tstrauss wrote:thanks everyone for the awesome responses. to clarify, my 6-7 mile mileage is per day. we did a trip in the smokies back east last year (obviously much lower elevation) but day 2 did have a pretty steep climb. The guide did a great job of making us stop every hour whether we needed it or not, and kept things light hearted. The Smokies doesn't have the grand views that i believe SEKI has, so that should be a plus for the kids. We will be staying 1 night in Potwisha and 2 nights in Dorst to explore and acclimate. I will pick up a copy of Sierra South. My wife and i plan to carry the bulk of the weight to spare the girls, but each will be carrying something.
Tony
Are you flying into Fresno? I would head straight up 180 to one of the Cedar Grove campgrounds. Spend a few days there to explore and snag a permit for Paradise Valley. You will run into bears. Then head up to Lodgepole to car camp (get reservation) and do the watchtower, topeka falls, and giant forest day hikes. Make sure you hit moro rock. That would be an awesome trip for any family, but really hits on the stuff that an east coaster isn't exposed to.
I'm an ex-pat Californian on the east coast. If you can do the smokies, you can do these hikes. You also don't need to worry about acclimating to the elevation where you will be.