SF to Vancouver Road Trip Part 2

Ah, it seems like this trip is about to get REAL.  Real awesome.  I mean, it was already awesome, but now it's going to be awesome in Yosemite.  I'll just stop and let my past self take it from here.  Enjoy some more journal reading.


Monday 6/23/14 - Yosemite
I was not prepared for the temperature it seems; the morning was a bit colder than expected.  Perhaps that was a bit of an impetus to get going though, so that's good.  We took off driving towards Tuolumne Meadow, which is the northeast part of the park.  We took what I think is the only road to get there, which includes a great drive with a lot of amazing viewpoints.  I was especially happy to get a spectacular view of Half Dome, and for Kyle, Amanda, and Michelle to see it for the first time.

The first of like 9 different views of Half Dome on this trip

We continued the drive, stopping at more unimaginably beautiful places along the way.  Before long, we realized that we were running out of time and actually had to hustle; we had a back country permit to pick up by 10am and the clock was ticking.  But after some intense hustling we made it, got our bear canister, and started our backpacking trip to Tuolumne Meadows to end at Young Lake.
There were beautiful meadows and mountains (with snow on some of them!) along the hike - basically it was just glorious.  I love Yosemite.  So absolutely gorgeous.

True mountain warriors right there

Just some normal people doing some normal stuff

Upon reaching our destination, we were swarmed with more mosquitoes than I've ever seen.  Our plans to swim in the lake were immediately discarded as we fled for our lives.

In the time it took me to take this ONE FRIGGN PICTURE, I got over 20 mosquito bites.  Ugh.

After several more attempts to find a place to set up camp, we ended up having to backtrack about a mile near a creek to set up camp.  Still a few bastard mosquitoes, but it was waaaaay better.  We set up camp fairly efficiently and started cooking some rice and whatever else food we made.  The propane we (finally) procured is super inefficient, so it took a while.  And everyone was in rough shape due to dehydration and altitude: we were camping at about 9000 feet.  So there were naps and headaches abounding.
Kyle, Michelle, and I hung out at a tree opening near camp for a while to watch the Sun set and for the sky to gradually give way to incredible stars.

Here's PROOF that the Sun is trying to shoot me with it's electromagnetic rays

Thank you, Mountain, for saving me from those deadly rays

This is a Bear's world.  We're all just living in it.

Once the temperature dropped to "nearly unbearable," we called it quits (after some great conversations including Kyle's plan to propose to Amanda on Half Dome - spoiler alert).  I decided to take my sleeping bag out of the tent and sleep under the stars.  It was the correct choice.  While cold, it was the most intense session of stars I've ever seen.  Not exaggerating.  So amazing that I was in awe and had to force myself to close my eyes to eventually get some sleep.  It almost seemed foggy because every point in the sky had either a dim or bright star that it seemed almost cloudy.  So indescribably amazing.  It was definitely the best sky of stars I've ever seen.  To think that before electricity, this was the view every night, everywhere.


Tuesday 6/24/14 - Yosemite
Waking up was not difficult with sunlight burning directly into your optics and a freezing cold morning settling in around you.  I opted to move around, getting breakfast ready to stay warm.  I do not regret sleeping under the stars though.  So epic.  I got some water and oatmeal going as everyone else slowly got up.  The altitude was still messing with us, but we persevered.
After packing up we started on our way back to the trailhead.  More grand meadows and quaint forests - have I mentioned how classically beautiful Yosemite is?

We had to deal with crappy views like this ALL DAY

We had a tiny wash in the river and visited Soda Spring, a natural spring that is carbonated and tastes exactly like club soda.  Yes I drank from it.  Aptly named.  The remainder of the return trek was fairly uneventful but for a few Yosemite varmints.
Driving through more of the park, we decided that we deserved a swim/bath/putting cold water on us because it would feel great.  So we found a deep part of the river and jumped in.  Super refreshing after a long morning of hiking.

Kyle training for the next diving competition in the coming Olympics

We luckily avoided any encounters with Yosemite river sharks

Wait your turn, TOMORROW is Half Dome day

We then drove to the Yosemite Valley.  I hadn't really seen it before because last time I was here I climbed Half Dome and was in the valley before sunrise.  It is phenomenal.  Surrounded by amazing mountains like El Capitan, amazing waterfalls (seriously, some of the best in the country, if not the planet), and everything was crazy beautiful.

I know they look small, but the Yosemite Falls are actually very large.  It's called perspective and it's very tricky.

Our goal (after parking in a maze of cars) was to go up a short trail to Lower Yosemite Falls.  This turned into a longer adventure of climbing boulders all the way up to the falls.  Here, Kyle and I jumped into the absolute GLACIAL water and stood under the falls, adrenaline counteracting the frigid water.  The Bear and I embraced under a curtain of freezing, amazing water.  A manlier hug there has never been.  Seriously, standing under the famous Yosemite Falls was an amazing time that I shan't soon forget.

Now it's a bit easier to see that the falls are a little bit taller than human beings

Gauging how safe it is to jump into the water

And this is only half the falls

So very cold

But so amazing

[poundsign]roomiesunderwaterfalls

Nice attempt, Mr. Tripod.

After this freezing cold excursion, we went over to an area where we could see the entirety of the falls and it was framed by gargantuan Redwood trees and it was just the best.

Ok yeah that's pretty big

I have a sneaking suspicion that this isn't a worm...

I should be getting advertising money from Stunners of the Month

The rest of the evening was basically setting up camp and carbo loading for our Half Dome hike tomorrow.  Aside from a brief excursion out of the park to find some cell service for Michelle and gas/firewood for driving/cooking.  But yeah, a lot of prep for our 3am wakeup to start the hike tomorrow.  We're maybe an hour drive from the Yosemite Valley at Hodgeton campground.  Not bad, but we're pretty much only focused on the hike right now.  Hopefully Michelle will be able to stop stressing about work to be able to enjoy herself.  I think it will be one of life's more amazing moments.


Wednesday 6/25/14 - Yosemite
Our day started at 3am, packing water and day packs for our big Half Dome hike.  It probably took about an hour to drive to the Yosemite Valley trailhead from our campsite, so we passed the time with some pump up music.
We started off the hike (after some confusion with the location of our permits) at about 4:30am.  A gentle start up the Misty Trail led to the bottom of Vernal Falls, which looks like Gollum's fishing pool.  The stairs were a bit slippery and steep, but the falls were amazing.  And the Sun started to rise at this point, so everything got a little more... viewful?

HOW MANY WATERFALLS ARE WE GOING TO STAND NEAR???

Shut up, Yosemite

That tripod is trying it's damndest

The march up to the top was pretty tough, but then we got some respite with a pleasant jaunt through the woods toward Nevada Falls, passing Emerald Pond along the way.  The path up to the top of Nevada Falls was again fairly difficult, with tons of switchbacks, but really pretty.

If we hadn't woken up so early that Sun would be BLASTING us in the face right now

Several perfect pinecones and waltzes through the woods later and we made it to the part that started getting steeper.  And there was FINALLY a sign to remind people to have their permits - I would be incredibly angry if I only realized after 5 miles of steep hiking that I didn't have my permit.  The constant views of Half Dome were great motivators at this point.
After what seemed like several more miles we made it to the base of an exposed switchback section.  Super tough, but doused with amazing views of the valley and all the surrounding granite formations.

I think this view right here might be why Yosemite is my favorite National Park

I'm going to climb ALL OVER your face

Excited to be part way up it seems

And noooooow the fun part

Then FINALLY (the second "finally" of the hike) we got to the chains that will provide access to the summit.  I was incredibly excited, but had to put most of my energy into motivating Michelle and at times physically pushing her up to the top of the dome.  So worth it, because I think she enjoyed it deep down, and frankly summitting Half Dome is pretty damn awesome and the views are breathtaking.  It's a somewhat strenuous hike up those chains, at least for the upper body.  Such an amazing time at the top!

Fun fact: those gloves got DESTROYED on the way up

Steep is the correct adjective

Only one of those smiles is a lie

My butt is clenched tighter than humanly possible

Aaaaaand Kyle proposed to Amanda!  Such fun, excitement, and intrigue.

Got her!

Technically, since I took the picture, I am also engaged to them both

The way down was even more fun because you can actually see how steep it is.

That is a smile of pure terror

Half Dome Summitter x2

Is this the moon?

I'm pretty proud of this one

I legitimately want to do that part again.  Well... the whole thing really.  But for now, we have earned some reward beers.  We made it down to a small swimming area (no swimming allowed but... um... we just hiked Half Dome, so...) near the top of Nevada Falls, where we took a refreshing dip and soothed our barking dogs aka sore feet in case you can't follow along.  We also stopped to hang out at the top of Nevada Falls, complete with another amazing view and a spectacular spot to see the falls crash over the side of the cliff.

HOW MANY FRIGGN WATERFALLS DOES YOSEMITE HAVE?

2 cute

Weeeee

The rest of the descent was a series of stairs and sore foot complaints.  And sunscreen stops.  Plus I dunked my head in Emerald Pond because it was toasty out.  After running down what seemed like an eternal trail, we made it to the car, where we removed our boots and stretched our overused muscles.  Then over to the village store for our well-earned beer.  The rest of the night was spent celebrating with Bisquick pizzas and Yosemite beer by a fire.  So good.  So exhausting.  I love this park.


Thursday 6/26/14 - Yosemite
Today started off on a bad foot with rain getting a few of us in sore spirits with damp clothes and tents.  Also my camp stove stopped working.  Fuck.  That was frustrating.  But we turned our day around with a drive down to the southern part of the park: Mariposa Grove.  We packed our camp up because our plan was to leave from the southern exit after romping around in the Giant Sequoia groves.  And romp we did.

The last (non)view of Half Dome

That's some magical shit right there

It's really hard to get scale on these things, but I took this picture from like 30 feet away

We spent a significant amount of time walking through the forest of enormous trees, more impressive than you can imagine without seeing them in real life.  Some of these areas seemed like they should have pixies and fairies flying around like a god damn Disney movie.  And I once again was able to hug a gigantic fucking tree.  Incredible groves here.  I want to go back.

And that's not even remotely the biggest one

CARS DRIVE THROUGH THIS YOU GUYS

Sequoia sandwich

Are you kidding me?

Hello ladies

But alas, it was time to leave Yosemite.  I shall be back.  We drove into the central valley and the clouds cleared to an oppressive heat.  The central valley of California sucks.  There is nothing there, not even shade.  My hunger at this point was on a murderous rampage.  So we stopped at a taco place - it was ok.  Enough to sate my hunger for now, and we were able to dry out our wet gear in SECONDS.  Then we stopped at REI in Santa Clara to replace my stupid stove.  So that's done.  Free stove - thank you REI rebate.  The rest of the day's worth of driving was uneventful until we stopped for dinner at a brewery near Jimmy's house.  Which is where Kyle, Amanda, and I were staying the night.  Unfortunately, the breaking of the fellowship was inevitable.  Michelle's flight back to Boston was at 10pm, so we had to drop her off at the airport after dinner.  Unhappiness.
The rest of us drove back to Jimmy's house, this time to stay the night.  Jimmy and Tassi are incredible hosts: they provided us with beer, showers, and comfortable sleeping locations.  And then I got about a billion texts and emails when I got into a service area again.  [poundsign]stuffthathappensinsociety