MacNab
Well Known Member
We finally did something with 'our little time machine' that we’ve been wanting to do for a while now. We loaded up our backpacks and put them in the back of our RV and flew 425nm to Visalia, CA from our home base at Phoenix, Deer Valley, over the weekend of July 11-14 (yes, it was a long, fun, weekend). We picked up an economy rental car at the Visalia airport for $16 dollars a day and drove it to the trailhead in Mineral King Valley, at the southern end of the Sequoia National Park. From there it was all uphill to Eagle Lake, situated a little over 10,000 feet on the west side of Mineral King Valley. From sweltering 100's in the San Joaquin valley to 70's in Mineral King. It was very pleasant and relaxing.
Yes, Virginia, you can even go backpacking in a Van's RV. I'm now rethinking airplane camping. From now on, we plan to have everything we need for camping in our backpacks. That way we have the option to either plunk down right next to the plane, or throw on the packs and away we go to a destination inacessible by plane.
This would have been a long and difficult trip to plan in anything other than a personal airplane. And the RV does it fast and efficiently. Love it.
Check out the entire Picasa album here: http://picasaweb.google.com/ClanMacNab/MineralKing
A stopover in Tehachapi CA for 'cheap gas' and a great breakfast at the Apple Shed. Visibility was hampered by smoke from all the fires (one just 20 miles north of Tehachapi).
On the ramp at Visalia airport. Two backpacks and some extra gear and clothing fit very well in the back of an RV-6.
On the easy part of the trail out of Mineral King Valley.
Near the top of the 2200' grade. The trail is a little over three and a half miles.
Days in the low 70's and nights in the low 50's while we were there. Thankfully most of the smoke from all the California fires was below us.
Looking across Eagle Lake from the west end.
Yes, Virginia, you can even go backpacking in a Van's RV. I'm now rethinking airplane camping. From now on, we plan to have everything we need for camping in our backpacks. That way we have the option to either plunk down right next to the plane, or throw on the packs and away we go to a destination inacessible by plane.
This would have been a long and difficult trip to plan in anything other than a personal airplane. And the RV does it fast and efficiently. Love it.
Check out the entire Picasa album here: http://picasaweb.google.com/ClanMacNab/MineralKing
A stopover in Tehachapi CA for 'cheap gas' and a great breakfast at the Apple Shed. Visibility was hampered by smoke from all the fires (one just 20 miles north of Tehachapi).
On the ramp at Visalia airport. Two backpacks and some extra gear and clothing fit very well in the back of an RV-6.
On the easy part of the trail out of Mineral King Valley.
Near the top of the 2200' grade. The trail is a little over three and a half miles.
Days in the low 70's and nights in the low 50's while we were there. Thankfully most of the smoke from all the California fires was below us.
Looking across Eagle Lake from the west end.
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