Arches National Park: Balanced Rock

January 22, 2018 Tim Camas

Balance:

1) Noun--an even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady

2) Verb--an even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady

Balanced Rock is one of the main attractions at Arches National Park. It is a short, easy walk from the parking lot next to Arches Scenic Drive. It appears that it is precariously perched atop an unstable pile of rocks. The total height of Balanced Rock is 128 feet, 55 of them being the perched stone itself. This pronouncement of rock is a photographer’s dream. It can be captured from all sides (except from above) and the sun can radiate it or be eclipsed by it. It is there 24 hours a day, seven days a week awaiting its demise. Until that time, we can continue to marvel at it and appreciate its beauty from sunrise to sunset.

There are many different rock formations throughout Arches National Park. Some are fin-like. It almost appears to be a collection of sandstone sharks approaching. Some are smooth and soft while others are jagged like the edge of a knife. Some are thick as a mountain and others are thinner until they end with an edge like a razor. Others are shaped like beer bottles, thin and round and teetering against each other. Arches welcomes all kinds of rock formations into its garden of sandstone.

Have you visited Arches National Park? What were your impressions? For more information about Arches National Park, click the link below.

https://www.nps.gov/arch/index.htm

Arches National Park

January 22, 2018 Tim Camas

Man-made arches have been used for centuries in construction. Structures like the Roman aqueducts, the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia and the Arc de Triomphe in Paris are recognizable uses of the arch over time. But what about natural arches that form in the world? Arches National Park provides around 2000 examples of arches that have formed naturally. Less than a mile and a half off Arches Scenic Drive are Sand Dune Arch and Broken Arch. Sand Dune Arch is appropriately named because the walk to the arch is short but it is through deep and very fine sand. Here is a video of part of the walk.

When you exit Sand Dune Arch, walk straight to Broken Arch. Some of the trail has some tricky footing so be careful. You will be rewarded with a gorgeous arch at the head of the trail. This trail continues to Devils Garden Campground. The trip to Broken Arch from the roadside parking lot (near Sand Dune Arch) is approximately 1.3 miles.

The Devils Garden area provides many great views of multiple arches. My favorite is Tunnel Arch. I was lucky enough to be there near the end of the day when the sunlight was glowing directly through the arch. Not sure is I like the picture in color or black and white better. What do you think?

Around the corner from Tunnel Arch is Pine Tree Arch. This is, by far, the thickest arch I saw. It looks like someone punched a parallelogram through it to create the arch. Just outside of the arch provides a view of rock formations.

Delicate Arch is one of the premiere locations for photography in the park. I did not have time to take the long trail to see the arch up close but I was able to snap a few pictures from the main viewing area.

Skyline Arch lives up to its name, sitting atop a massive rock formation and peering down at us mere mortals. It looks like an ice cold blue eye with the sky illuminating its opening.

Finally, North Window, South Window and Turret Arches. This is a fantastic location for sunset. The three arches face the west and the La Sal Mountains are to the south.

Have you visited Arches National Park? What were your impressions? For more information about Arches National Park, click the link below.

https://www.nps.gov/arch/index.htm

Sequoia National Park: The Humbling of a Human

October 7, 2017 Tim Camas

Over time, we build more and more confidence and, at times, we might get a bit full of ourselves. It could be due to conquering responsibilities with work, family, relationships or friendships but we tend to feel a sense of importance that might not be warranted. Typically, there are inflection points in life where we are brought back to reality and realize that we aren’t necessarily as important as we thought we were. Sequoia National Park should be prescribed for those who feel they are excessively relevant when, in fact, they really aren’t. The humbling effect that the Giant Sequoias can impose can bring even the loftiest ego back down to earth.

Imagine standing next to a tree that is one of the oldest living organisms in the world, quite possibly 2000-3000 years old. How do you relate to that? If life expectancy is 85 years in the USA, 3000 years equals 35 consecutive lifetimes. It takes hundreds of years for a Sequoia to reach its full height. So, imagine planting a tree today and your great, great, great grandchildren might live long enough to see it when it’s fully grown.

More importantly is how unique these trees are. Their bark is very thick (it can grow to as much as 3 feet thick) and protects the Sequoia’s against fire, extreme elements and temperatures. Sequoia’s have shallow roots so they are susceptible to falling over. If their thick, protective bark is still intact when they are toppled, it could take hundreds of years for the tree to decay. This is clearly demonstrated by the Tunnel tree. It fell 80 years ago and it is still largely intact.

The most prominent Sequoia’s were named after military officers due to Union soldiers guarding the groves shortly after the Civil War while the first national parks were being designated. The National Park Service did not exist back then and loggers would try to cut down the trees if no one was guarding them.

The General Sherman tree is considered the biggest tree on earth based on the sheer volume of wood it contains. It is in the Giant Forest which is the largest grove of Sequoias in the park. Sequoias only grow at an elevation between 5000-8000 feet. They tend to grow on the southern side of mountains and have few large branches because they need lots of sunlight to reach maturity.

Prescribed burns conducted by the National Park Service are used to strengthen the trees. When Sequoia’s start to burn, they secrete a sap-like substance that acts like medicine to help heal and strengthen the trees. Here you can see the black area of the wood which was burnt during a prescribed burn. Taking a tour with one of the knowledgeable Park Rangers is a must to fully understand how unique these trees and this environment is.

When hiking at this elevation, it is important to wear appropriate clothing, drinking enough fluids and resting when becoming short of breath. It doesn’t take long to get yourself into a medical emergency in the wild.

Moro Rock is a massive boulder on top of a mountain. I have a fear of heights so it was a struggle for me to reach the top. There are a few railings but, in other spots, there is just a foot-high ledge along the walkway that separates you from a 500-1000 foot fall over the edge. At the top, there is an aluminum railing where you can walk across the center of the rock. It provides a nearly 360-degree view of the area. You can see cars hugging the curves of the mountain on their way to the park. And the sunsets are absolutely brilliant.

Route 198 out of Sequoia National Park is a long and winding one. You have no idea what you will encounter around every corner. In one of my visits, I came upon some wild boar feeding along the side of the road. If you are leaving the park at night, I recommend that you take Route 180 back toward Fresno as it is much less treacherous. Sequoia National Park is an awe-inspiring and humbling experience. It is a place and experience for explorers of all ages.

Have you been to Sequoia National Park? What is your favorite part of the park and why?

For more information about Sequoia National Park, click the link below.

https://www.nps.gov/seki/index.htm

Kings Canyon National Park: The Kings River

October 5, 2017 Tim Camas

Please be patient, it may take a minute for the videos to load.

No:

Swimming

Wading

Boating

Rafting

or Fishing.

In essence, stay out of the water. It is too rough. Too fast. Too violent. It’s not this dangerous on the whole river, but in many parts of Kings Canyon National Park, it is.

I am convinced that if you fell into the Kings River in most areas of Kings Canyon National Park, you would be dead within minutes. There are too many boulders that you would strike and the water is too fast that you could never stand up or drag yourself to safety.

Don’t get me wrong, it is a gorgeous flow of water to see in contrast with the mountains and valleys. But in this case, Mother Nature is not to be tested.

The Kings River provides irrigation to over a million acres of farmland in California's central valley. The river also provides fresh drinking water to central valley residents. In some areas, white water rafting is permitted. It is a level 3 river.

I made acrylic prints of this waterfall. They are as breathtaking as the waterfall is itself.

Have you seen the Kings River in person? What were your impressions?

For more information about Kings Canyon National Park, click the link below.

https://www.nps.gov/seki/index.htm

Kings Canyon National Park: The Dual Legacy of Water

October 5, 2017 Tim Camas

I leisurely drove down Route 180 from my hotel in Fresno to the fork in the road where you can either choose to turn right to visit Sequoia National Park or bear left to enter Kings Canyon National Park. I was extremely excited to visit Sequoia NP because it has a grove of trees which are some of the largest and longest living organisms in the world. But Kings Canyon? I had never heard of the place. Sequoias would have to wait while my curiosity won out.

As I entered the visitor center a park ranger exclaimed, “Welcome to Kings Canyon National Park!”.

I responded, “Um, to be honest, I’ve never heard of this place”.

She smiled and said, “Yeah, we like it like that. The other parks get big crowds. We are happy with being off the radar.”

The Kings River carves its way through the valley.

She explained that Kings Canyon is unique in that it has two valleys. One is a V-shaped valley which was formed primarily by water erosion and a U-shaped valley which was formed when a glacier receded and pulled much of the rocks and sediment away. So melted snow and ice turned into water and formed the V valley and frozen water formed the U valley. Interesting. I decided to investigate both valleys.

The roads curve around a dangerous landscape of rocks and boulders.

The V valley was amazing. Sharp slopes had been carved into the mountains leaving them with jagged ravines for the water to flow. Even from a couple thousand feet above, I could hear the roar of the Kings River below.

The base of the mountains in the U valley were littered with massive granite boulders larger than cars and houses. This left the U valley with wide gorges where grass and ferns grew waist-high and covered the valley floor.

I'm 6 feet tall and about 275lbs in this picture.  This is a massive hunk of granite. — I'm 6 feet tall and about 275lbs in this picture. This is a massive hunk of granite.

Although I knew nothing about Kings Canyon National Park until I walked into the visitor center that day, I am forever grateful that I explored this national park. I now believe that Kings Canyon NP is one of the most underrated places in the entire country. I highly recommend this park for a day or week-long visit.