Date: Tue, 16 Jul 1996 13:05:10 -0400
From: Eddiehintz@aol.com
Subject: Trip Report: Sequoia/Kings Canyon
Hey now,
It is 10 PM, 12 July. I write from the bed in the back of the bus,
a wonderful day of memories and spectacular views behind me. Arcturus
shines brightly overhead, along with a multitude of stars not visible
from the city, and the King river flows noisily by just a few hundred
yards away. We are at Sentinel campground, Kings Canyon National
Park. The food is in the bear locker, and it's nearly bedtime, but
first I have a trip report to write, and about 3 days worth of email
to answer.
Our bus performed well, driving from the desert up to Sequoia
National Park, and up to about 7000 feet. It was somewhat unhappy
though, and it let me know by losing the nut on the distributor
clamp. Took a look this morning, replaced it, and did a valve
adjustment, and she's back to running like a champ, albeit a noisy
one. I really need to find a quieter exhaust. We got a late start out
of Victorville on the afternoon of the 11th, finally left at about
1:30 pm, and did a little shopping in Bakersfield. Got food for 2
days of camping and headed on up to Sequoia. Finally got there about
7:30 or so, and started looking for a campground. Drove on up to
Lodgepole campground, and started looking for a campsite. Wrote down
all the open tent sites at the front, and started looking for them.
The numbering system at Lodgepole was done by a serious dyslexic. The
Rangers started following us after about half an hour, probably
thought they had a carload of lost stoned hippies. 1 out of 2 isn't
bad... (lost, that is, not stoned) So we asked them where the heck
these sites were and they basically said the the system was screwy
and we'd have to keep circling. I asked about Dorst campground, and
they said it would likely be less crowded, so we decided to head that
way. Got to Dorst, and it cost 12 bucks a night, and Sam saw the bear
warning signs, and the plague warning signs (from fleas off of
squirrels), and it was decided that we would go back to Lodgepole and
try harder. This time I wrote down the RV sites, and lo and behold,
one was very nearby and empty. We took it.
So, it's now 9:30, and it's time to cook dinner. We diligently
loaded all the food into the bear locker and Sam commenced to cook
whilst I unloaded the bus into the tent. So I'm unloading when I
suddenly see this large black shape make a tracks for the open food
locker, not 5 feet away from Sam. Not good. I got Sam's attention and
she made a beeline to the bus. I was not far behind. I had camped in
bear country before, but never actually had one approach a lighted
campsite with people moving about. So, we sat in the
bus, wondering what to do. Our dinner is still
cooking on the stove, and mister bear is eating up the rest of our
food. Fortunately for us, a fellow a few campsites over heard the
commotion and had a bit more experience with bears. He and a buddy
moseyed on over with a big flashlight and some sticks, and commenced
to throw rocks at our visitor. The bear didn't like this very much,
and charged the 3 of us. We scattered like feathers in a
hurricane-fast and in all directions. I guess none of us knew that
you're supposed to bluff out the bears. Mr. bear went back to eating,
so we went back to name calling and rock throwing. Finally Ted (the
fellow from next door) popped him in the neck with a rock, and he
decided to bail. We took the obligatory pictures of
the locker, and closed it up, and I started to try and clean some of
our mess up. At this point our hamburger dinner is pretty much burnt,
and Sam refuses to get out of the bus for any reason. Doesn't want
the food in the bus either. I guess I can't blame her for that. So
I'm trying to clean up, when who should return but our uninvited
dinner guest. He really liked the 10 or so Rice Crispy Treats he got
and wanted more. Since the locker was now closed, he decided our $90
12 volt cooler would suffice, never mind that all it had was a couple
of Coors Light at this point. He took off with the dang thing, and
Ted says we'll get fined if the bear gets away with it, so we take
off after the bear and cooler. Our other neighbor stays back and
provides flashlight support, he didn't like being charged. So Ted and
I take off with my MiniMagLite, and a bunch of rocks, and catch up
with the bear about 300 feet away. We get him to abandon the Coors
with a hail of rocks, then beat a hasty retreat with the cooler back
to camp. While on this adventure, Sam and the other neighbors threw
away the food on the stove, so we stuffed everything into the extra
food locker, while Mr. Bear prowled the perimeter, thinking about
rice crispy treats. Of course we all talked about it for a while,
because of the adrenalin, then told it all to the Ranger when he
dropped by. He talked bear stories for a while too. The end result
was that the only one who got dinner was the bear. 10 rice crispy
treats, 3 granola bars, a taste of the milk and dried potatoes, some
carrots and grapes for a balanced meal, and some Coors Light to wash
it down. Good dinner. Lots better than mine. Sam doesn't want to camp
at Lodgepole for a while. So we packed up this morning and headed for
Kings Canyon. 
Good choice. The scenery is truly spectacular. The
drive in featured a drop from around 8000 ft. to about 3-4000 feet,
providing exquisite panoramic views and no less than 4
waterfalls.
Gorgeous. And the smell-the scent of pines, mixed
with the sweet odor of the river. We shot a roll and a half of film
in about 2 hours, maybe less. Just absolutely breathtaking scenery,
all with the King River flowing through it. I wish I'd
discovered this place a few years ago, but from LA I always figured
it was too far to drive and went to Sequoia Nat. Forest
instead.
We will remain here through Saturday night, then head for the
coast to stay with friends in the bay area, before heading north on
PCH toward Vancouver. Through the redwood forests. In a '70 VW bus.
Perhaps we have not yet passed on, but this truly is an incarnation
of heaven. Bears and all.
Peace,
Eddie
Back to the Main Trip
page
bus, wondering what to do. Our dinner is still
cooking on the stove, and mister bear is eating up the rest of our
food. Fortunately for us, a fellow a few campsites over heard the
commotion and had a bit more experience with bears. He and a buddy
moseyed on over with a big flashlight and some sticks, and commenced
to throw rocks at our visitor. The bear didn't like this very much,
and charged the 3 of us. We scattered like feathers in a
hurricane-fast and in all directions. I guess none of us knew that
you're supposed to bluff out the bears. Mr. bear went back to eating,
so we went back to name calling and rock throwing. Finally Ted (the
fellow from next door) popped him in the neck with a rock, and he
decided to bail. We took the obligatory pictures of
the locker, and closed it up, and I started to try and clean some of
our mess up. At this point our hamburger dinner is pretty much burnt,
and Sam refuses to get out of the bus for any reason. Doesn't want
the food in the bus either. I guess I can't blame her for that. So
I'm trying to clean up, when who should return but our uninvited
dinner guest. He really liked the 10 or so Rice Crispy Treats he got
and wanted more. Since the locker was now closed, he decided our $90
12 volt cooler would suffice, never mind that all it had was a couple
of Coors Light at this point. He took off with the dang thing, and
Ted says we'll get fined if the bear gets away with it, so we take
off after the bear and cooler. Our other neighbor stays back and
provides flashlight support, he didn't like being charged. So Ted and
I take off with my MiniMagLite, and a bunch of rocks, and catch up
with the bear about 300 feet away. We get him to abandon the Coors
with a hail of rocks, then beat a hasty retreat with the cooler back
to camp. While on this adventure, Sam and the other neighbors threw
away the food on the stove, so we stuffed everything into the extra
food locker, while Mr. Bear prowled the perimeter, thinking about
rice crispy treats. Of course we all talked about it for a while,
because of the adrenalin, then told it all to the Ranger when he
dropped by. He talked bear stories for a while too. The end result
was that the only one who got dinner was the bear. 10 rice crispy
treats, 3 granola bars, a taste of the milk and dried potatoes, some
carrots and grapes for a balanced meal, and some Coors Light to wash
it down. Good dinner. Lots better than mine. Sam doesn't want to camp
at Lodgepole for a while. So we packed up this morning and headed for
Kings Canyon. 
Good choice. The scenery is truly spectacular. The
drive in featured a drop from around 8000 ft. to about 3-4000 feet,
providing exquisite panoramic views and no less than 4
waterfalls.
Gorgeous. And the smell-the scent of pines, mixed
with the sweet odor of the river. We shot a roll and a half of film
in about 2 hours, maybe less. Just absolutely breathtaking scenery,
all with the King River flowing through it. I wish I'd
discovered this place a few years ago, but from LA I always figured
it was too far to drive and went to Sequoia Nat. Forest
instead.