After we packed up camp, we decided to do something fun to wash out our disappointment with Moses Mountain the day before, so we walked the short nature trail that loops through Balch Park. The trail begins at the park entrance near the campground’s singular hollow tree, continuing through the first mile or so…
August 2010 found us again camping with Jacob, our nephew, this year at Balch Park northeast of Springville in Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest. We had decided our first full day in camp would be spent climbing Moses Mountain, a 9,331′ peak a few miles northeast of Balch Park. We expected to follow the…
We had so much fun on our hike up Sirretta Peak that we came up with the idea of hosting a group hike on our way back to camp. Having done Sunday Peak as a family when our kids were little, it seemed a great option for the inaugural Excellent Adventure. Located northeast of…
Our first full day at Horse Meadow campground found us cooking a large breakfast of eggs, potatoes, and sausage in preparation for hiking to the top of Sirretta Peak. At 9,977′, it is one of the most prominent peaks on the Kern Plateau – a 3-mile trail runs north from Big Meadow to Sirretta Pass,…
We took Jacob, our nephew, camping again, this time at Horse Meadow up on the Kern Plateau. The campground sits at about 7,400′ a couple of miles west of Big Meadow – we had first camped here when our kids were small back in the mid-90’s. It was probably down in the 20’s at…
After camping two nights at Quaking Aspen, we decided to visit the Trail of 100 Giants monument on our way back home. Located on the Great Western Divide Highway, it is the home of dozens of giant sequoias in what is perhaps the most accessible grove south of Sequoia National Park. A paved trail meanders throughout…
After scrambling up Dome Rock earlier in the day, we walked the 3-1/2 miles out to The Needles, a set of granite spires overlooking most of the western Golden Trout Wilderness. The trail was a little tougher than we expected, although we also probably thought we were in better shape than we actually were. In any…
About 1/2 mile east of the Great Western Divide Highway lies the granite crown of Dome Rock, an easy scramble of 100 yards or so from the parking area at the end of a dirt road. Our nephew Jacob and friend Eileen were joining us for a weekend of camping at Quaking Aspen, so…