Skiergirl: Yosemite

No traveling today! I got up early and moved down to Camp 4 in the Yosemite Valley. I was getting organized down there when I met one of the men I would be sharing the site with. His name was Leo and he advised me to hike to Upper Yosemite Falls... so I did!

The trailhead conveniently started at Camp 4, so after getting ready I was off. The trail was one heck of a slog. Return, 7 miles, Switchbacks the entire way, in about 90 degree F weather. About halfway up the trail you get a great view of the falls, I stopped a few times and took some pictures and to take much-needed breaks. Then, more switchbacks. I was very grateful when it started to cloud over and the temperature dropped a bit. I finally made it to the top of the falls, but was too chicken to go all the way down to the overlook. To get there you had to walk across a narrow ledge while holding onto a railing placed in the cliff side. I knew that I would have major problems with that, so I skipped it. The view of the valley from where I did reach was incredible though.

Backtracking a little bit, I was able to come out to a spot where you could dip your feet in Yosemite Creek before it hurtled 2425 ft over the falls. There are signs everywhere warning people not to swim in the creek as they will get sucked over the cliff. Apparently this happens to at least one person each year. Ouch!

I had intended to continue the hike for another two miles and reach Yosemite Peak, which would have afforded me a view of the entire valley, but it started to sprinkle and I could hear far-off thunder. I saw that the clouds were pretty extensive so thought it would be best to turn around and make for camp. I think this is where the good Karma I had saved up paid off. I got back to my tent (with my knee screaming) just as the skies opened up. I had left the fly open to air it out but luckily I had not put my sleeping bag or anything in it yet. I managed to get the doors closed and keep it from getting overly wet.

I ran to the fountain to get a drink of water, and then it really started coming down. I took shelter under the awning of the bathroom and watched a couple of guys diverting water from around their tent. After observing this for a while, I realized maybe I should be doing the same thing. I ran back to my tent to discover that there was a river flowing under it. I managed to build a bit of a dam and prevented any further damage.

I decided that I did not want to hang out in my wet tent in the rain all evening so I did some laundry, had a shower, went out for dinner, then for tea. I made it back to my tent by 9:30 and opened the fly to discover that everything was dry! Yay! I'm so proud of my little tent.

In all, rough day, but very rewarding. That seems to be the way it goes. Wait, that's not true... the day in Calistoga was by no means rough, but very rewarding. Meh.