Exciting week in California Hot Springs

This is a small community – 250 full-time residents according to the 2000 Census.  Not a whole lot happens here.  However, this week is an exception. 

Trail of 100 Giants

Tomorrow is the grand re-opening of the Trail of 100 Giants, a stand of giant sequoia trees about a 45-minute drive from the California Hot Springs valley in the Sequoia National Monument.

It was closed in May of 2004 so that dead and dying pines could be cleared out of the area.  Crews worked through the summer moving dead wood.  They cut much of the wood to fireplace size and offered it to the public on a first-come-first-served basis.  It was pine and cedar, so it didn’t provide a whole lot of BTUs to area households, but it was free to those with a firewood permit and it was already cut.  In December they moved out some of the large pine logs with helicopters.  We missed that project.  I would have paid money to see helicopters lifting massive pine tree trunks and carrying them to a drop-off point.  They should have sold tickets.

We have been looking forward to the opening of the trail.  It is a great place to go to escape the heat in the summer.  It is also near Holey Meadow Campground, a beautiful meadow that has served as a good destination during the trail’s closure.  Here are some pictures of Sander, Frederick, and our friend Marissa at the meadow this summer.  These pictures give you some idea of the beauty of the high country near us.

Luau Dinner

Saturday is the annual Luau Dinner sponsored by the Hot Springs Capineros.  I have to admit that last year (our first year up here) I was extremely skeptical about the Luau Dinner.  In fact I was skeptical about the International Dinner and particularly about the Hobo Dinner.  Why would you want to eat like a hobo?  But we have been to nearly every Capinero dinner in the last year and the food has always been fantastic.  Last year’s Luau Dinner included some incredible grilled pork and skewered fruit.  The Capineros passed out leis as well.  Early in the evening a couple of people gave their leis to Frederick.  By the end of the evening he was so covered in leis that he could hardly walk.  California Department of Forestry members gave him cards and stickers about fire prevention and showed him their truck.  He had such a good time he did not want to leave.  We did finally manage to get him home, but not before the inevitable breakdown of an exhausted 2-year-old.

Comments

[Beth]

HOBO DINNER! I love it. So excited about everything y'all are doing to your house. It has a truly interesting history.

[Amanda Rose]

Hey Beth. Thanks!
Yep, we have a Hobo Dinner here each year. They had the best collection of chili I've had in a while. Who knew hobos ate so well.