Flesh Lice or Fresh Lice?

While putting on the mandatory tire chains to access the upper regions of Sequoia National Park, I was approached by a petite asian woman asking for help.  It, was dark and snowing. The following exchange ensued:

Q: Do you flesh lice?
A: No. I don't have lice.
Q: Fresh lice please?
A:  I'm sorry I don't understand.  What about fresh lice?
Q: Yes, fresh lice please?
A: (Internal Monologue:  "What the hell is she talking about, what do lice have to do with Giant Sequoias?"  Queue dumb look on face.)
Q: Fresh lice please?
A: You want to borrow a flashlight?
Q: Yes.

After leaving Death Valley National Park, Emil and I traveled to Sequoia National Park to check out the giant trees.  Before arriving at the park I was confused as to the difference between Redwoods and Sequoias.  As the Giant Tree Museum made clear, Redwoods live on the Northern California Coast and are generally taller but thinner than their Sequoia cousins.  By volume and mass however, Sequoias are the largest living organism on the planet with some being over 2000 years old.  The Bristlecone Pine however is the oldest living organism on earth with some having an estimated age in excess of 4000 years.  Unfortunately, there are very few of these trees, and none of them live in SNP.

The Sequoias are so large that it is not unreasonable to assume they are made of concrete and were created by Disney in draw tourists to Cali.  Because of an incoming blizzard we limited our time in SNP so as to not get trapped in 3-feet of snow for several days.

If you look closely, Emil is standing at the base of tree in the dark crack.

Again, a little "abstract" but this is a picture of snow on the roots of a fallen Sequoia.

The trunk of a burned Sequoia.

Being on the road for weeks on end requires the occasional  laundromat vist.  Here's my whip on the streets of Fresno at about 8 a.m.

After doing some laundry and stocking up on supplies, head off to Yosemite National Park.

As many of you are aware, El Capitan is the home of big wall climbing and may be the most famous rock face in the world.   We did some scrambling on the first few feet of the Nose route and on a large bulge a few hundred feet to the left.  Good times all around and I plan on coming back for some of YNP's easy trad routes.

Now it's time to play America's favorite at-home climbing game -- Spot The Climber.

In case you are wondering, the face of El Cap is in more than 3000 feet.  

I'm in San Fran right now visting with some friends and relaxing for a day or two before I head out to Bend, Oregon.  Look for another update soon, with photos from San Fran and Point Reyes National Seashore.