Sabo and I throw everything in the back of the 4runner and head for Yosemite. The park entrance is like 3.5 to 4 hours from Oakland, and then we drove about an hour into the park to camp near a town called Wawona. It is really close to those sequoia groves of giant trees you always hear about, and we decided we wanted to see that before we hiked half dome in the morning (will explain about half dome later)
We got to Wawona around 3:30, threw up our tent so we wouldn't have to do it in the dark later that evening, and headed for Mariposa Grove to see the Sequoia trees. They had closed the road due to icy conditions so we had to hike about 2.5 miles into the grove, but it ended up working out because that really cut down on the crowds and we pretty much walked around by ourselves the whole time
Sabo is a highschool teacher and I'm 23, but that doesn't mean we cant act like idiots
Grizzly giant, the 25th largest tree in the world i think
You get the gist, there are tons of huge trees
We hiked all over the grove until it got dark, then trekked back to the car. It ended up being 10 or 11 miles which may have been a little much considering neither one of us is in EXCELLENT mountain shape and we were planning on doing Half Dome the next morning (A 17 mile, 10-12 hour hike) but it was really pretty so whatever. We decide cold peanut butter bread doesn't sound so great right now and we wanted to tank up on food before our big day tomorrow, so we hit up this old like 1870's hotel deep inside the park to get a real meal.
Sabo loves food as much as I do, and we each had only eaten cereal and a granola bar the entire day, so we just went to town. Pea fritters, lentil soup, fish chowder, biscuits, eggplant parmesan, mash potatoes, pan fried steak, vegetables, blueberry crisp LET IT ROLLLLLLLLLLLLL. I think we spent like $75 dollars on dinner when all was said and done, and looking back Im pretty sure I woulda spent $500 to avoid going back to our campsite and eating peanut butter in the freezing dark. Carb'ed up and so full we were feeling sick, we went back to our campsite, set the alarm for 6:00 am, and passed out thinking about half dome tomorrow.
A little information about half dome: It is one of Yosemite's most popular and strenuous hikes, and they recommend 10-12 hours for the 17 mile round trip. There is a 5,000 foot elevation change between the trail head and the dome, so you are hiking UP a good bit. It is a huge rock in the middle of the valley and it looks like this (its the huge thing in the top right)
phew ill update with the half dome hike in a bit
Those trees were huge!!! I've always heard about them, but never seen one of my family members (a tall one at that) standing by them. They are humongous!!!!
ReplyDeleteGlad you had a good meal before your big hike. That mountain looks very intimidating, especially considering what our sister just went through with elevation sickness. Hope you didn't get that too!
PS. Just have to tell you a funny story- I told N & N that you were coming home in 2 days! They were so excited and the first thing that Nathan said was, "Nick, blanket, swing me." Steel trap memories I tell ya...
those trees are incredible, kyle and I are so jealous.
ReplyDeleteAlways wanted to see those trees...can't imagine how big they actually are in person. And half dome...that is scary looking! God's creation is so amazing and sure am glad you opted for lots of good warm food before a trek like that!
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