Summer Begins

Ah, summer.  My favorite season.  I kicked off summer hiking season in the south of the park in Wawona.  We have a project for work in the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias and I wanted to hike the grove on my own time and on my own terms.  I started in Wawona and hiked a bit (ehem, 6 miles) to the grove.  Along the way, I saw a lot of sugar pine cones.  These babies are huge!  It could be deadly if one fell on your head!

Now, I realize I have small feet, but still, with a big bulky boot on... These cones are massive!

Along the way there were a lot of absolutely beautiful irises blooming.  The lovely lavender color (which my camera didn't capture that well) is my favorite and these flowers wore it well.  So elegant!

I finally made it to the grove and tromped all the trails I had yet to tromp.  (It was a long mileage day of hiking.)  Those sequoias are some spectacular trees.  That being said, I am still quite partial to my bristlecones.

 Me standing at the base of the tree pictured above.

The sequoia has a very distinct cone as well.  Every single ranger who works for the park service should be able to identify this cone because it is on our hat bands and belts.  The one I'm holding is a bit larger than average.  Most easily fit in the palm of my hand.

Another treat along the way, snow plants!  The pictures below were taken with my work camera which is much higher quality.  They are just as bright and vivid in person as they are in the photo.  You can't help but feel cheerful when you come around a bend in the trail and see a little clump of these guys.

 More snow plants.

 My left hand for scale purposes.  They aren't that tall.

Stopping at the Clothespin tree.

My goal was Wawona Point and I was beat by the time I made it up there.  I had lunch and enjoyed the view.  Quite a different view than some of the other scenic places I've stopped, not as much granite.

As I mentioned above, I've been in the grove quite a bit for work.  One day last week, the fog was incredibly thick.  It made the tree look like they went on forever.  It was a beautiful way to see the grove.  The fog seemed to soften edges and soften visitor voices.  Grand!

A major restoration project begins in the grove after July 4th which will close the grove to the public.  I feel satisfied with what I saw and won't feel I missed anything when the Mariposa Grove closes.