Kings Canyon, 9th May, 2024

🎈 HAPPY 19th BIRTHDAY ADAM 

Today we arrived at the Kings Canyon at 7.15am thinking we should start early re the heat build up over the day. But not so good for the first lot of photos re the early low sun not the quality of light. But the time we got to the top of the 500 steps the sun was improving but still a lot of low shadows. Going up was hard on the heart rate but coming down was hard on the knees. All cut out stone steps going up and down. Some quite deep. It was a great experience. We finished at 11.15am making it four hours in total. We were moving along, just stopping to photo, drink water, even had crackers and cheese, to admire the views. Very little stopping. I think it’s easier to keep moving as if you sit down it’s harder to get going again. After getting to the top of the 500 steps and getting our breath back again, we were walking along the north ridge which was fairly even and few steps. But the south rim was a lot of small boulder and rocks, so always had to watch our step. On both sides you don’t go out to the edge of the rim much for the views. Most of the track was away from that,  as you might notice in the photos.

This is the information centre you walk through to take the start of the track.

I found this interesting.

This isn’t a pretty sight. PT hardly ever takes photos with me in and he has to choose this one. But in saying that it shows the state of what they call the 500 Stairs. And no I didn’t go up them in this position, just occasionally when they were a little higher in places. Didn’t want to loose my balance and go down the fast way. 

Prob half way up. Zoom in and you will see some white specs where we are parked.

Someone is trailing behind me. Usually he is always ahead of me, won’t stop, just wants to keep going.

Made it 500 steps in hard conditions. The heart was really racing. A lot harder than walking up wooden stairs with a railing to hang onto and help with the balance.

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The start of the walk from the top of the stairs, that’s where they filmed Pricilla Queen of the Desert.

Getting into the area  that  look like domes. As photo below explains.

This is the interesting part out on the edge of the rim. Not a lot of the walk is near the rim . Looking up the canyon. Sun is up more so the colour is coming out. But still big shadows.

Much higher now, walking along the rim. But can still see the white dots in the car park. One of them

Is our wagon. A long way down. Have to pinch myself that I made it to here.

What a great experience.

Continuing our walk along the north rim through the domes.

One more track near the rim looking up to the eastern end.

This is interesting we saw a few of these landing pads for emergency helicopters scattered around the rim. Also had emergency phones.

Standing looking over to the other side of the cliff. One guy showed if you yell out the sound bounces of the cliff the other side and comes back to you.

Closest shot of the cliff face.

Now to explain how we got over the gorge to the south rim. 

PT is standing on the top of some wooden stairs, with railings that will take us down into what they have named The Garden of Eden. Filled with lush greenery where you cross over a wooden bridge over a sacred 😦 watering hole.Then after enjoying this area you have to climb up more wooden stairs to the south ridge. Wooden stairs are so easy after these cutout rock stairs.

Walking down into the garden of Eden.

Looking back up the stairs we had just come down.

We are now standing on the bridge looking into the watering hole before we have to climb up again.

The bridge we crossed over.

Now coming up the other side.

Now up the stairs that took us back up to the south rim. Lovely looking down over the watering hole and bridge that we just crossed.

At the top of the stairs on the other side of the canyon looking ahead more dome shapes.

Continuing are walk around the south side. Through lots of boulders and stones.

Looking back over to the northern wall which is still in shade. Sun not up high enough. To get both walls in sun you would have to be up there over the middle of the day which would be getting too hot.

Back out on the only viewing area standing on the south wall looking over to the northern wall. A shear cut beautiful colours. Would’ve looked great with the sun shining on it.

Zoomed in, great.

Continuing on over some flat rocks, some rocky and starting to throw in a few Steps as we are now descending slowing back down to where we started from. 

We can now see where are van is parked, but still far away.

Still some amazing views

Someone is waiting for me as I’m told I stop too much to take photos. 

Getting into a bit of greenery as we get lower. 

Couldn’t believe it more hard steps. To get down but in a different area. Not good on the knees.

One knee was really sore so walked behind PT and put my hand on his shoulder which helped a lot.

Made it to the bottom, with no regrets. Exhausted but so rewarding and so pleased I have done it. 🤗😃