Hopping over Route 198, we took a two-mile dirt road down to Redwood Mountain Grove, the largest grove of giant sequoias in the world.  Not many visit here despite its location in Kings Canyon National Park. The entrance is easy to miss and the unpaved dirt trail leading down the steep canyon road does not look inviting.

The bear signs at the trailhead didn't offer further encouragement.  We stashed all our food from the car, including our mints, in the metal food containers and set off on a short hike, laughing in the face of danger.

Lisa the tree-hugger shows her love for one of the giant sequoias in Redwood Mountain Grove, the largest grove of giant sequoias in the world.

Check out the extra page for an additional photo of Lisa standing among the giant trees in Redwood Mountain Grove, which gives you some idea of the size and beauty of the trees.

Monday, 28 June 2010:

The next morning, we were rewarded with a full moon, this just outside the tent cabin.  When camping anywhere in Sequoia National Forest, the beautiful sites are right in front of you.

Lisa standing in front of the largest living thing in the world, the

Lisa and I went to the Crescent Meadow and the Giant Forest, and parking in the Giant Forest Museum parking lot, continued down to the Giant Forest Loop Trail.  As we began our descent, a couple pointed to a nearby meadow with tall grass and said, "Don't go that way!  There's a BEAR THERE!!" 

We paused. 

An elderly couple ambled past.  They didn't get devoured.  We shrugged our shoulders and continued.  And sure enough, there was a baby bear in the meadow.  Very cute.  We paused and took photos, then continued to the Giant Forest Loop Trail.  A woman said, "I just saw six bears in the meadow by the Giant Forest Loop Trail!"  We continued onward.

Turns out she was right!!

As we walked among the giant sequoias, we came upon a pack of tourists busily click--click-clicking away with credit-card sized cameras, some only fifteen feet away from this baby bear, some of their flashes going off!  I looked around for the mother, then stood in back of them, taking photos between them.  And THIS is why we use 300mm telephoto lens when photographing wildlife!

Not much farther on, we came across another cluster of tourists.  Clik!  Clik! Clik!  Two baby bears were descending from the trees, the mother bear waiting below. 

Again, I stood back from the crowd, thinking that if the mother bear became defensive, I'd have some fantastic photos of tourists being mauled.  Bear country indeed, these bears did not seem to mind humans, although they weren't just yet wearing silly hats and riding bicycles.

Two baby bears descended from the enormous trees, and they and the mother sauntered off into the back woods, the mother pausing again to let her cubs climb around and eat more. 

Incredible. In the span of just a few short minutes, we had seen five bears!!