We drove along the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway to “The Roads End”

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We started a hike on Zumwalt Meadows Trail. The trail is a 1.5 mile loop, but we probably only completed a mile or so. We met a family on their way out on our way in. The family let us know there was a bear in the meadow below the more strenuous path. We were intending to take the less strenuous path, but the word “bear” caused both Scott and Brooke to have excited big eyes. Brooke was so excited to see a bear she actually started running down the path. (Yes, she knows she shouldn’t run around bears.) My bear-phobia has obviously not rubbed off on the kids.

The tree in the picture just above on the left and middle pictures has lost more than half of its trunk, yet it still had healthy growth up top. I just had to take a picture because it reminds me that despite some incredible obstacles, growth and new life is possible.

The trail was a little more strenuous than we have been taking lately with the cuties. The kids were doing great though despite it being the second hike of the day after a canoe trip.

We met a family from Los Angeles while sitting atop a rock bear watching. The bear was 100 feet or so below us in the meadow devouring berries in the bushes. We never got a really good picture of the bear with the bushes being in the way.

I sat on the rocks just below everyone else. It was easier to take photos of them that way. After everyone else left the big rock I hopped up there to see what I could see. I did see a bear galloping across the meadow and then duck into the trees. As we were walking back to the car we spotted a bear across the river. Scott was quick with the camera and caught it.

While Scott was cooking up some burgers and corn he picked up from a fruit stand the day before Brooke was demonstrating static electricity with her jacket and hair. Random, yes. Entertaining, yes. The sun was setting quickly. Brooke and Cody also created a race track in the pine needles and dirt. Notice my adorable children have dirt all over their little faces. We had to clean Cody before and after he ate. While we cooked dinner Scott also chatted with the dad from the bear watching family. He told us about places to stay around Yosemite without having to stay in the hard-to-get-in Yosemite.

I tried taking pictures of the sunset without asking Scott to stop driving as it was getting very dark very quickly. We left our dinner and hiking site at 8:15. I was trying to work on this post, but was mesmerized by the sunset. Brooke even mentioned how beautiful the sunset was around the mountains. The roads were crazy twisty-turny without guard rails and no street lights. Although we did see the lights far below from some homes. We arrived back at our Sunset Campground at 9:30 and had the kids tucked into their sleeping bags by 9:40. The tent was set up and the mats were arranged in ten minutes. We are getting good!