Anza Borrego to the Sequoia’s for Thanksgiving Break

[anutami]

As our kids are getting older we are able to Venture a lot farther from the campsite so We decided to head out to Anza Borrego and hike to the Goat canyon trestle which is the Longest and Tallest curved wooden trestle in the world. It’s a pretty rigorous hike having to do a lot of boulder scrambling but well worth it. We Headed out to Blair Valley for a night.


Blair Valley views


Looking north toward shelter valley


Headed toward Mortero Palms


Water Station


Phone Booth


Nice little camp spot


Brett scrambling amongst the boulders




Nice pool of water




Mortero Palms to Goat Canyon Trestle #2

The Palms




Views from the top



Entering the rugged Goat Canyon




Trestle coming into view

A bit sketchy in sections


Tallest and Longest curved wooden trestle in the world


Old collapsed tunnel before they built the trestle




Eating lunch where the builders also ate lunch long ago

Pretty amazing curve






Checking out one of the tunnels


Quite a bit to work to do to get the railroad back up and running


Heading back to camp




Got back just in time




We then had reservations for upper pines Over Thanksgiving hoping for snow. As we got to the south entrance the ranger informed us they shut down the campground due to the prediction of too much snow!!! They had evacuated the campground and the tent cabins. We then turned around headed back to Fresno and Then East into Sequoia National Park. Happy they didn’t shut it down :).
Settled in before the storm hit

The next morning

And continued to snow for the next 3 days 🙂




We got our flashlights and hiked to the Lodge/restaurant for a Yummy Thanskgiving Dinner


The Restaurant


Had to educate my son what this is/was


Headed back home


It took awhile to get my truck started sitting in freezing temps for 3 days but we had a blast hanging out, snow showing and sledding around.

The much needed snow shovel saved us after about 4’ of snow in 3 days!!

hope you enjoyed the report

[billyray50]

Great trip report! Thanks for sharing.

[c_traveler2]

Wonderful trip report, liked the photos also.

[kohldad]

Looks like you had a great trip and made the most of changing conditions. I don't mind the snow, but not sure about 4'.

[cewillis]

Great looking trip and TR.

[Camper_Jeff___K]

That was a change in conditions. Great trip.

[Naio]

Thank you so much! Excellent photos, and sounds like an awesome trip. Your kids are very lucky :-).

[jaycocreek]

Nice!

[jmtandem]

Thanks for the trip report, very interesting!

[Clarryhill]

Fabulous trip Anutami!! My first thoughts are that is the kind of trip that generates life-long memories. Absolutely priceless. Many thanks for sharing some beautiful pics.

[Eugarps]

anutami,

Wow what a trip. Thanks for dragging my old self along!

Keep it up,

Bill

[opnspaces]

Thanks for the report and pictures. How many days total were you guys out? Oh and I know right where you were camped in Blair Valley I've camped up in that corner many times over the years and immediately recognized the big rock you backed behind while going up the hill. 🙂

[mbloof]

Surely more snow than I like to camp/drive in. Congrats. Thanks for the report.

[joerg68]

hope you enjoyed the report

Sure did! Thanks for sharing! What a beautiful place to travel!

[Yosemite_Sam1]

Thanks for sharing!

And nice to know you have had lots of fun.

As a occasional winter camper myself in the Sierras, you are brave. Upper Pines being shut down would have been a hint that the nearby Sequoia NP is also buried in snow -- and a lot more dangerous with the roads less well maintained and not well marked. But glad you are safe.