Inspired by Samuel's
High Adventure Varsity Scouts,
I suggested we plan an annual high-adventure trip
amongst the grown-ups.
Everyone was game
(Everyone, that is,
who wasn't pregant or with new babies),
and off we went with our sights set
for Half Dome!
Our inability to obtain wilderness permits turned our
2-day backpacking trip into a
one-day Half Dome Day hike...
and late snow melt turned our dreams of Half Dome
into mush!
What's worse,
we missed it by a hair!
Our hiking permits were for June 22nd,
the cables would be in place June 23rd!
Talk about
H E A R T B R E A K !
...
Not to worry though,
Yosemite is nothing but must-sees & must-do's,
and my brother-in-law Joe
put together a last minute hike
that would take us up to the top of Yosemite Falls,
over to North Dome,
and back down.
Total trip:
Estimated 16+ miles
...
On goes the extra slathering of deoderant
(not that that really helps anyway!),
the wool socks
(which DO help tremendously),
and away we go!
Settling in to Dimond-O,
a campground just outside Yosemite.
The plan,
go to bed early.
Awake: 4:30 AM,
Depart: 5:00 AM,
Trailhead departure: 6:00 AM.
Target return time: 6:00 PM
{ Actual Stats:}
Awake: 4:45 AM
Departure: 6:00 AM
{Thanks to the Joe Elmer/Culp primping :) }
Trailhead departure: 7:00 AM (not bad!)
{ Actual Stats:}
Awake: 4:45 AM
Departure: 6:00 AM
{Thanks to the Joe Elmer/Culp primping :) }
Trailhead departure: 7:00 AM (not bad!)
Return time: 6:30 PM (dinner time!)
Samuel fussing with our stuff.
Rachel & Bill
He plans to carry her the whole way.
Taking no prisoners!
This mountain is ours!
The crew:
Joe & Jessica
Barbara
Rachel & Bill
Samuel & I
There she is!
No turning back,
unless you have to,
you know,
go.
Beautiful rainbows at Lower Yosemite Falls!
This is wet territory!
Forewarned...
3.4 miles to the top of the falls.
Sounds easy-peasy.
Walk that puppy and you will eat your words!
60 switchbacks
3,000+ feet elevation gain in 3.4 miles.
At 1,000 feet per mile,
we're talking steep.
And...
F U N !
Bittersweet!
As near as we can tell,
this is the halfway point to the top!
Something that never fails to astound me is the number
older adults on the trail.
Barbara, Jessica's mom,
was a spring chicken compared to some
65-70+ folks out there.
One woman even passed us like a mountain goat
and didn't seem to even be breaking a sweat!
Stunning views!
Here she comes!
Joe making his way down...
...followed by the rest of the troops!
Airing out those piggy pink toes!
The best view!
See what I mean?
Bill and his baby, the tri-pod.
Replenishing that water...
we're not even close to being done!
Heading towards North Dome
we started seeing heavy patches of snow.
Heading north,
this became a concern,
especially considering it's ability to cover the trail.
We tried in vain to find a way to cross without going IN...
unfortunately,
that was a no-go,
and off went the shoes!
After some group discussion over the
condition of the trail and what may lie ahead,
we made the decision to turn back and
head home the way we came.
All smiles now that we're going downhill!
Incredible impressions of rocks falling.
These pictures really can never do justice to these fierce waterfalls!
The sound of the waters roaring is unforgetable!
Finally,
on firm ground.
Now it's time to watch the crazy folks
heading up the mountain in a different way.
All told,
including our wanderings around the park,
we made it pretty close to our 16 mile goal!
Earning the right to devour pizza and burgers with abandon!
...
Now that we're home,
I'm already thinking...
What will be our next high adventure?
