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<\/a><\/p>\n\u00a0Up early and on our way back into the Valley. \u00a0We’re looking at a 7-9 mile hike from the bottom to the top, climbing from 4000ft to about 5400ft. \u00a0Not tons of actual elevation gain, but we’re already feeling the elevation – Austin is at 500ft, for reference. \u00a0It’s times like this that I miss living in NM; elevation like this is no big deal after living at 5300ft.<\/p>\n
\u00a0The drive in is interesting. \u00a0You’re down to small laned roads and surrounded by giant cliffs on either side. \u00a0Traffic, thankfully, wasn’t too bad this early in the day.<\/p>\n \u00a0The Yosemite Valley is very touristy. \u00a0Lots of modern conveniences including restaurants, walking\/biking paths, bus transportation, a couple lodges\/hotels, and so forth. \u00a0It’s probably a great spot for people who want to be in nature but don’t actually want to deal with nature. \u00a0It was pretty to see, I can probably picture it being a good place to bring a family…but it’s not my favorite part of the park. \u00a0And due to the sheer amount of people here, I’m starting to not really care for Yosemite itself. \u00a0I think this will be the last trip where I visit national parks in the summer, unless I have to go with folks who can’t do it any other time.<\/p>\n \u00a0Anyway, here’s our loadout for the hike! \u00a0Lots of climbing and it’s already getting warm. \u00a0So we need lots of water and electrolytes. \u00a0We parked the car, got our gear together, and set off.<\/p>\n \u00a0The beginning! \u00a03.4 miles minimum and if we have the time, we’ll head up to Yosemite Point.<\/p>\n \u00a0Onwards and upwards. \u00a0Thankfully there’s a lot of shade so far.<\/p>\n \u00a0As we begin to climb out, gotta stop and take shots of the lower points.<\/p>\n \u00a0Up and up and up.<\/p>\n \u00a0I’ve never been a big fan of climbing sticks (still not sure what they’re called). \u00a0I understand some people need them and that they may actually help, but they always seem silly to bring, extra weight to have on you, and a pain in the neck to cart around when you don’t use them. \u00a0Plus these people using them are slowing us down. \u00a0They were pretty gracious about getting out of the way once we finished this little ‘staircase’. \u00a0The climb has been no joke so far, but it’s been shady and that’s helped a lot.<\/p>\n \u00a0Half Dome!<\/p>\n \u00a0A lovely, brief, downhill part.<\/p>\n \u00a0This is our first (closer) glimpse of the falls, finally, after all that climbing. \u00a0But we’re just about halfway here. \u00a0We’re still not even close to the top.<\/p>\n \u00a0This is where a lot of hikers stop. \u00a0Apparently we have to go up those rocks to the left of the falls – there’s a trail, but it gets steep, and there isn’t much shade. \u00a0I don’t blame folks for stopping here, but we’re continuing on. \u00a0Hopefully there will be less people on this second half the trail.<\/p>\n \u00a0Looking down on where we’ve been. \u00a0Doesn’t look steep, but it is.<\/p>\n \u00a0This is where the trail got suddenly very steep. \u00a0This is what they warned us about. \u00a0And no shade. \u00a0It’s already in the nineties here, but there’s at least a bit of a breeze. \u00a0The family in the picture above kept trading places with us. \u00a0They’d take a break, we’d catch up and pass, then we’d take a break, they’d catch up and pass. \u00a0At one point, the Dad of the group mentioned that this was pretty rough. \u00a0One of the teenaged boys, who had been complaining the whole hike (according to his Mom who talked with us a bit), after another complaint about how much his life sucked, whined “Then why are you making us do this?” And his Dad, hiking along, without missing a beat, said “Because we want you to hate us more than you already do.” \u00a0It was a perfect retort and it was obvious that the parents were used to teenagers. \u00a0Great folks to hike along with.<\/p>\n \u00a0Sheer rock. \u00a0It’s so cool to hike along this.<\/p>\n \u00a0Up and up and up. \u00a0So much up.<\/p>\n \u00a0Here’s where the steep switchbacks began. \u00a0It doesn’t look far to the top, but having hiked deceptive mountains like this before, I know that ‘top’ up there isn’t the top and this is a lot steeper than it seems.<\/p>\n \u00a0So many switchbacks in there that are hidden by the vegetation. \u00a0This is the longest part of the hike. \u00a0Finish one leg of switchback, rest, next switchback, rest, and repeat, until you’re wondering who’s bright idea it was to hike in the first place.<\/p>\n \u00a0One more switchback finished.<\/p>\n \u00a0Almost there!<\/p>\n \u00a0Yay! \u00a0A sign! \u00a0We’re at least very near the top, if not there.<\/p>\n \u00a00.2 miles to the falls. \u00a0Right now we’re not feeling like hitting the Point. \u00a0All we need is to make it to the falls.<\/p>\n \u00a0So I don’t take pictures very often of other people. \u00a0But these guys were too cool to not include. \u00a0It was a bachelor party – the guys were out for a week, backpacking and camping. \u00a0How damn cool is that? \u00a0How much fun would it be to get your friends together and go hiking through the wilderness before you get hitched?<\/p>\n \u00a0Anyway, gotta continue on! \u00a0We’re at the top and just around those rocks…<\/p>\n \u00a0A sudden drop off and an amazing view of the Valley.<\/p>\n \u00a0Feet over the edge pic. \u00a0Better than a selfie.<\/p>\n \u00a0We hung out here for a bit, catching our breath, chatting with other hikers. \u00a0This is a pretty phenomenal view. \u00a0Definitely worth the hike.<\/p>\n \u00a0Once we felt up to moving again, we saw a rather narrow and harrowing path along the cliff itself…<\/p>\n \u00a0…and it takes us to the river that feeds the falls. \u00a0Some really cool pools. \u00a0I bet this is a gorgeous sight when the river is flowing in the spring.<\/p>\n \u00a0Another little narrow path to a vantage point near the falls. \u00a0Just don’t misstep.<\/p>\n \u00a0No rock climbing here JA! \u00a0We’re on the edge of a cliff! \u00a0I can’t watch…gonna go look over the side instead.<\/p>\n \u00a0The fence here is actually pretty sturdy. \u00a0Not something you want lots of people leaning against, but still pretty sturdy.<\/p>\n Back to Yosemite Day 1<\/a>\u00a0::: On to Yosemite Day 2 Part 2<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" July 29, 2016 \u00a0Up early and on our way back into the Valley. \u00a0We’re looking at a 7-9 mile hike from the bottom to the top, climbing from 4000ft to about 5400ft. \u00a0Not tons of actual elevation gain, but we’re already feeling the elevation – Austin is at 500ft, for reference. \u00a0It’s times like this that I miss living in NM; elevation like this is no big deal after living at 5300ft. \u00a0The drive in is interesting. \u00a0You’re down to…<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n