Yesterday we drove 450km from LA to Montecito Sequoia Lodge between Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park. The drive was through the San Joquain valley which is desert like but irrigated by water from various rivers. The climb out of LA over the mountains was amazing with 12-16 lane freeways carved through mountains. We went through some small 'interesting' towns before finally starting the climb up into the High Sierra Nevada Mountain range. We took California Hwy 198 which wound its way up the mountains (with only one case of car sickness). There was over 9 miles (15km) of switchbacks (hairpin bends) until we finally reached the 5000 ft mark where the sequoia trees are located. There are 70 groves on the west facing slopes between 5000-7000 feet. The oldest tree is 3,200 years old. They are majestic and amazing.
The lodge is set amongst pine trees at 7400 feet, above the sequoias beside a lake where we have done SUPing, paddle boating, and canoeing. There is archery and walks to various look outs.
Today we drove to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redwood_Mountain_Grove which is the largest grove of sequoias with the tallest in the grove reaching 95 metres into the sky!
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