Half Dome and Yosemite

• Half Dome Hike, Annette, Danny, April and Wes — We made it to to the top of the world!

Climbing to the Top of Half Dome is a really challenging hike.  I had just turned 50 and wanted a challenge to show age who’s boss! I was so excited that I told everyone I knew I was climbing to the top of Half Dome.  My son, Danny, daughter April and her husband Wes joined me for this challenge.

We started the day well before dawn and accidentally hiked about a mile past our first turnoff –so it was just a little harder for us than for people who don’t miss signs in the dark.

It got really, really hard to finish and when we faced those chains going, what looks to be, straight up the side of that granite rock to summit, believe me, I was scared.  But, because of my boasting, I HAD to get up there just to save face.  I used the harnesses that clip onto the cables going up and coming down.  It’s funny but, it was almost as scary going down as it was coming up. I was very aware, when I was on there, that quite a few people have died here…going up, or on top.

It was amazing to be up on that rock looking down on the beautiful Yosemite Valley. Looking back, this is now one of my proudest achievements of my entire life….but one I won’t be doing again.

 

I read both of these books before I did Half Dome:

Our entire family (our four grown children and their kids) camped in the Upper Pines Campground in the Yosemite Valley for a week.  If you visit Yosemite, you really need to find a way to stay IN the valley versus in one of the nearby towns or resorts where it’s at least an hour long drive in to the popular sites and trailheads.

Some of our fun memories from that year were:

• The Cookie Jar Song, “Who stole the cookie….”
• Bagel Sandwiches, Bagel Sandwiches, Bagel Sandwiches
• “That’s what she said….”
• N n n n n n n n, NO!
• The Indian Village at the Visitor’s Center
• Sandwiches at Dengen’s Deli
• Riding the Yosemite Shuttle — Usually at the back of the bus
• Taking photos at the Ahwahnee

• Rafting and Tubing down the Merced River — this is something you MUST do if you visit in the Summer.  You can rent rafts or bring your own tubes, rafts, kayaks or anything else that floats.  It’s an amazing and relaxing way to drink in the beauty of Yosemite!
• Moving campsites — I accidentally reserved sites for the wrong week! (218 great base most of the time.)

• Swimming in the Merced near camp
• Ned chasing a bear in the middle of the night (the one that stole and shredded Heidi’s pack….she left some fruit leather in the pack.)

• Shopping at the General Stores in Curry and Yosemite Villages
• The Brave (or crazy ones) Jumping off the top of Swinging Bridge into the Merced
• Ned and Danny snorkeling to find change (and finding a label for someone’s scattered ashes)
• John and Annette seeing a bear along the North Road
• Lower Yosemite Falls, enjoying a walk at dusk and posing for pictures
• Ice Cream in Curry Village (3 Todd scoops plopping to the ground the first night)
• Lots of soda fountain refills
• Eating pizza while our family entertained those who sat near us
• The girls sneaking into the Camp Curry showers
• Mirror Lake, Carter (and Danny) catching a Trout

• Playing in the Indian Caves
• The Ranger Ned show and other kids camp programs
• Mosquito bites
• Watching rock climbers on the face of the high cliffs
• John’s art class and beautiful Half Dome painting
• Walking through the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias
• New & clever ways to avoid going to the bathroom at night –some worked
• Smores with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
• Hot Dogs and hamburgers at 10:00 p.m.
• Riding bikes around camp and around the valley
• Finding giant pinecones
• Ella singing and dancing
• Stagecoach Ride and Learning at The Pioneer History Center at Wawona
• Hike to Vernal Falls
• John and I stopping at Manzanzar and Mono Lake on our way up Hwy 395