DAY NINE, part two: Visalia CA to Sequoia National Park

DAY NINE, part two: Visalia, CA to Sequoia National Park


We reloaded at the local Wal-Mart in Visalia before heading to see the giant trees. The Sierra Nevada Mountains in the distance are so very beautiful. Its hard to believe we will be crossing those eventually.

Outside of Three Rivers, we stopped at the Last Chance Shop. John went in to see if they sold bungee cords, and told me the majority of the people inside were renting snow chains. Luckily we purchased ours before we headed out (the National Park Service website made it abundantly clear they were required this time of year). As we approached the entrance to the park, traffic began to back up. The “Snow Chains Required” sign and the fact that the ranger was turning people around made John nervous. The chains must not simply be precautiary today.

Now, we took all the precautions with the snow chains. We read up on the park. We planned a route in and out on the way to Yosemite. We did not, however, prepare for the fact that our vehicle is too long to go more than 6 miles into the park due to the heavy snow. Well, shit. We can’t even get near the Sequoias due to the snow. Dammit. We *can* stop at the visitor’s center for information before we double back on our route and enjoy all the wasted time. Yay. I guess we wouldn’t be the Griswolds if we didn’t hear just once “Sorry folks. Park’s closed.”

At the Visitor’s Center I asked the woman just what we would see were we to venture 6 miles into the park. Her answer? Nothing. But the roads are closed so no one is seeing General Sherman today. But General Grant, the #2 sequoia in the park is visible if we want to venture to the more northern less-mountainous section of the park. We just have to back track about 45 miles (I had intended our northward journey to Yosemite to be through the park).

I searched frantically and found some back roads to keep us from back-tracking too far. It was a pleasant surprise that these middle-of-nowhere roads took us through the middle of Sunkist orange groves. Not overly scenic, but pretty interesting nonetheless. Miles and miles and miles of orange groves in all directions. John swears they’re the same groves that are featured in the Soarin’ ride at Epcot! : )

We began the ascent on 180 up to King’s Canyon. Cars coming down often had large clumps of snow on the roof. The road winded and climbed with severe drop-offs right outside my window. The twisting, turning, climbing and fear started to make me feel nauseous. Ugh.

When we passed 4000 feet, we began to see snow. By 5000 feet there was quite a bit of it. By 6000 feet, the drifts were as high as the window. The roads were very clear. Kudos to the National Park Service for the fantastic job of keeping the roads clear!

As we pulled in to Grant’s Village (home of General Grant, the tree) John went inside to show our park pass and I sought to take a picture of a very excited Ava in the snow. That is until John shut her finger in the door. Then the poor baby just wanted to cry. No broken bones or skin, but I’m sure it really hurt. Her first snow picture would wait.

Snow chains were required in this section of the park, but only required to be IN the car, not on it (yet). The park guide felt the road to General Grant might have a mandatory requirement, but he wasn’t sure. We were so relieved to see the road was clear with no requirement for chains.

We parked the RV and bundled up in winter gear. This time Ava was a little more excited to be out in the snow. John and Reagan went ahead to see the tree. Desirae and Kaylin started to amuse themselves throwing snow at each other. I held Ava’s hand and helped her walk. I told her we should make a snowball to throw at the girls. “I can’t!” she said, “I don’t know how!”

A quick lesson, and she was a pro in no time! We walked slowly and she talked about how pretty it was, all the while one of her siblings would go screaming past with another one in hot pursuit carrying a mound of snow in their hand. Ava got in on it and pelted John : ) She made me smile when she asked me, “Mom…can I see what snow tastes like?” Reagan shouted, “Don’t eat yellow snow, Ava!”

We trudged back to the RV with the hopes of getting back down the mountain before the sun went down. As Ava got nearer to the car and her hands got progressively wetter, she began to cry. She didn’t want her gloves off, but she didn’t like the cold! It made me laugh.

As we broke back below the snow line at 4000 feet, we were treated to a beautiful sunset over Fresno in the distance. Now we head to Yosemite, in the dark, and I am hopeful for another wonderful surprise at sunrise!