High Adventure Yosemite

On Monday, we drove from Orange to Yosemite National Park. We had 9 young men and 7 adults. We arrived in the afternoon. As we entered the valley, we stopped at a look out over the valley. Sue, Alyssa, Jarrod and Rick had done a similar trip in mid July of 2005. I will include some 2005 photos to show how long the water level was this year.

Bridal Falls July 2007

Bridal Falls 2005

On Monday, after setting up camp in the valley, we took a hike to Mirror Lake - which was just a lot of sand and little stream. This is B. Masters, Jarrod, Rick C, and Adam at Mirror Lake with Half Dome in the background.

We arose early on Tuesday morning with a quick breakfast and started on the trail a little after 6 am. The hike starts from the west of Half Dome in the Yosemite valley at 4000'. We hike to the south of Half Dome passing 2 waterfalls. The trail loops as we approach Half Dome from the east at 8800'. It's 16 miles round trip. Fortunately, it was an overcast day - keeping it cool. This is a group photo at the bridge before Vernal Falls.

Adam, Aaron, Scott, Jarrod and Rick C with Vernal Falls in the back ground.

The stairs just before the top of Vernal (about 1.8 miles)

The next falls is Neveda Falls. Jarrod appears shocked because of the water level compared to 2005.

Neveda Falls in 2005

Doing the switchbacks by Neveda Falls.

Alyssa on the switchbacks in 2005.The view to the north, east of Half Dome. Majestic, awe inspiring!!
Our first view of Half Dome as we approached from the east.

This is taken from the same spot as above but zoomed in. You can see the people on the top (arrows added).

These are the final switchbacks to base of Half Dome. Rick C's (Iceman's) back was killing him. This isn't trick photography. You can see others above us. They are really this steep.

Quite an ominous site! Some people might tell you that Rick W stayed at the bottom to photograph the climbers. Sounds good. However, the truth is he has a phobia of falling and would pass out in the attempt. This is a known fact after attempting Angels Landing in Zion's National Park.

WARNING: FROM THIS POINT, MOM SHOULD NOT CONTINUE VIEWING.

They made it to the top!!

But none too soon!! That storm to the south was both rain and lightening. We hustled down. Surprising, as the guys were coming down, people were still ascending the highest point around with lightening. Very brave or very foolish.

As we were walking to the east we could see the rain approaching. As it his the mountain to the right in the back ground, we could see large rivers forming, like an avalanche, cascading down the mountain side.

At the top of the Neveda Falls, on the way down the John Muir Trail. Yes, it was raining most the way down.

This is a view of Neveda Falls from the south. You can see how excited Adam and Jarrod are. It was about this time, I felt my left knee start to hurt. By the switchbacks, I couldn't bend it without considerable pain. Walking pole helped some. But really slowed us down. As of this posting, it's much better.

We were back to the trailhead at 4:30 pm. Hard and exhausting, but worth it.