Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Death Valley Vacation

Recently, I had the chance to take a great trip out to California and do some camping and training in Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Death Valley National Parks, and Manizilla National Historical Site. The trip was a great opportunity to see some really unique parks with an extreme range of environments and eco systems.

Inside a burn scar on the Michigan Tree

The first night in Sequoia/Kings Canyon national parks my travel partner and I arrived to almost 4 feet of snow on the ground! It was a real shock to go on a spring trip to a place with more snow then Minnesota. We snowshoed around the Grant Grove, the largest concentration of old growth of Sequoia trees in the world. We were able to get up close to some of the largest trees in the world including the Grant Tree, the third largest living thing on earth!

The tent set up in a Sequoia grove the morning after the snow storm

My first night camping in Kings Canyon National Park a snow storm came through and dumped 15 inches of heavy wet snow in the Sierra Nevada Mts. It was cool to wake up to that much snow on the ground - and the top of the tent. My REI Arete 2 Mountaineering tent held up great.

Death Valley National Park

Next we drove a few hours east to Death Valley National Park, home to Badwater Basin the lowest point in the western hemisphere at -282 feet. The 90 degree heat and below sea level desert basin was a real contrast to the snow drifts, Sequoias, and 9000 feet elevation of Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park. The park is ringed by mountains and has really cool sand dunes, salt flats, and salt water creeks the provide a home to some very hearty plants and animals.

A Salt Flat In Death Valley

While on the trip I was able to do some long workouts in the parks I visited. I did a long (and tough) snowshoe workout in Kings Canyon and also did several runs on the Badwater Ultra Marathon course. A few weeks ago I would not have said that I have any interest in running Badwater (a race from Death Valley to Mt. Whitney in July!) but after seeing the course and the national park I can see how it would be an alluring challenge. During my workouts I also tested a new energy gel called Ignite. The difference between this gel and others is the source of the simple sugar. In Ignite these simple sugars come from fig paste. The taste is good, slightly sweet but not overwhelming. The texture is very similar to the center of a fig newton, slightly gritty. I liked the consistency and taste and found that it worked well for delivering and keeping my energy level consistent.

At Badwater Basin, -282 feet. The lowest point in the western hemisphere.

Think gas prices are high? Try almost $6 a gallon in Death Vally National Park!