Yosemite!

Wow.. where do I begin? Last weekend when we were in Reno our friend Scott told us that he was trying to put together a trip to Yosemite next weekend with his girlfriend Kenita (Danielle's good friend, who you might remember also met up with us in Moab for the canoe trip). He told us about how the unusually large amount of snow melt had swelled the rivers entering Yosemite and that the waterfalls were supposed to be the best you'll see in, '20 to 25 years.' That was all we needed to hear to swap around a few days on our trip and make a weekend in Yosemite a reality.

On Thursday we had to take care of a few things and get some work done before we took off for our waterfall weekend in Yosemite. So it was around 3pm before we actually hit the road. Well, we didn't make it very far before we stopped for a break. There is this hamburger place I loved as a kid and I've been craving it ever since we put Redding on the itinerary, Bartel's Giant Burger I love you. I thank you for your meaty goodness and crispy perfect fries. 

Okay, back on road we drove straight through to Yosemite. Because we had to beg, borrow and steal to find a campsite for Thursday, Friday and Saturday, none of the camps were at the same place. Luckily, Danielle snagged a campground at Hodgdon Meadow which is right inside the northwest entrance of the park. Since we were getting into Yosemite at night we were going to be able to get up in the morning light and drive to the valley floor. We got to our campsite and were greeted by Kenita and Scott. Scott cooked us some steak, asparagus and these awesome spicy beans. It was a perfect end to a 7 hour drive with great people dishing up plates of awesome food. Thanks Scott! We drank beer until the wee hours of the night and then crashed, excited about the majestic ocular treats that awaited us the following morning.

The next morning we got up and I made fried spam, eggs and english muffins (fried up in the spam juice). It was a sodium celebration. We packed up camp and then headed into the valley. I have to mention something before I get too far into this story, Scott actually lived in Yosemite for about two months last summer. So he knows what view is around every corner. We pulled off before a curve in the road and we got a glimpse of the magic of nature that awaited us this weekend. Right in front of us was Bridal Vail Falls and there was so much water tumbling down from the top that it made Yosemite look even more heavenly than it already does. I've been coming to Yosemite since I was 14 and I've never seen it like this. 

Once we got to the valley floor and started driving towards Curry Village it was waterfall after waterfall. The usual waterfalls were no longer usual, they flowed bigger and louder than ever and got so full that they birthed waterfalls to either side. The rocks were springing water spontaneously where it seeped straight out of their granite faces. We saw one waterfall that stair stepped all the way down from above Curry Village it ended about 300 to 400 feet north of where it began in dramatic fashion, like a kid poured kool-aid down stairs and you were seeing it's profile.

We got to our campsite and setup. I was still a little tired from the 'drank beer until the wee hours of the night' so I setup a blanket and took a nap under a tree. Danielle joined me for a little while until the excitement of making plans for the afternoon consumed her and everyone started planning a hike. They ended up planning a hike up to Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls while I snored and dreamt about things I no longer recall. 

Off we went to Vernal Falls. Standing below a waterfall while it's pushing this much water off of it's rocky perch gives you natural pause. It was the first time in my recollection that a waterfall seemed completely violent. It was loud, and the sheer volume of water coming down it's chute was enormous. Even with our rain jackets we got soaked from the mist. Quickly we climbed the old rock stairs to the top of Vernal Falls and witnessed the tranquility these little water molecules enjoyed before the extreme chaos that waited for them at the edge of the fall. I was glad at this moment that I was a man and not a water molecule. We finished the hike by hiking up to Nevada Falls and then back down along the Mist Trail, catching a bus back to camp. Danielle and I crashed early. We got to sleep in the back of our Subaru together for the first time. This was one of the reasons we bought this car in the first place. We woke up to condensation from our breath beaded and thick on all of the windows, but our night was warm and cozy. Successful choice on the car.

On Saturday we went to do a little climbing in the morning with Scott, Kenita and Scott's friend Julie. The area was pretty crowded but we found we found a route that was easy enough for us to play around on. After Danielle and I did our one unsuccessful trip up the route each we watched everyone else climb for a while. The guy climbing next to us let me watch his 11 month old pit bull who licked my face about a dozen times and then passed out in my lap and started snoring. I really miss my dog. I try and talk to everyone I see with a dog so I can pet it. It's getting pathetic. 

Danielle and I left the group and went for a hike up to the top of Yosemite Falls, which is 3.5 miles and 2700 ft of gain. We were already sore from the hike up to Nevada Falls, so when we got to the start of this hike and learned that the beginning was 60 switchbacks, with about a half mile of flat trail and then another set of switchbacks that were worse than the first set.. we almost went back and drank beer instead. But alas, onward we trudged. Remember when I said there was a flat piece of trail? Once we got there, it began raining. Onward we trudged. Remember when I said there was a second set of switchbacks that were worse than the first? Once we got to the top of those switchbacks it started snowing. We finally reached the top of the fall and it was freezing cold. We barely had time to enjoy the view when the cold wind forced us from the top. From the time we did spend on the top we had an amazing view of Yosemite with a serious weather system rolling in. Yosemite Falls, like Vernal Falls the day before, was a violent torrent of water spilling off of a beautiful rock edge. The only difference was that Yosemite Falls is a lot taller than Vernal. As we got to the bottom the rain fell harder and faster until we were soaked to the core. 

We got to camp and found that Scott, Kenita and Julie had a good fire going and a tarp hung over the table so we could cook. We got dry and got our stomachs full just in time for the skies to open up again and dump large amounts of water. Danielle and I said good night and hopped back in our car for another cozy night of sleep.

The next morning we woke and went for a lazy bike ride with Scott and Kenita, taking photos of Yosemite with frosted snow-covered trees on it's rim. It was a really nice morning for a couple of very sore people. Our trip to Yosemite was epic. To see a place as magical as Yosemite in such a rare state of being was amazing and at times surreal. We left Yosemite through a snow covered pass, it was perfect.

Photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14097442@N00/sets/72157626407846881/