Kings Canyon and Sequoia NP

Squirrel Chipmunk sp.

Black Bear cub

Hummingbird - fast shutter speed to freeze wing movement

General Grant - giant Sequoia tree

Kings River

From Fresno we headed due east to a mountain range we couldn't see from the valley because of smog. And then we found out why it was so murky - the whole of the San Joaquin valley is surrounded by the Sierra Nevada, the Coast Ranges and the Transverse Range north of LA. Apparently the mountains trap the polluted air and it swirls around in a gigantic soup.

We found the Sierra Nevada mountain range and spent the day exploring Kings Canyon, giant Sequoia (Redwood) trees, pine forests and national parks. It was all beautiful and impressive. And as a bonus we met some local inhabitants - a squirrel, some hummingbirds and a mother Black Bear with her cub. (It was a scramble to find a camera in time to take a photo before the bears disappeared into the undergrowth and this is the only photo Phil managed to get- but it's proof right?)

Kings Canyon

General Sherman - giant Sequoia tree

PS I haven't figured out yet how to put the photos where I want them so they're all out of order. Oh dear. More homework, and I'm on holiday!