Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks are two parks joined by one road. The first pic is from the General Grant Tree Grove in Kings Canyon. Note Helga at the tree base.
The road up the mountains via route 180 is hair-raising in some places where the shoulder is absent and the drop-off is sharp and distinct. I couldn't look in that direction; otherwise I would lose my sense of direction and drive off the cliff. As it was I just concentrated on the two yellow lines.
After leaving the General Grant and Kings Canyon, we headed out for the General Sherman Tree of Sequoia NP. The Sherman is the largest tree on earth. It is 52,500 cubic feet. If the tree's trunk could be filled with water it would provide enough water for 9,844 baths. That's one bath every day for 27 years! It's base diameter is 32.5'. 180 feet up the diameter of a limb is 13.7'. The largest branch is 6.8'in diameter.
In perspective how big is the Sherman Tree? Well, looking up to the tree for a six-foot-tall human being is like a mouse looking up to a six-foot-tall human being.
The is 2,200 years old at 275' tall.
To get an idea of the serious switchbackacks, find Fresno on a map of California. Then find Route 180 heading due East where it ends at Kings Canyon. Then follow Route 198 to Sequoia NP and the town of Visalia. Add construction which reduced two lanes to one and you have drama.
