I was blown away on my first visit to California’s national parks. You hear so much about California, about how there are too many people, taxes are too high, pollution, and so forth. What you don’t hear is that the state is blessed with millions upon millions of acres of pristine national park and national forest lands. I would even say that the amount of such land in California embarrasses most other states. And chief among these landscapes is the gigantic sequoia and redwood groves. The sequoias are an inland species, living in much drier climates. Redwoods are a coastal species.

I found Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park to be one of the most impressive parks I’ve ever seen. When you are standing amongst the ancient groves, you can’t help but feel as if you’ve somehow traveled to another planet. Completely surreal.

The camping in Sequoia-Kings Canyon was quite good as well. And in some campgrounds, you can pitch your tent within some of these majestic groves.

Below is a photo of the author. Now that’s a tree! For reference purposes, I’m 6’3 and 200 pounds.

I look forward to visiting California’s great parks again one day. The sooner, the better.

This is the general area where the Gallatin, Custer, and Shoshone National Forests all meet. This is also still very much part of the Yellowstone ecosystem. Over the years, I have found I prefer camping in the national forests surrounding Yellowstone, both in terms of crowds, scenery, and the actual campgrounds themselves. Don’t get me wrong, Yellowstone is amazing, and one of the most beautiful places on earth. But there’s much more to Yellowstone than the official national park. The Yellowstone ecosystem comprises 18 million acres, and the land surrounding the park is often more scenic, and far less crowded.

Those seeking watchable wildlife like bison and the unique geothermal features will prefer Yellowstone. but the national forests that border the park offer a more “in-the-mountains” vibe, without the traffic jams one can find in the park.

The Beartooth Mountains are to the north in the photo, just beyond the snow-dusted mountains. To the left is the Absaroka Range, one of the longest ranges in the U.S.

A great day if you are a fan of the outdoors and all the interesting things it holds. A rare jaguar was caught on camera in the remote southern mountains of Arizona. It is the only jaguar known to exist in the U.S.

Federal officials are still reviewing 1300 square miles in Arizona and New Mexico as critical jaguar habitat. Those watching have to wonder how this will play out for the proposed Rosemont mine site, which is near this jaguar sighting.

It’s sad to see the Arizona Department of Fish and Game oppose such a designation. I have found that state wildlife operations are largely corrupt and influenced by local industry and politics. National forests and national parks were created to remedy just such entrenchment. And thus the need for federal protection for many species.

Either way, a ghost has returned to its former home. And once more, we are lucky to witness what we’ve known, aligning with what should be.

Photo from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: