a picnic area nearby … I’m always a little nervous there but ….hey … live life exciting…..right.
Thanks for stimulating great and many memories of the eastern Sierras going back to my childhood. So wondrous! So beautiful! I remember driving to Mammoth from San Diego during college and med school to ski. 1AM to arrive when lifts open. Ski until they close. Then drive back to SD because don’t have the price of a room, only a lift ticket.
The last few years I have been taking backpacking trips to Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite and also doing sections of the John Muir Trail. Also motorcycle adventures on my BMW down 395 then easy access to Death Valley and the Bristlecone Pine groves. 🌲🏕🏔⛷🏂 Oh Yeah!
I grew up amongst the northern California coastal redwoods. This photo is awesome. I'm adding a side trip to our itinerary for our next Cali trip
kings canyon is way less crowded than Yosemite and the hike/s at the Grant’s grove very satisfying. Hume lake is beautiful and kayaks, and John boats are rentals at the Christian center. Trout fishing in ( planted ) Hume lake is first rate. Wax worms floated with yellow power bait are best. Getting in and out is easier than Yosemite as well. Great food in the main center restaurant.
“‘it’s great to be alive.”
lol … then the drugs wear off and … then uuuuhh , it’s so -so on good days Yayahahahaya
❤️❤️❤️
giant redwoods are always a great destination, people all over the world come to see them …. stay in the Clovis Fresno metro at one of the luxury “ suites “ hotels ( very affordable in out of the way Fresno ) that line the freeway … less just 45-50 mile drive up on nice roads ( not those dizzying switchbacks like going to Yosemite ) takes a little over an hour ….stay the day and see grants grove and Hume lake …. Rent a John boat or a tandem kayak and it’s an easy paddle on Hume lake.
Or you can take her to Monterey for a stunning coastal experience. I’ll do that QOL trip next but you can p.m. me for specifics of staying. affordability, literally right on the beach …watching whales right out your room window. Fire and s’mores on the beach at night ( kits sold at front desk ) , 2 star restaurant with jaw dropping views ( get the cioppino ) … room service, magnificent bar room with ocean view seating and huge fireplace. Great spa deck with heated pool and spa. Monterey Bay Aquarium, kayaking rentals, cannery row and too much to list .
Giant redwoods
Looks like a dream land. I have lived in many coastal states and when I lived in Cali SD area I never got that far North except when I lived in Alaska, but the trees in Cali are from another world. QOL posts definitely break up the depressing but necessary posts. Thanks
yes buddy. By nature this disease is depression inducing …. all the news of passing brothers doesn’t make things better. Having a little QOL fun , while we can, helps brighten everyone’s world…including our grieving families / loved ones.
❤️❤️❤️
yea buddy … launch in that parking lot at the end of cannery row, opposite the aquarium.
We are card carrying charter members of the aquarium, no waiting in those long lines, stay time limits or tickets for us yayahahahaya. The special side members entrance is very wheelchair accessible too. That aquarium is a treasure.
I used to be an informal kayaking guide for the Mendota slough and the Moro Bay estuary. If you want to do an relitavely easy ocean estuary paddle using tide timing , let me know …. I can give you the info.
Trailered kayaks
Moro rock from the water
Moro rock
bottom view
Super dense Bristlecone Pine wood
May it inspire long life, Kaliber
I’d grind that chit up ( bristle cone ), pour smoky fish sauce on it and snort it if I thought it’d help one iota yayaya yayayaya. Just say’in. 😂😂😂😂
Thank you bruddha MB, this QOL stuff is a fun diversion, even if it’s not for very long. ❤️❤️❤️ it helps us fluff up our easy - fun things to do QOL lists. It’s all good. Thanks for diving in and sharing with us brother.
in reply to Kaliber
so clever!!
The redwoods are on my ever growing bucket list. My son has mentioned it as well. He’s 16. Maybe I can talk him into an adventure this summer!
Wow, looks fantastic!! Those trees look massive. Hope you and the missus had a great time. xx
thanks Kim … those trees are supposed to be among the largest living things on earth …. and boy howdy they surely look it up close. Both Yosemite and king canyon National parks are local to Fresno. I used to drive up sometimes three days a week to trout fish in Hume Lake in Kings Canyon. I’ve spent a lot of time up there and never got enough of it.
Hume Lake in Kings Canyon National Park is a great place to kayak among the pines and giant redwoods. This photo is of my friends Mike and Bob on Hume Lake. I’m in another kayak taking the picture .
I hope you and Clint are doing ok too. How has Clint been doing ? Haven’t heard much about him recently.
Love ya ❤️❤️❤️
Friends Bob and Mike in Hume Lake , Kings Canyon.
Here is my Google Photos album from my Bday Monterey trip last year, if you're interested 😊photos.app.goo.gl/S2A8zwqBQ...
those are great aquarium pictures buddy …. A great example of what you can see there. They also have aquatic talks , shows …. in the outdoors amphitheater , critter talks / walks in the tide pool and even snorkeling with wetsuits camps , in the tide pool, for the youngsters. More fun than a sack of slimy eels bruddha. Monterey Bay aquarium is a great QOL visit.
😁😁😁
Yea, had a blast there, but it's almost 4 1/2 hrs from Tehachapi, maybe I can to over a 3 day weekend😀
go stay at the Tides, ( ocean facing room ) …. Do the aquarium / cannery row thing first day , …..bring your swim trunks and enjoy the socializing party on the spa / heated pool …spa deck after dinner and then get the s’mores/ firewood kit at the front desk … stop by the bar on your way to the Sandy beach only a few steps away and have some surf side relaxing fireside s’mores fun. Bring your new friends from the spa deck. ( new out of state friends will want you to bring some killer bud or vape , just say’in).
Next morning , find your way back to your room ( yayahahahaya just kidding ) … order some lavish room service breakfast (/quench those lingering munchies ) … put on your running shoes … walk or run the couple miles into Monterey on the very exotic ( and often crowded ) pacific coast hike and bike trail , …it crosses the driveway right at the tides and is one block up the hill by the time you get to the cannery row - aquarium . Bike rentals in lobby of the tides too. Exotic jasmine, Star anise , eucalyptus and zillions of exotic coastal flowers line the trail all thru town to 17 mile drive and beyond. It’s a fragrance overload.
Go back to the tides and eat dinner ( their cioppino is killer ) or have it in your room …. Put on your trunks , your robe and beach towel ( robe and beach towels furnished in-room ) rinse … repeat.
You won’t forget “ that “ road trip ….. ever. The down side is it’s very addictive and you’ll hunger for it again, endlessly , like a lost puppy. 😂😂😂😂❤️❤️❤️
Just say’in
Mahalo Bruddah Kal,
Gonna have to get that trip in some day, I ain't retiring soon, unless something goes South, so would have to like block off the time. That's a wonderful itinerary.
Maybe around Labor Day down the road
You mentioning Cioppino is getting my saliva glands working OT
Luv ya Bruddah Kal you da best
I'm late to the party but just want to add my thanks for the post. Its all good stuff. Like how it grows with input over the days.
good observation brother … grows kinda like loco weed ….kinda.
Yayahahahaya yayahahahaya.
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