Yosemite!!

I’ve really taken to getting up and out of the tent just around sunrise each morning for a little me time.  Katie and Ashlin get to sleep in a little and I get some time for self.  It is - without question - the quietest part of the day.   After making the first pot of coffee, I usually grab the camera and hike around for a bit, taking way too many pictures but doing so without harassment (Ashlin frequently rips on me for taking pictures and Katie fans the flame).  We’ve had some pretty spectacular camping spots and it has been great fun crawling around on rocks, through redwoods and down rivers snapping pictures of our surroundings (hopefully some will be posted today).   Today, however, there will be no such extraordinary photographic opportunities.

From where I sit at the picnic table of site 347 (of 450 something) I can see 31 other tents,  12 RVs, 26 cars/trucks/SUVs, two motorcycles and roughly a gazillion igloo coolers.

(Katie now) Not sure where Derek went, I am assuming for a run but when I woke up I decided to take over for a bit.  After leaving San Francisco we headed towards Yosemite and around 8pm stopped just outside because our reservation was not until the next day and if any of you know Yosemite, the first come first serve sites fill up by about 11.  The next morning we headed in to what now may be in the running for my favorite National Park.  The primitive tent sites are first come first serve and we had high hopes for the next morning of getting one but for this night we had one reserved in the valley, with the rest of CA.  This was fine though because the hike we wanted to do left from the campsite.  On the way our destination Nevada Falls we got to go past a very popular waterfall, Vernal falls, also astoundingly beautiful, as we hike up the steps to the summit we all got soaked, Ashlin loved it!  After losing the crowd there, as most turned around we continued our hike up to Nevada Falls.  While climbing up granite for quite some time we could see the falls and my favorite comment was by a woman we passed who, with an ear to ear smile proclaimed, “we are so lucky”.  Yes we are!  At the top of the falls (up 2900 feet from where we started) it seemed unreal.  Right before the water plunged over the edge there was a little wading pool.  You know the kind that is always at your local water park trying to portray just this scene, clear water, a couple of rocks, and that one tree in the middle.  Needless to say we ate our lunch here and Ashlin played in the water.  According to the California hiking book we had the author said that the hike down, which follows the John Muir Trail is not as beautiful but you are at least not repeating ground.  Well Tom Steinstra you were wrong.  The hike down gave amazing views of Yosemite and the waterfall.  After an 8 mile round trip we were all happy to get down and eat some food.  Usually the last mile of a really long hike we all start to get really excited about dinner J.  Ashlin made a friend at the campground, named Ashlin, and Derek and I piddled about.  The next day we had to get up early and drive 30 minutes to the top of Yosemite to get one of the coveted first come first serve campsites that have no running water and vault toilets, coveted huh?  We get there around 9 and drive down a 3 mile dirt road with 3 other people in front of us.  With our anxieties running high about getting a site we break off in two directions and when we meet back up nothing.  Round two we decide to start asking people if they are leaving and if so can we claim up on their spot.  So, Derek finds some folks peacefully eating breakfast and bam we got it.  Relief.  The spot we get is perfect, next to a stream that you have to use a fallen log to cross to the other side, Ashlin is excited.  By the time we have settled doing the 9 mile hike seems a little too much of a time crunch so we opt for the 2 mile in and out to Luken Lake.  The trail is mostly snow covered which bodes well for Ashlin as this and rock climbing are her two favorite ways to hike.  The next morning we rise with a big pancake breakfast and eager to hike up to North Dome.  I will let Derek finish the rest because Ashlin just woke up and I need to get my morning hugs and kisses.  <3

Funny she mentioned pancakes because I was just making my way back through the Igloo/RV labyrinth from checking out when the pancake breakfast here at Tahoe Valley RV resort gets cranked up.  AS I was about to say before sausage and pancake recon started, this campground is not much to look at but it sure has everything.  We are in Tahoe again, this time soaking up the spoils of KOA type camping rather that backpacking but after Yosemite, we deserve a shower . . . and dinner and ice cream and video games and movies and a swimming pool.  So anyway, North Dome.

I’ve always been a sucker for Half Dome.  Had a poster of an Ansel Adams print of Moon and Half Dome on my wall since I was 13.  Aside from needing permits months in advance, the 14 mile hike/climb to the summit of Half Dome leaves one without a view of Half Dome.  Justifying not reserving permits by using this rational (It’s true we didn’t even know we would be here) we decide to hike North Dome trail which summits  and returns in 9 miles – and leaves one with outstanding views of Half Dome and the rest of Yosemite Valley.  For the last mile and a half we were trouncing along the granite peaks with steep (and long) drops to the valley floor on both sides.  You could see the lines of cars below and in every direction for miles.  Afternoon clouds were coming in resting on distant peaks and casting shadows on nearer ones.  Like Half Dome.  And unlike the amazingly wonderful hike to Nevada falls, we had this summit all to ourselves.  There was not even another person around for the whole hour we sat and gawked to take a family picture.  Unbelievable.  And Ashlin hiked at least half of the nine miles herself because there was plenty of snow and even more rocks to climb around on.  (Katie for the finisher) As we drove back to our campsite at 7pm, there again excited about dinner-veggie sloppyjoes, a man almost jumped in front of our car flagging us down telling us to stop, I know grandparents, you are thinking this isn't very responsible, but he looked like he needed serious help.  Turns out he did, he was hiking with a man and his sixteen year old son and it had been hours since they had seen the kid.  We flew into high panic and drove down to the campsite where they were all staying to check for the kid and get a ranger, there was a note however instructing that someone had gone to get a ranger.  This though was not enough closure for us so Derek decided to go back out the 20 minutes to where the man flagged us down to learn they had found him, pheewww.  This definitely put a different twist to the end of the day but we were all relieved and ready for bed!  This also gave us a perfect oppurtunity to teach Ashlin what to do if this were ever to happen to her.  When we woke up the next morning we were all a little exhausted from hiking 19 miles in three days and decided we were going to go to a "cushy" campground complete with a pool, gameroom, playground, bball courts and showers, ya know the kind of camping that at least I grew up on.  We went to dinner for our first time on this trip instead of cooking and I don't know how I did it but I out ate Derek, compliments to the salad bar!  This morning we got up and went to the pancake social, D and I played some Area 51, Ash pinball.  I am currently waiting on my two pokey little puppies to finish up their showers and we will be off arriving in Bozeman in a couple of days. 

See some of you soon and miss all of you!!