jim & julia's hiking trip

They searched online.  They searched in books.  They called around.  They talked with people.  Some were closed due to snow.  Some were too far away.  Some did not allow campfires.  It was a bit difficult trying to find a trail to hike this late in the season for little ones.  But they finally found one.  Middle Fork Trail, in the low Sierras, was what they set their sights on.

Julia loves to hike and explore.  But this was new territory for her; this was her first overnight trip...but no nerves on this girl, she was ready!  She had been waiting patiently ever since the guys took their trip last year up in the Dinky Lakes area.

Packing up their gear over the next week got them both pretty excited, especially Juls.  They were both in the garage most of the week during their free time organizing (and drooling).  It's lots of work, getting the gear together.  But it's fun work.  But being the 'make-no-waves' girl that Juls is, the night before their trip she turns to Jim and says,  "Dad, if this is too much work, we don't have to go."  Jim assured her that it was not a problem and he was really looking forward to the trip...and that appeased her.

Friday morning rolls around and they're off around 10:00.  It was quite the sight watching the two of them getting in the car, getting situated and driving off together.  Precious.  Father and daughter.

They got to the trailhead around 12:00 noon.  One of the first things they saw, even before they got their packs on, was  Hospital Rock and Indian hieroglyphics.  After exploring this site, they packed up and started their hike in of about 3.5 miles to the camp site.

On Saturday, they had planned to hike up to Panther Falls and then stay another night back at their camp site but because a storm was coming in they decided they better pack out and get home.  On their way home they stopped by the Giant Sequoia Museum...a destination that's on our list.

So, 5:00 Saturday night, they walk in and surprise all of us.  Per their request, we had pizza and hot wings for dinner that night.  A perfect ending.  =)

HOSPITAL ROCK
This site on the Kaweah River was once home to Native Americans belonging to the Potwisha sub-group of the Monache or Western Mono Indians.  The area got it's name in 1873, when James Everton stayed here to recover from a gunshot wound he had received while stumbling into a shotgun snare set to trap bear.

  

GEARING UP!

Sporting the new gear Mom Z. bought for us:  a 3-man tent (they actually could sit up in--something Jim & Basil couldn't do in the MICRO tent they used on their trip--Basil was so jealous!) and a new sleeping bag--both worked so well!

Julia making a torch...and it worked!

Filtering water.

On their way home they stopped at the Giant Sequoias...so cool!