The Grand Tour of Pashnit California- Ocean, Mountains & Giant Sequoias

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[pashnit]

First order of business, ride Highway 198... If you know the road, or have every ridden it, this 3-D satellite map from the California Motorcycle Roads website (there are about 1200 of these on the site) may provide an interesting perspective of today's ride. The sinous ride up the canyon, and at top right, you can see Moro Rock.

(looking due north)






...into Sequoia National Park and climb up to 6725 ft Moro Rock.




Approaching Moro Rock via the southern entrance to the park...




The climb up is virtually right up the mountain side switchbacks running to and fro. The road ascends several thousand feet in a matter of miles. From desert like conditions to a lush forest of green.




Plenty of twists and turns in the awesome shadow of mountian ranges.




A dome rock that pushes up to 6725 ft. You can look down 360 degrees and see for miles.

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Panoramic Version

Scroll--->>

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A few stairs... There are 400 steps, and it's a 300 foot rise.




Back in 1917, the first wooden steps pictured here were built to reach the top. No handrail, and straight to the top. Even nearly 100 years ago, they also enjoyed a good view. The present day path carved out of the rock, and made of aging concrete was done in 1931.




Quite a few steps and narrow places. Vertigo prone need not apply.



Between rocks, under rocks...


(Neil)

Quite the drop-off, pretty much straight down... note the road for scale.




Looking up... I want to go there!





Robert, who no matter where I took him was just in awe.

"We have nothing like this in Scotland," he kept saying.




Ron



That's the road we just came up btw. During the ride up, you can clearly see Moro Rock prominently lording over the region.

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Atop Moro Rock after the steep climb of many steps




The view of the Central Valley to the west...




Panoramic Scroll--->>

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If you turn your head to the left and look east, you've got this. Mt Whitney, the highest peak in the lower 48 is not visible from here, but is located beyond these peaks.

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Focus on the Generals Highway. If you can hit it with no traffic, it's quite fun, although speeds are low in the national park. My last ride through here was on a weekday and unimpeded.






The steep walk down...




Caption this. For a moment there, I thought I was going blind.




Then off to the Drive-Thru Tree...




Took this shot on a previous ride through here, wee bit different perspective. Now do you get a sense of how big these things are?




They really are amazing things. You really need to see them in person to truly experience the Giant Sequoia's. For most in our group, this was the first time they'd ever seen anything like this.

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Another attempt at perspective. Scroll down...





Robert & Ron discussing the meaning of life. Or possibly just the difference in their Harleys.






Close up of the Intruder


(Neil)

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I've been working on these close ups with the camera last couple days, plus I see alot of riders who do these mirror shots.

See the reflection of the motorcycle? If you didn't the first time looking at the pic, that was the idea.




After lunch a stop by the grove of Sequoias by Grants Grove to walk the short trail through the Sequoias. The idea here is not just to shoot a pic of a tree- that's kind of boring. Instead, the intent is (like yesterday along the Western Divide Hwy) create a sense of scale.

See the person?




The roots of a downed Sequoia tree. Interesting to note this downed sequoia is thought to been lying here for hundreds of years. 100 some years ago, it was used a store and meeting place. Normally you can walk through the middle of it.




Robert...

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The crown of the Giant Sequoia- many of which are some 300 feet tall. These are also considered to be the largest living things on earth, and can weigh up to 1,000,000 pounds apiece.




Gary, Robert & Neil




See the person? Starting to get it now?