Kings Canyon

We motored out of the desert in a cloud of dust and arrived at our new spacious cabin near Kings Canyon national park.

Our accommodation was a little bizarre. To start with, we were in a three bedroom cabin as the smaller ones were already taken. We were one of about six cabins in a lovely, remote country about 3000 feet up. It was a huge block with a small lake, pine trees galore and an old, abandoned airport which was quickly being overrun by nature.

In our apartment, there’s a prospectus for a business plan for 75 cabins with a plan to install a solar power array in the airstrip, which obviously didn’t get off the ground. Our cabin looked like it needed a bit of work, or it too would be in danger of falling back into the earth. Our host greeted us with the news that there had been a bit of a mouse problem in our cabin and to inform them if we see any – not a great start. We actually had a really enjoyable and relaxing stay. There was no TV or internet so we both sat on the deck reading novel after novel and chilling out, interspersed with some lonely walks around the site amongst the pines, wild flowers, hills and abandoned buildings. There were birds of prey aplenty (not my thing so can’t say exactly what they were). Four of them came really close as they rode the thermals on top of a hill we were walking. We were a little nervous when they starting circling directly over us, so we quietly moved off.

Our trip into Kings Canyon itself wasn’t entirely successful. We rose another 3000 ft to 6000 on the short 20 minute drive to the park. As we approached the ranger station, we started to see snow by the roadside – and not just a few patches of leftover winter falls, but 10 foot high, solid ice. When we arrived the temperature had dropped to 49F and we were surrounded by the white stuff. The chap on the car next to us opened his boot and pulled out a pair of skis!

So it came as no great surprise when we discovered the road to the canyon itself was closed. We did manage a very scenic drive along the roads that were open; a short walk around Hume lake, where there is a Christian camp (Hail Mary); and a few excursions to see the giant sequoias that dominate the landscape here including the massive General Grant tree, 267ft high and estimated to be around 2,200 years old which is even older than Alex Ferguson.