NATIONAL SEQUOIA & KINGS CANYON PARKS SEQUOIA NATIONAL FOREST / GIANT SEQUOIA NATIONAL MONUMENT WINTER GUIDE 2005-2006 CONTENTS: Crystal Cave Tours & Other Activities • page 3 page 8 • Facilities & Programs in Sequoia Road & Safety Tips / Finding Gasoline • page 5 page 9 • Facilities & Programs in Kings Canyon & US Forest Service Trails & Highlights in Sequoia Park • page 6 pages 10-11 • Camping, Lodging / Bears & Your Food Trails & Highlights in Kings Canyon & USFS • page 7 page 12 • Park Road Map Changing winter in a changing world? D uring a winter visit to these parks Another aspect to consider is that the you may find yourself facing the cold mountains of the southern Sierra are cool, season in all its unfettered power ... then moist “islands” extending south into the again, you may not. The nature of winter dry heat of California. This allows many in our mountain range seems to be plants and animals to exist at the very edge changing. of their ranges. The Sierra Nevada has long been All of this means trouble if the climate famous for its white winters and heavy changes. Plants like giant sequoias face snowpack in the high mountains. Snow real challenges if they find the climate depths of 10 to 20 feet on the ground are where they are growing has shifted to common in historical records. We owe become unhealthy for them. If stream many of the things we find most special waters warm, they may not support trout. about the Sierra — its giant forests, multi- If the snowpack at middle-altitudes disap- tudinous lakes and ample rivers — to this pears, then oaks and cedars — trees that generous snowfall. The range's wintry tolerate warmer, drier conditions — character is even expressed in its name, o o may move in to replace pine and fir trees. bestowed upon it by early Spanish Many biologists worry that this is begin- explorers, that means "snowy moun- ning to happen to the Sierra Nevada. tains." Some Sierran winters, such as 1952, have had almost over- Some species can move more easily Records suggest, however, that winter whelming snowfall. How does this year compare? NPS Photo than others. Certainly, we can imagine is losing some of its grip on the Sierra. In recent years, more precipita- birds flying off to try to find new sites... but giant sequoia trees?!? tion at low and middle altitudes has been falling as rain rather than as The purpose of places like Sequoia and Kings Canyon is to preserve snow. At the same time, high-altitude snowpack is melting earlier, with what we found here. But what if those special resources cannot be sus- the result that peak stream runoff is coming sooner in the spring. The tained in place? That is the question these parks will face as this new glaciers of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are shrinking in century proceeds. their extent and volume. In the meantime, take a moment while you are in the parks this win- The apparent root cause behind these and other related phenome- ter to evaluate the seasonal conditions. Talk to a park ranger and find out na is that the measured climate of the range is warming significantly. what’s been going on. Are recent temperatures average or on the mild The implications of this for the natural systems of the parks are side? Are weather stations at Grant Grove and Lodgepole receiving enormous. In a mountain range like the Sierra many plants and animals usual amounts of snow or are they falling short again this year? What are occupy relatively narrow altitudinal ranges with specific localized cli- high-altitude snow surveys showing this winter? mates. Giant sequoias, for example, grow where they do because it is These are questions every Californian ought to care about. The too dry at lower elevations and too cold up higher. Thousands of other implications for our children and our parks are profound. organisms each have their own limits, too. Wm.Tweed, Chief Park Naturalist WELCOME TO SEQUOIA & KINGS CANYON WELCOME Get to know these parks You may borrow the park map & guide in Braille at visitor centers. Doubtless you expect giant trees and huge canyons — and you won’t be disappointed. But the whole of this place is even greater BIENVENUE than the sum of its great parts! Une guide officielle est disponible Rising from 1300’ to 14,494’, these parks protect a spectacular dans les centres d’information. elevational range. This span from low to high means dramatic shifts from hot foothills to shady forests to the cold High Sierra. It means BIENVENIDOS extraordinarily diverse plants and animals living in extremely var- Hay un folleto en Español dispo- ied conditions. It means steep roads and trails that climb moun- nible en los centros de visita. tains, and cold rivers that plunge down from their heights. There is diversity, too, in the caretakers of this landscape. WILKOMMEN Bordering these two national parks is a national monument, part of Eine Landkarte ist auch in a national forest. A U.S. Geological Survey Field Station conducts deutscher sprache im Besucher- research here. The Sequoia Natural History Association sells books zentrum erhaltlich. and maps at visitor centers and contributes to education and BENVENUTI research. The Sequoia Fund supports significant park projects. La traduzione in lingua Italiana Other partners, public and private, cooperate with the Park della mappa e’ disponibile in tutti Service to meet a challenging mission — providing for public i centri di informazioni. enjoyment while keeping the parks unimpaired for future genera- tions. You are an equally important partner! Experience the parks fully: Learn all you can and join in preserving them. Together we can meet this inspiring goal: PARK, The National Park Service FOREST, OR INFORMATION MONUMENT? cares for special places saved by You see signs for Sequoia & NUMBERS Kings Canyon National Parks, the American people so that all Sequoia National Forest, and EMERGENCY — DIAL 911 Giant Sequoia National (no coins needed) may experience our heritage. Monument. What is the difference 24-Hour Park Information between these places? 1-559-565-3341 (NPS) All are on federal land. Each www.nps.gov/seki FEES HELP YOUR PARKS! exists to benefit society. Yet each National Forest Information has a different history and Part of your entrance and camping fees stay in the park to purpose. Together they 1-559-338-2251 (USFS) improve the experience here. Congress allows the parks to www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia provide a wide spec- invest these funds in projects that enhance visitor facilities and trum of uses. Yosemite Information (NPS) protect park resources. National parks strive 1-209-372-0200 to keep landscapes www.nps.gov/yose Fees have paid for repairing roads, campgrounds, trails, pic- nic areas, and restrooms. They have funded updated exhibits, unimpaired for future California Road Conditions generations. They protect 1-800-427-7623 (Caltrans) improved visitor centers, and modernized naturalist slide pro- natural and historic features grams. See page 4 for more of these projects! while offering light-on-the-land On January 1, 2006, park entrance fees will increase to $20. recreation. Park rangers work for Partners in the Parks This will permit even more of these repairs and improvements. the National Park Service, part of The following work together to pro- the Department of the Interior. vide this guide, first published in 1974 National forests, managed under as the Sequoia Bark. It is published ENTRANCE FEE OPTIONS a “multiple use” concept, provide by the Sequoia Natural History Asso- services and commodities that ciation (SNHA) and printed by the • 7-day pass for Sequoia, Kings Canyon, & the Hume Lake District of may include lumber, cattle grazing, Selma Enterprise: Sequoia National Forest (Giant Sequoia National Monument): $10 per minerals, and recreation with and • National Park Service (NPS) vehicle (changes to $20 on 1/1/06) or $5 per person on foot, bicycle, without vehicles. Malinee Crapsey, Editor motorcycle, or bus. Forest rangers work for the U.S. Forest 1-559-565-3341 • Annual pass for Sequoia, Kings Canyon, & the Hume Lake District of www.nps.gov/seki Service, an agency in • Sequoia Natural History Sequoia National Forest (Giant Sequoia National Monument): $20 the Department of Association (SNHA) admits all passengers in a private vehicle for one year from month of Agriculture. 1-559-565-3759 purchase (changes to $30 on 1/1/06). Both agencies www.sequoiahistory.org • National Parks Pass: $50 pass admits all passengers in a private vehi- manage wilderness and • Forest Service (USFS) cle to U.S. national parks that charge an entrance fee, for one year other areas where they strive for 559-784-1500 maximum protection of natural from month of purchase. Not redeemable at Crystal Cave. Also avail- www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia resources. For example, part of • Delaware North Companies able via 1-888-GO-PARKS and www.nationalparks.org. Sequoia National Forest has been Parks & Resorts (DNCPR) • Golden Eagle Pass: $65 pass not only for national parks, but also for designated Giant Sequoia National 1-888-252-5757 entrance fees at all federal recreation areas including monuments, his- Monument to emphasize protec- www.visitsequoia.com toric sites & wildlife refuges. Valid for one year from month of pur- tion of sequoias. • Kings Canyon Park Services (KCPS) chase. Parks, forests, and monuments 1-866-KCANYON (522-6966) may have different rules in order www.sequoia-kingscanyon.com • Golden Age Passport: One-time $10 fee buys a lifetime pass for park to meet their goals. Read “Where • US Geological Survey (USGS) entrance fees for U.S. citizens & permanent residents 62 or over. can I...” on the next page to check 1-559-565-3171 • Golden Access Pass: Free to blind or permanently disabled U.S.