Fieldwork in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, conducted as part of the Archaeology Theme for the Geographic Information System (GIS), began in July of 1986. This paper outlines the results of the first season of fieldwork, which entailed the surface survey of five areas of the Parks ranging in elevation from 8400 to 10,880 feet above sea level. A limited program of obsidian sourcing and hydration analysis was conducted as part of this investigation, the results of which suggest patterns of obsidian exchange that differ from patterns identified by research in adjacent areas.