Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park

These twin parks boast something found nowhere else in the world - the Giant Sequoias. They only grow on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada in California and really live up to their name as the world's largest trees. The deep snow we encountered upon entering only accentuate the enormous trunks and red spongy bark of these trees. Though two main roads taking hikers deep into the parks were closed for winter, we found a lot of trash at the campsites in which we stayed. Our hikes took us through idyllic meadows guarded by these giants. To learn more about these old red trees, visit: http://www.nps.gov/seki/

Approximate trash/recyclables collected: 290 pieces

Description: two hubcaps (from the same car), plastic bottles, corners of plastic candy bar wrappers, chip bags, plastic bags, and cigarette butts

Dates visited: March 10-12, 2009