Scheidt - Hiking Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks: a guide to the parks greatest hiking adventures

Laurel Scheidt, born and raised in the central San Joaquin Valley, considers the Sierra Nevada her home away from home. She has traveled many of the trails on both sides of the mountain range, from Lake Tahoe to Lake Isabella, and is a member of the Audubon Society, the Nature Conservancy, the Sierra Club, and the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. After living most of her life in Fresno, she now resides in Modesto, California, with her husband, Scott.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

47050 Generals Hwy.

Three Rivers, CA 93271

Wilderness permits, road and weather conditions, and general information

(559) 565-3341 (24 hours)

nps.gov/seki/

Sequoia Natural History Association

HCR 89 Box 10

Three Rivers, CA 93271

(559) 565-3759

Fax: (559) 565-3728

sequoiahistory.org

Inyo National Forest

Eastern Sierra Interagency

Visitor Center

Intersection of US 395 and SR 136

2.0 miles south of Lone Pine, CA 93545

(760) 876-6200

fs.usda.gov/inyo/

For Mount Whitney reservations:

recreation.gov

White Mountain Ranger Station

798 N. Main St.

Bishop, CA 93514

(760) 873-2500

Wilderness Permit Office

Reservations and Changes Only (open Mon to Fri from 1 to 5 p.m.):

(760) 873-2483

Fax: (760) 873-2484

Wilderness Information:

(760) 873-2485

fs.usda.gov/main/inyo/passes-permits/recreation

General Recreation Information:

(760) 873-2408

fs.usda.gov/recmain/inyo/recreation

Sequoia National Forest

Hume Lake Ranger District

35860 E. Kings Canyon Rd.

Dunlap, CA 93621

(559) 338-2251

Fax: (559) 338-2131

fs.usda.gov/main/sequoia/

Sierra National Forest

Pine Ridge Ranger District

PO Box 559

Prather, CA 93651

(559) 855-5360

fs.usda.gov/main/sierra/

For Road and Weather Conditions:

California Department of Transportation Highway Conditions: (559) 445-5647 or (800) 427-7623

dot.ca.gov

For Maps:

Global Map Store

5091 N. Fresno St.

Fresno, CA 93710

(559) 224-9831

US Geological Survey

Information Services

PO Box 25286

Denver, CO 80225-9916

(800) USA-MAPS or (800) HELP-MAP

Fax: (303) 202-4693

topomaps.usgs.gov/

For acceptable (SequoiaKings Canyon National Parksapproved) bear-resistant food-storage containers:

Garcia Machine, Backpacking Canister

14097 Ave. 272

Visalia, CA 93292

(559) 732-3785

backpackerscache.com

Specifications: 8-inch diameter by 12-inch length cylindrical canister

Weight: 2.7 pounds of molded plastic

Model: 812-C

This canister is also available through the Sequoia Natural History Association and outdoor retail outlets. It features two large screw latches on the lid that can be opened by using a coin, key, or screwdriver, then pushing a button to easily pop up the canisters lid. Available for purchase or rental.

Wild Ideas

PO Box 60813

Santa Barbara, CA 93160

(805) 693-0550

wild-ideas.net

Specifications: 9-inch diameter by 15 1/4-inch length cylindrical canister.

Weight: More than 1 pound.

This canister features three large screw latches that can be twisted open with a coin, key, or screwdriver. The lid is flush and requires some manipulation to open. Available for purchase or rental.

Browning, Peter. Place Names of the Sierra Nevada: From Abbot to Zumwalt. Berkeley, CA: Wilderness Press, 1986.

Editors of Readers Digest. North American Wildlife. Pleasantville, NY: Readers Digest Association, 1982.

Farrand, John, Jr. National Audubon Society Pocket Guide: Familiar Mammals of North America. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1988.

Grater, Russell K. Discovering Sierra Mammals. El Portal, CA, Yosemite Association and Sequoia Natural History Association, Inc. in cooperation with the National Park Service Department of the Interior, 1978.

Hartesveldt, R. J., H. T. Harvey, H. S. Shellhammer, and R. E. Stecker. Giant Sequoias. Three Rivers, CA: Sequoia Natural History Association, Inc., 1981.

Johnston, Hank. They Felled the Redwoods. Fish Camp, CA: Stauffer Publishing, 1996.

Little, Elbert L. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees: Western Region. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1980.

National Park Service Division of Publications. Sequoia and Kings Canyon (Handbook 145). Washington, DC: Department of the Interior and US Government Printing Office, 1993.

Palmer, John J. SequoiaKings CanyonThe Continuing Story. Las Vegas: K. C. Publications, Inc., 1990.

Schneider, Bill. Bear Aware: The Quick Reference Bear Country Survival Guide, 4th edition. Guilford, CT: FalconGuides, 2012.

Spellenberg, Richard. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American WildflowersWestern Region. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1979.

Stocking, Stephen K., and Jack A. Rockwell. Wildflowers of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Three Rivers, CA: Sequoia Natural History Association, Inc., 1989.

Storer, Tracy I., and Robert L. Usinger. Sierra Nevada Natural History. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1963.

Tweed, William C. Kaweah Remembered: The Story of the Kaweah Colony and the Founding of Sequoia National Park. Three Rivers, CA: Sequoia Natural History Association, Inc., 1986.

Tweed, William C. SequoiaKings Canyon: The Story Behind the Scenery. Las Vegas: K. C. Publications, Inc., 1980.

Tweed, William C., and Dilsaver, Lary M. Sequoia Yesterdays: Centennial Photo History. Three Rivers, CA: Sequoia Natural History Association, Inc., 1990.

Udvardy, Miklos D. F. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds: Western Region. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1977.

Hiking equipment does not have to be new or fancy (or expensive), but make sure you test everything before you leave home.

Equipment recommended for day trips follows:

Day pack or fanny pack

Drinking water

Insect repellent

Tissue

Toilet paper

Toilet trowel

Small flashlight or headlamp

Extra batteries for flashlight

Maps and field guides

Compass

Watch

Sunscreen and lip balm

Sunglasses

Cap or hat with brim

Fleece jacket or woolen sweater

Long-sleeve shirt

Sturdy hiking boots (waterproof is best)

Light, natural-fiber socks

Lightweight windproof coat

Lightweight hiking shorts or long pants

Mittens or gloves

Rain gear

Small first-aid kit, with bandages and antibacterial ointment for cuts, moleskin for blisters, and aspirin or anti-inflammatory for aches and pains

Small scissors or Swiss Army knife with scissors

Camera and film

Notebook and pencils

Binoculars

Food: Bring high-energy snacks for lunching along the way. Dont overburden yourself with too much food.

Equipment recommended for overnight trips follows:

Tent and waterproof fly

Garbage sacks

Sleeping bag (20 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer)

Zipper storage bags

Stuff sacks

Sleeping pad

Paper towels

Cooking pots and pot holder

Bear canister

More water bottles

Full-size pack

Cup, bowl, and eating utensils

Personal toilet kit

Lightweight camp stove and adequate fuel

Clothing: In general, strive for natural fibers such as wool, and earth tones instead of bright colors. Dig around in the closet for something dull. Your wilderness partners will appreciate it. Try out clothing before leaving home to make sure everything fits loosely with no chafing. In particular, make sure your boots are broken in, lest they break you on the first day of the hike.