Exploring Moro Rock, Crescent Meadow & Tharp's Log

After a good nights sleep, we got an early-ish start on the road with a pitstop at Sequoia Coffee. Despite the less-than-enthusiastic description by the staff, I ordered a Strawberry Acai Refresher which turned out to be surprisingly crisp and not remotely as sweet as it sounds. Ira went for the Bacon Bomb, described as: 

"Soft Italian bombolini roll with sweet and smoky bacon jam, egg, bacon, habanero cheddar."

For my non-Italian readers, bomboloni are fluffy, round, filled doughnuts, often eaten for breakfast. Imagine a breakfast sandwich stuffed inside a doughnut instead of an English muffin. It was messy, but delicious!

Climbing Moro Rock

Fueled up, we headed to our first stop: Moro Rock, a prominent granite dome rising to 6,725 feet (2050m). The 350-step stairway carved into granite leads you up for incredible panoramic views of the Sierra Nevada mountains. 

The original wooden stairs were built in 1917, then replaced with concrete in 1931 for safety and to better blend with the rock.

Concrete steps with railings on lower section

Shifting Stone

Along the way, you can see evidence of exfoliation--the process where layers of granite peel off like an onion, slowly shrinking the rock over time.  In fact, in the 1990s, a slab broke loose, crashed onto the highway, and had to be blasted apart by park staff to clear the road. 

Rock layers beginning to peel away

Center: Tree-less landslide aftermath

As we climbed higher, the railings disappeared, so I stuck close to the rock face for a little extra security. 

Stairs without railings

Near the top, the breeze was refreshing, though standing at the edge definitely gave me a touch of vertigo.

Vista from the top of Moro Rock

We even queued up in line for the coveted view at the very tip of the rock. And then just like that, it was time to make the much quicker descent down all 350 steps. 

Panoramic view from the summit of Moro Rock

Crescent Meadow & a Wasp Encounter

Our next stop was Crescent Meadow, known as the "Gem of the Sierras." Along the trail we caught glimpses of the wide, green expanse and detoured to visit the Chimney Tree, a giant sequoia hollowed out by fire. 

Meadow Glimpse

Chimney Tree

From there, we doubled back to explore more trails--until my curiosity got me stung by a wasp! After a few panicked swats with my phone, it finally let go. Ouch. Thankfully, I wasn't allergic, so we pressed on, just at a slower pace. 

Tharp's Log

One of the highlights of the day was Tharp's Log, the summer home of early settler Hale Tharp. In the 1850s, Tharp converted a 70-foot hollow sequoia log into a rustic cabin, complete with a shingled front, fireplace, and shuttered windows. It's humbling to imagine living inside such a natural structure.

The hollowed-out sequoia that became Hale Tharp's summer cabin

Wildlife & Crescent Meadow

Back on the trail, we stumbled across a mule deer grazing calmly, unfazed by our presence. As we watched, we realized he was standing right in front of Crescent Meadow itself--the photo spot Ira had been looking to return to all along.

A Mule Deer casually crazing by the trail

Meadows like this are vital ecosystems: they provide shelter for deer and bears, habitat for amphibians and birds, and nectar for bees and other pollinators. 

Crescent Meadow--"The Gem of the Sierras"

From here, we looped back to the Giant Forest Museum, completing the day's hike. 

Dinner at El Bandido's Taco Truck

After a long day outdoors, we headed back to our Airbnb to freshen up before grabbing dinner at El Bandido's Taco Truck, a local favorite. 

I ordered two tacos--one chicken, one carne asada--while Ira went for an adobada mulita.

El Bandido Taco Truck

Ira's adobada mulita, rich and cheesy

Of course, we couldn't resist a side of chips and salsa plus a couple of Topo Chicos (their bubbly carbonation hits harder than Pellegrino--my absolute favorite).

chicken and carne asada tacos with beans and rice

Full and happy we called it an early night. I had a wasp sting to ice and a leg to elevate. Tomorrow's adventure: Yosemite!

A dopo!