Thursday 9 August 2018

It is already warm when we leave the hotel in Visalia. We stop for fuel and groceries and then drive eastward, through the San Joaquin Valley and into the brown foothills of the Sierra. The temperature tops out at about 103 degrees F before we start climbing into the mountains. The road through Sequoia is twisting with many curves marked at 10 mph that turn 180 degrees at the switchback. We notice signs indicating a possible 1 hour delay for road construction. We get lucky … our wait is only about 10 minutes before our long line of uphill traffic is allowed through the single lane passage past a stretch of road construction.

After the construction we finally arrive at the Lodgepole Visitor Center and market. We grab a bite to eat, sharing a veggie burger and check out the laundromat and showers here. Soon after we arrive at Dorst Creek campground. The ranger at the entrance says they missed us yesterday. It appears I booked the site starting one night early. Ah well … we needed the shower and laundry and internet stop in Visalia.

We set up camp, have dinner and study our maps and hiking guide for this park. O and I are both looking forward to a bit more activity. We are also pleased to see that, although the views are a bit hazy, the air is quite breathable.