Yosemite (Yo-se-me-tee)
In San Fran I joined my Trek America tour on the Monday and headed straight to Yosemite (with a quick stop for shopping/lunch on the way) . We arrived at dusk (hence some of the nice shots of Half-Dome with the sun just kissing it) and hastily set up camp.
Because I happened to be in the front of the van that day, I got lucky and was on the first team for cooking. This meant that Mel, the tour leader, helped us out and even suggested what we make (burritos mmmmm).
That night we all discussed what we would be doing for our one day in the Y; climb half-dome, hang around, walk down a long, but straight down, route. Mark and Max and I decided we'd be big boys and tough it up to the top. There was only one complication; the top was closed until 4pm, so we would have to leave late and come back later (the total trip is 16 miles, about 7 hours round trip)
The next day we had breakfast, lounged a bit, saw a film and then started earnestly up the path to the top of Half-Dome. While it is really just a hike, it is quite steep in places and certainly feels like a climb. All three of us found the going tough, and each had moments where we dropped back, only to be egged on by the others.
It took us longer to get to the top than we expected; we didn't get there until 5 or so. When we did arrive we discovered that the statements about the wires to the very top being closed until 4 where BS - we could have left much earlier and not have had to return in the dark!
So we climbed the wires to the very top - which took 20 minutes itself (also makes some good shots) had a quick look around and then dashed, boulder like, back home again.
Within an hour it was dusk, 1.5 it was dark, and 3 hours later, at 9 o'clock and some 8.25 hours after leaving, we were home. We weren't the last on the route though - we left 7 people behind us as we stormed down the hill, trying to be no more than 1 hour late for our deadline.
(Oh, I also sang all the way down, to try and encourage bears to stay away, or at least that's my excuse :)
The rest of the team very kindly had everything ready for us and we just ate, showered and went to bed, ahead of the next day and our 8 hour trip to VEGAS BABY!
Because I happened to be in the front of the van that day, I got lucky and was on the first team for cooking. This meant that Mel, the tour leader, helped us out and even suggested what we make (burritos mmmmm).
That night we all discussed what we would be doing for our one day in the Y; climb half-dome, hang around, walk down a long, but straight down, route. Mark and Max and I decided we'd be big boys and tough it up to the top. There was only one complication; the top was closed until 4pm, so we would have to leave late and come back later (the total trip is 16 miles, about 7 hours round trip)
The next day we had breakfast, lounged a bit, saw a film and then started earnestly up the path to the top of Half-Dome. While it is really just a hike, it is quite steep in places and certainly feels like a climb. All three of us found the going tough, and each had moments where we dropped back, only to be egged on by the others.
It took us longer to get to the top than we expected; we didn't get there until 5 or so. When we did arrive we discovered that the statements about the wires to the very top being closed until 4 where BS - we could have left much earlier and not have had to return in the dark!
So we climbed the wires to the very top - which took 20 minutes itself (also makes some good shots) had a quick look around and then dashed, boulder like, back home again.
Within an hour it was dusk, 1.5 it was dark, and 3 hours later, at 9 o'clock and some 8.25 hours after leaving, we were home. We weren't the last on the route though - we left 7 people behind us as we stormed down the hill, trying to be no more than 1 hour late for our deadline.
(Oh, I also sang all the way down, to try and encourage bears to stay away, or at least that's my excuse :)
The rest of the team very kindly had everything ready for us and we just ate, showered and went to bed, ahead of the next day and our 8 hour trip to VEGAS BABY!
