Sequoia and Kings Canyon, the twin national parks situated at the southern extremity of California’s Sierra Nevada Range, exemplifies the concept of diversity. The extreme contrasts in climate, topography and vegetation expressed in this region are astounding. Consider the rise in elevation from 1,700 feet at park headquarters at Ash Mountain to the summit of Mt. Whitney at 14,495′ on Sequoia National Park’s eastern fringe, and then contemplate how that differential impacts the ecology of the parks. Rarely does snow fall in the foothills near the western entrance, nor does the snow ever completely melt in the park’s higher reaches. Spring flowers bloom from January through October. Sequoia National Park contains the highest peak in the lower 48 – Mt. Whitney at 14,495′, and the deepest canyon – Kings Canyon – 8,200′ – even deeper than the Grand Canyon. And then there are the mighty sequoias, the largest living things on earth. Reason enough for Timberline to cherish Sequoia and Kings Canyon as a part of its adventure hiking program.