A few things I learned ...

last week. On Wednesday we packed up the van and the kids and drove five hours north to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park. One night in Sequoia -- yes, the famous tall trees -- and one in Kings Canyon, this massive wilderness with a famous glacial valley that “rivals Yosemite,” to quote John Muir. Here’s the collective Cornett wisdom hard-won on this trip:

1. Family Camping really is different than minimalist (or even basic) backpacking. Think 30 minutes to set up family tent (plus little “helpers”) vs. 4 minutes in b-packing. Think one pot/one dish for Andy b-packing, and then cookware/dishes for 5 people – and Andy still brought the same small pot …
2. When God created Kings Canyon, he didn’t have families with preschoolers in mind. Think towering granite cliffs, sheer drops, raging rives, and need we say: “active” animal population …
3. Never drive CA 245. Really. After 5 miles descending this crazy road from the park to the constant chorus of “oh mom, my tummy is really hurting!” we pull over at The Apple House and the three kids go rolling out and lay down in my lap just whimpering. And Judy Taylor is really nice – trust us, and her apples saved the trip.
4. Even good things come to an end. Like my best and favorite jeans, which totally split in a strategic place …
5. Camping with your buddies (large, burly men) is different than camping with your wife and kids (and safer, too!). Big guys – we can each take care of ourselves, and together we are fearsome. Wife and small children - lots more responsibility, lots more worry …
6. Some things are better cooked at home. Like maple sausage: apparently it is a big hit with the local Yellow Jacket population in Grant’s Grove.
7. Sometimes a little education is a dangerous thing. Like discussing the difference between black bears and grizzly bears with an inquisitive Michael – and then constant worries as you are laying awake at night in the tent …
8. When possibly facing bears or mountain lions, I’d rather have an airhorn than a whistle. How’s a whistle going to help when there are signs that say: “Warning: Mountain Lion area. Do not let small children run ahead of you on trails.”
9. When it gets cold, it really does pay to have the right gear. Trust me – the technical stuff is worth the money (though an ability to start a fire is priceless to fascinated kids).