March 29th – April 1st, 2026
Amory captured it perfectly when describing Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks: You can’t judge from a distance. You need to be in and amongst the trees to understand. Oddly, this same phrase aligned with the big idea of this week’s novel: friendship.
Outside looking in, we can all be quick to judge. It is only human nature to quickly assess, make predictions on, and compartmentalize both people and situations. But reality isn’t based in that. Buddhism touches on this idea as well – the idea of nonjudgemental awareness. It is not natural to not judge. We have to make a conscious effort to not do so. And it seems we are constantly judging everyone and everything, our closest allies and our highest blessings. But you can’t judge, especially not from a distance – and doing so only creates false narratives.
In My Friends, Fredrik Backman weaves a tale riddled in grief and love by unfolding a story of the ever so familiar waxing and waning of friendships. How friends can be inseparable yet with time grow so distant. As a young adult, I have noticed big changes in the friendships I carry. Those once inseparable friendships have gathered dust (some being shelved entirely), and I have distanced myself from friends due to my outward judgement of their life choices. Friends I have cherished for many years. Some who have been key players in shaping me into who I am today. And while I am not encouraging you to engage with people who cause more burdens than triumphs, I am encouraging you to be gentle on those around you. Seek nonjudgemental awareness. Allow your friends to grow and change and be – just as Fish, Ali, Joar, The Artist, Ted, and Louisa do throughout My Friends. Allow space between you to grow if needed, but allow yourself to slip into their embrace when offered.
As for the parks, Sequoia and Kings Canyon have such appeal from a distance. Giant trees. Mountain vistas. Big Foot. But to truly be enveloped in the wonder that these parks offer, you must strike out onto one of the many accessible (parks perfect for first time hiking kiddos IMO) trails offered by the parks. Winding through the forests and meadows. Standing underneath a towering 300 foot Sequoia. Smelling that ever so familiar “Christmas smell” from a recently fell tree.
Thinking of visiting these two parks soon to judge them for yourself? Keep reading for a layout on what I did, where I stayed, and what I ate while exploring these sister parks: Sequoia and Kings Canyon.
Books
My Friends, Fredrik Backman
4/5 stars
A co-worker suggested this book to me last year. We were chatting about novels that really made us feel. Made us cry those big girl tears. Gave us that blank 1,000-yard stare at the wall after a heavy chapter type-books. And while My Friends didn’t hit me as hard as it hit her, it was powerful. Many times I had to put the book down because of how empathetic I was of the characters. I felt their sorrow, their pain, their grief, their heartache. Quickly summarizing the majority of this book; It’s depressing. It invokes real, raw feelings. Some readers may be put off by these types of novels. Wanting to avoid uneasy feelings in our favorite pastime hobby. I get it; however, occasionally, I crave the visceral. Do I want every book I read to be heavy? No. But from time to time, I want to feel those feels – and My Friends helps readers do just that. And it is worth noting that the author, Backman, has a unique, comical way of making you feel.
Like I said in the introduction of this post, this book is ultimately about friendship. About how our friendships our vital to who we are (and who we aren’t). And yes, it’s depressing, but after finishing the last chapter, I closed the book smiling.
Bites
A living in your car classics: an avocado smashed on a rice cake with red chili pepper flakes + a grapefruit with a view
- After a day of hiking, Amory and I stopped in the centrally located Lodgepole Visitor Center to snack, use their restrooms, and take advantage of their Wi-Fi.
A fan favorite: Belgium waffles (with added banana and PB) and hot coffee complimentary at Cyndi’s Snowline Lodge
- Just outside Kings Canyon, Cyndi was a great Hipcamp host offering words of wisdom, hot coffee, and crispy waffles to-go every morning at sunrise.
A local gem just outside the park with keto and gluten-free options: a cran-almond scone, an oatmilk hot latte, and the meat lover bagel at Clingans Junction
- Amory and I are always in need of a cafe sit and work session. Clingans is a 30 minute drive from the Kings Canyon Visitor Center, has plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, and, the best part, has high quality Wi-Fi with a plethora of outlets scattered throughout the cafe. Oh! Their food and coffee was pretty damn good too.
Sights
Accommodations:
- Horse Creek Campground (near Sequoia NP): 1 night, originally 2 but plans changed, not well maintained (nowhere to be found hosts, bathrooms/showers out of order, lots of trash) but great location and views
- Azalea Campground (in Kings Canyon NP): 1 night, in the park with abundant trails nearby
- Cyndi’s Snowline Lodge (near Kings Canyon NP): 2 nights, wonderful hosts, easy/cozy, just outside park, free coffee and waffles, booked on Hipcamp
Sequoia Hikes:
- Moro Rock via Alta, Bear Hill, and Moro Rock Trail Loop (4.9 mile loop): Auto Log, giant trees, mountain vistas, meadow stroll
- Tokopah Falls Trail (4 mile in-and-out): beautiful waterfall, lots of large, flat rocks to sit on at viewpoint
- Sherman Tree, Congress, Trail of the Sequoias, and Tharp’s Log Loop (7 mile loop): World’s largest tree, parts of trail are paved, less people once you began to head toward Tharp’s Log offering a more private, secluded feel in the park
- Little Baldy Trail (3.5 mile in-and-out): short trail with great views
Kings Canyon Hikes:
- General Grant Trail (0.5 mile loop): walkable from Azalea campground, interactive trail with options to walk through fallen trunks
- Buena Vista Trail (2 mile in-and-out): easy, short trail with a great viewpoint
- Ella Falls Loop (6 mile loop): multi-level waterfall, longer hike but one of the better options in Kings Canyon IMO, option to view other waterfalls along the way
- Big Stump Loop (2 mile loop): easy trail through the forest, option to stand in a big Sequoia stump
- Hume Lake Loop (3 miles): picnicking option, easy stroll around lake
Four months into this journey readers. Point blank: I am tired. Constantly being put into new situations, many uncomfortable; however, when unease arises, I will continue to bring myself to the mantra of this post: Cast aside judgement. Be in and amongst the situation. Traveling America with the love of my life experiencing all the things, reading all the books, eating all the bites, seeing all the sights – seriously, how could I ever complain, no matter how tired or uncomfortable I feel. Until next week. Xoxo.
Books, Bites, and Sights 
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