Giant Sequoia National Monument

The park system in central California is incredible. You have Sequoia National Park, the first national park ever designated in the country. Next to it is King Canyon National Park, created in 1940. Surrounding a good portion of these two is the new Giant Sequoia National Monument, designated such by President Clinton in 2000. The three parks form a sanctuary for incredible scenery, including the Giant Sequoias on the Boole Tree Loop hiking trail.

Although directions are included below, I have to mention the drive to Boole Tree is incredible. As you drive through Stump Meadow, you will see some of the biggest stumps in the world and get a real feel for what has been destroyed. The biggest is the Chicago Stump measuring 70 FEET around its perimeter. Sadly, the tree was cut down so it could be displayed in a museum in Chicago in the 1880s when such trees seemed plentiful.

The Boole Tree Loop is only 2.5 miles, but will take a couple of hours since you’ll be staring up in the air like an idiot and looking at some incredible views. Since it is a loop, you can go either direction you wish. The first part of the trail will wind through at least 40 Giant Sequoia stumps that will boggle your mind with their size. Passing these, you’ll head up to a plateau where you can look down upon valleys in the canyon with Spanish Mountain in the distance. Regardless of which way you go, you’ll eventually come upon Boole Tree.

Boole Tree is big, but not as big as many of the stumps you’ll see. Boole Tree stands roughly 275 feet high with a perimeter of some 35 feet. It is estimated to be over 2,000 years old and is one of the biggest living trees in the world. Ironically, the tree is named after a lumber mill owner that spared it. To bad he wasn’t feeling as gracious with the other Giant Sequoias as all the stumps attest.

The Giant Sequoia National Monument is roughly an hour east of Fresno, California. Highway 180 is the most used entrance to the park from the west coast. Upon entering the park, you’ll pass through a ranger station. Drive north from there and hand a left at Grant Grove after traveling just over a mile. Continue until you hit Grant Grove Village. Just after it, you’ll see sign for Stump Meadow. Take a left and start driving. After a couple of miles, you’ll see a parking lot with a sign.

If you’re coming from Los Angeles, the drive will take five hours as will driving from San Francisco. Of course, drive times are dependent on traffic conditions in both cities.

Taking a hike through the Giant Sequoia National Monument is tremendous. It will give you a perspective of Mother Nature that few see.

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To unwind, I typically stop on my way home from work to hike from Cardiff to Carlsbad on the beach. For picturesque sunsets and “tasty waves”, the beach between Cardiff to Carlsbad can’t be beat.

Cardiff – Starting

I typically start this hike by parking just south of restaurant row in Cardiff. Restaurant row is located to the north of the lagoon between Cardiff and Solana Beach on Highway 101. Parking is located on the side of the road, which is right up against the beach. Give me convenience or give me death!

As you head north, you first pass Charlie’s and other restaurants. Past the restaurants, you will come to the beginning of the bluffs that will line the beach to the end of the hike. San Elijo campground is on top of the initial bluffs and extends for roughly a mile north. The campground is very popular and the temporary home of locals and tourist. You can tell the difference by contrasting tans with sunburns.

Following San Elijo, you will walk through Sea Cliff County Park with bluffs over 100 feet high. An area known affectionately as “Swami’s” quickly follows this park. The name derives from the fact the area above the bluff is the home to the Self Realization Fellowship Center. This area is know as hot surf spot, but is very crowded. If you are a bit winded, you can stop and watch 50 or so surfers maneuver for waves. Yes, traffic jams aren’t exclusively restricted to California freeways.

North of Swami’s, you will cruise along a long strip of sand hemmed in by 50 to 60 foot bluffs in the town of Encinitas. For those with a wicked sense of humor, there is a relatively popular game called, “Watch the house fall.” Yes, the bluffs are giving away slowly. As they erode, the homes first lose plants, then patios and so on. They say real estate is all about location, location, location, but sometimes a beach front home isn’t all that great.

The Encinitas section of the hike is fairly long. With the high bluffs, you will find sections of the beach that are deserted. Yes, even during summer. The only thing breaking up the solitude is Moonlight Beach, a fairly popular beach with locals. Otherwise, it’s just you, shells and joggers until you arrive at the end of the bluffs and South Carlsbad. Time to turn around and find the car.

The Cardiff to South Carlsbad hike is about 5 miles in each direction. The walk is flat and quick. By the end, you will be relaxed and forget that Bert in accounting is a jerk. Enjoy.

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Even if you’ve chosen the very best the right wasp killer you must effectively identify the insect. If you are unsure you should get a good quality hornet and wasp killer! However never confuse wasps with bees. The humble bumble bee is very important in plant pollination and avoids having to sting as it die as a result.

Wasps & hornets by comparison are very different! This is important to learn how to use the right wasp killer effectively.

The type of wasp killer you use is important.

The advice, is offered for those who want to kill not just wasps but also their nests with the right wasp killer, applies if you need to know the best way kill yellowjackets, hornets or any other wasps. The “how to” of being a wasp killer:

Next, if you need to retrieve the wasp’s nest you must get appropriate coverings. All wasps do get extremely aggressive if disturbed! Destroying the nest will not do it. You need to learn to use a wasp killer correctly on a nest or they’ll merely rebuild their nest.

The most appropriate time of the day to approach a nest is at night when every wasp is present. It’s possible for you to use WD-40 to spray the wasps but you need to cover all of the nest because if you miss they will be alerted. Therefore I think it’s best to have high strength wasp killer.

At night when there is no sign of any wasp activity apply your wasp killer directly into the nest. Make sure you have pre-read the instructions! You do not want to be reading the instructions while performing the job as the wasps have been known to attack.

Never stand just under the nest as the insecticide will will fall on you and you might not correctly soak the nest. Ensure you have good access to the nest’s opening so that you can get as much wasp killer inside it as you can.

Make sure you have an escape route!

Another method is freezing the nest. Again any method that shows you how to eliminate wasps should be performed at night. Cover the nest with a heavy plastic bag and seal it. Cut down the nest and freeze it. It’s an effective effective but risky way of eliminating wasps. Use a high strength wasp killer.

The hardest part of learning to eliminate wasps is learning how to deal with hidden nests. Many times these are concealed in attics or behind walls. If wasps are present but there’s no nest you must be extremely careful when you try to find it. Wear the proper clothing, or call a professional.

Professionals can be costly however they use great wasp killer. However, you can do the job yourself with the advice given on this wasp killer article. Before you try it though you should study the main things to know outlined so you know the best wasp killer to use.

If you do not have a wasp problem but just need your garden and home free of them then why not try cheap wasp killer traps.

So now you have the knowledge how to be a wasp killer go get them!

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When you are planning a trip to the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park it is a good move to look up all of the relevant information that you will need. For instance if you are planning on doing some hiking then it is best to understand what sort of terrain you will face. You should find out where the best places to stay for the night are located and the type of wildlife you can encounter.

Among the other pieces of information you will need to look up is what sort of facilities you will find. These should include the medical services, gift shops, food stand and restaurants, and gas for your car. Additionally you will need to know from where you can find help if your car should develop some problems.

To help visitors get the most from Sequoia Kings Canyon National Park there is a well equipped visitor’s center. At the center you will find an information desk where you can find out various facts that you need to know about the park. You can also find a medical desk where you can receive help from any injuries which you might want gotten while you were wandering around in the park.

In Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park you will find that you have plenty of activities and nature trails to follow. The main feature of this national park is that of the sequoia trees. Additionally you will find other species of plants and trees interspersed among the sequoia to make things interesting. The wildlife which you can find here will also make following the nature trails a pleasure.

When you are thinking about having a vacation there are lots of options that you can try for. For those of you who like having a luxuriously comfort holiday going to a park be it a national or state park will be a little difficult to accomplish unless you stay in lodgings which are designed for that purpose or you can take a daytrip. Of the many national parks which are open to the public you will find that Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park is one that will linger in your memory.

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The Great Barrier Reef has long been known to the aborigines and today it is a great tourist attraction in the state of Queensland in Australia. The revenue from tourist visits is $1 billion annually. It is a nature’s gift to Australia and it is blessed with breathtaking natural beauty. This large ecosystem has scattered islands along the coast of Australia. A Marine Park was established in 1975 and is the largest protected marine area in the world. There is an abundance of marine life with more than 1500 species of fish, 400 species of corals, 4000 species of mollusks, 500 species of seaweed, 215 species of birds, 16 species of sea snake, and 6 species of sea turtles.

The Great Barrier Reef runs parallel to the state of Queensland. Several cities have developed along the coast and on the islands. These are great tourist attractions as well. The beauty of the largest ecosystem in the world can be explored from the sky by going on a helicopter tour and/or by diving into the sea and getting close to the reefs and corals. You can also take a ride in a glass-bottomed boat to view the wonderful coral. To see this natural wonder of the world is an exhilarating and enriching experience which is why The Great Barrier Reef has become one of the most sought after tourist destinations on the world.

Hundreds of tour operators work year-round operating large vessels to provide excellent facilities to the tourist to get a chance to see this natural wonder. What these tourists see is nothing less than spectacular as they witness sea life that they have not imagined in their wildest dreams. It is not just the corals and reefs that are breathtaking. During winters, it is normal to encounter whales as they migrate from the Antarctic up to the reef to mate and give birth. They are mostly seen in shallow waters near Harvey Bay and Port Douglas. The most spectacular of these species of whales is the Humpback. Whale watching is one activity that has become tremendously popular in recent years and tourists from all over the world come to see the large animals in its natural habitat. Dolphins are another attraction as they can be seen all year round in these reefs. If you are with your family, your kids will have a great time with these playful creatures that will impress you with their activities.

Coral reefs are made up of millions of tiny organisms called coral polyps. These polyps are prey to the Crown of Thorn Starfish that have grown in enormous numbers in the entire region. This is attributed to over fishing of the starfish’s predators and also to poor water quality that is endangering the reef system in general. Since the 1950’s, the Crown of Thorns has been destroying the corals and this can have a devastating effect on the ecosystem, which is home to so many species of animals and birds.        

Other creatures that are found in abundance are mollusks, and according to a study, there are more than 5,000 species of mollusks found in the Great Barrier Reef. Giant clams are known to be the largest mollusks that grow up to 3 feet in size and live up to 70 years. One of the species called cone shell, is known to be a dangerous predator as they shoot their prey with a poisonous tooth that kills the prey.

Human activity in and around the Great Barrier Reef has endangered the ecosystem which is why UNESCO declared it as a World Heritage Zone in 1981. Increased pollution has caused much damage to the ecosystem and the Australian government is doing what it can to preserve the beauty of this natural wonder of the world.

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* Be careful even on cloudy days – keep a better watch on the weather conditions, when you are there. Even cloudy days may be quite bright like the sunny days. Even though you find the sky getting cloudy, the sun is still there hiding behind the clouds.

* Never visit tanning salons – it is a misunderstanding that the tanning salons offer the best way to remain healthy and safe. This is not true. These salons do not provide an automatic tan. Someone with pale skin will soon get sunburned. In any case, if you prefer to use a salon, you should use their services moderately, since the effects of these are highly hazardous.

* Reduce your time spent outside – this is the best way to safeguard yourself from the extreme sun rays. Do not go outdoors when the sun is very intense especially during the midday between 10.00 in the morning to 3.00 in the afternoon. This is the time when the sun is very powerful.

* Stay indoors – if you do not find any relevant way to protect yourself from the intense sun rays, it is best to avoid going outdoors. This may seem a bit annoying, but this can be the only alternative to some people. Spending some time indoors will minimize the risk of sun burning. Australia is well known for many indoor activities as well. So, if this is the option for you, you can spend your time in a luxurious and comfortable way indoors.

* When going out, especially to the beach, then wear a shirt to cover your body to prevent shoulder and back burning. Apply sunscreen whenever you go out in the sun and don’t forget to wear a hat to avoid face burning. The higher the SPF of the sunscreen is the better. Do not forget to reapply it to your skin after getting out of the water.

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