17 Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

It was a close call for sure. Had the government not stepped in to protect the land that today makes up these magnificent parks, the Giant Sequoias may have been lost forever. These amazing trees are a natural wonder everyone should see at least once in their lifetime. And the trees in the parks are not the only natural wonder. As John Muir observed over 100 years ago, the valley of Kings Canyon, surrounded by its towering cliffs, is as equally breathtaking as Yosemite. Yet today, only a small fraction of the number of people who visit Yosemite make it to Kings. In this episode, we talk about our visits to these parks and what it’s like to spend a few days walking amongst giants.

Some topics we discuss include:

  • When our Photo of the Day Contest began and how Karen ended up becoming the sole judge of our travel photos
  • How we found out that Sequoia and Kings Canyon are managed as one unit
  • Matt’s filing system for all of our park literature
  • Hiking to the largest tree in the world in The Giant Forest in Sequoia NP
  • Other must-see sites close to The Giant Forest like Moro Rock and a tree you can drive through
  • Staying at the Wuksachi Lodge in Sequoia and what Matt tried to buy in the gift shop
  • Visiting Grant Grove in Kings Canyon NP and the 2nd-largest tree in the world
  • Camping and hiking deep in Kings Canyon
  • And in our mail bag segment, we answer a question about which is better for hiking The Narrows in Zion National Park, trekking poles or one of those long, wooden poles you rent from a local outfitter.

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16 The Wave in Northern Arizona

We had all but given up on ever getting a permit to hike to one of the most sought-after sites in the American Southwest: The Wave in Northern Arizona. But in the fall of 2019, an email from a kind and generous stranger changed all of that. The adventure to this spectacular rock formation was as awe-inspiring as we’d heard it would be, and in this episode, we describe our experience at The Wave in January 2020. And if you think the excitement was over at the end of the hike, it wasn’t. The drive back to civilization on the half-frozen dirt road was an adventure all its own.

Some topics we discuss include:

  • What it’s like to participate in the walk-in lottery for permits in Kanab, UT
  • The process for applying for a permit online, and a few tips on how to increase your chances of winning
  • How to prepare for hiking to The Wave in different seasons of the year—spoiler alert: it can be dangerously warm in the summer with no shade
  • Advice on navigating the sometimes-dicey House Rock Valley Road on the 8-mile drive to the trailhead
  • What to expect if/when you finally make it to The Wave
  • And in our mail bag segment, we share some tips about how we’ve reduced the weight in our backpacks on overnight trips, including some of the gear that goes into our packs and what we leave at home.

Links to more information:

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