Sequoia National Park Pt. 2

Wednesday of our camping trip began veryyy early! Cor gave me a bad time the previous day because I "took too long" so Wednesday I was ready to go by 6:45 am! And we were off! After a quick morning fire we headed to the meadow near Moro rock.. Hoping to catch a bear sighting!

We saw a male deer as we were driving

Cor ended up getting ATTACKED by a million Mosquitos on the walk down to the meadow.. Even with a gallon of bug spray. I actually got worried because it looked like his head was swelling up, he was covered in bites. =[ 

As we were waking though Cor stopped to notice the perfect scenery, which made me stop. I look down and walking towards me my mind said "there's a cat walking towards you"... Buttt wait there are no cats here! It was a fox!!!! With a chipmunk hanging from his mouth! Very cool.. Cor and I stopped to watch for a minute but then it got scared and ran off.. The above picture is the best one I got.. If you. Look to the left, in between the two sun spots you can see it, in mid air sprinting away.. Not a great photo, but the mental image I have is A-OK!

So we head back and decide to go up Moro Rock before it got hotter and more crowded. 

Almost up 

 

Climbing

At the top, such amazing views! And there was only a couple other people on top so that was a plus.. A lovely elderly gentleman happily took lots of photos of us =] very sweet 

We headed back down to go bear hunting... On the way up the rock, a woman we saw earlier asked if we saw the bear that was sniffing around the cars... Which we didn't!!! We rushed down and knew it had to be close. It's been kind of a joke in my family that I'm the only one who hasn't seen a bear in the 10+ times I've been to sequoia. Cor went one time last year and saw THREE.. So we were on high alert all week, I was desperate to see one. 

We took a trail across from Moro rock hoping to spot the bear, but after a mile or so nothing. We ran into the road that lead us back to the car and decided to walk that and enjoy the scenery. As we were chatting that we just weren't going to find it, I stopped and grabbed Cor's arm. I thought it was another fox at first, but it grew and grew and was definitely not a fox. I was so excited I started jumping up a down, it was a small brown bear!! 

Because of my overly excited outburst, the bear stopped.. Looked right at us and then took off running. We followed it for awhile before leaving it alone.. I finallllllly saw a bear in the wild! That right there made it the best camping trip ever!

We left and went to crescent meadow where we went off the meadow trail onto some others to do some exploring

Huge!

Tunnel log!

Beautiful meadow 

Cor sitting at Tharp's log

The settler (Tharp) that explored this area made this cabin out of a fallen tree and stayed here every summer for 10 years, very cool

Deer laying at the base of the tree

Huge burn scars

The next few pictures are of chimney tree, a burned hollowed out tree that.. Well resembles a chimney =]

View from inside chimney tree looking up

Last pic at the meadow before we headed back to the campground

At this time it was only noon, but we had been out since 7 am so we were beat. We headed back to the campground for some lunch, reading, and a nap

Much needed sleep that felt soooo good. When we woke up we found out a bear was in the campground right as we fell asleep. Of course!!

We woke up refreshed and decided to do some more hiking. 

We decided to follow the creek back into the woods, which meant rock hopping... My faveeeeeee =] 

I got a little too cocky leading the way and sure enough... I slipped right in up to my booty... Panicked for a sec... But no harm no foul 

We decided to drive to see the giant redwoods near our campground and I'd been bugging Cor to stop at this sign we had been passing all week.. So he was a good sport and snapped a selfie of us

Tiny us next to this massive twin tree

And us inside one!

More deer as we drive into Dorst campground to look around

Some animal we spotted... Marmot? Beaver? Who knows!

Moreeeee deer

We were driving by the meadow near Dorst and I was busy messing around in the car and as we're passing it, Cor goes "you should be looking around down there" (bear hunting of course) and as he says it I look down and yell "there's a bear! There's a bear!" Cor didn't believe me saying "Noo wayyy" ... So we stop run out of the car sure enough this larger black colored bear was forging away in the meadow. He looks far away in the photo, we could easily make out all his features! TWO BEARS IN ONE DAY?!?!

After watching for a long time, we headed back to camp

My sweet love wrote this in the dirt as we sit by the fire <3

Our last nighttime fire

And last s'more of the week! Cor roasts a mean mallow =]

Wednesday night we went to a ranger led astronomy talk at Wuksachi lodge, which was pretty cool. The stars are very clear out there

We woke up the next morning, took our time and packed up camp. 

Goodbye cute little campsite, thanks for the good time!

We wanted to leave by 9 am and were on the road at 8:45 (go us!)

As we drove out we peaked by the meadow that we saw the bear at the day before and sure enough... ANOTHER bear!

THREE?!?!

The camping trip was officially complete and I would not change a single thing. It was so nice to get away from the hustle and bustle of the concrete jungle that we currently live in... I can't wait until we leave somewhere greener again.. Soon enough

I'm so thankful for this week with my love and ready for our next adventure! 

Love you Cor bear, thanks for the perfect week <3

XO