2002_07_13_Yosemite

John and I went to Yosemite for a weekend; camped Friday night outside the park and did some light exploration on Saturday inside. Camped again outside the park (this time on 140 near Merced, as 120 was closed for a wreck), and then decided to be silly on Sunday. Got up at 0530, were on the road by 0600, and had run into a nice gentleman named Gil in the park by 0655 where we then drove to the Curry campground parking area and set off on the Half Dome hike.

It took us until noon or so to get to the top, and we got off the trail and into my car at 1820 or so, quite exhausted. Water management on this hike is critical if you're not in top shape; we cut it close and I still consumed 5 liters or so. (Had I left the camera, GPS, first aid kit, food, batteries, socks, etc all behind and taken a lighter pack I could probably have done it with 3L or so of water.)

John John

random rock face random rock face

Bridal Vail(sp) Falls Bridal Vail(sp) Falls

random human masses around the base of the falls random human masses around the base of the falls

exploring exploring

img 5948 img 5948

family enjoying the falls family enjoying the falls

rafters on the river rafters on the river

river river

river river

falls and river falls and river

falls and river falls and river

jumping off the bridge jumping off the bridge

jumping off the bridge jumping off the bridge

jumping off the bridge jumping off the bridge

jumping off the bridge jumping off the bridge

this landing looked like it hurt this landing looked like it hurt

the meadow the meadow

falls through trees (nice contrast range, dummy) falls through trees (nice contrast range, dummy)

falls falls

weather weather

valley valley

random photographer in the meadow random photographer in the meadow

large large

valley valley

oops oops

rafters rafters

neat tree neat tree

sunset from outside the park where we flew in a parking lot for a while sunset from outside the park where we flew in a parking lot for a while

first image from the Half Dome hike (1.5 hours after we got on the trail, and 3 hours after we got up) first image from the Half Dome hike (1.5 hours after we got on the trail, and 3 hours after we got up)

neat neat

Gil and John Gil and John

Peter Peter

Peter Peter

neat neat

neat neat

Peter and John Peter and John

top of Half Dome top of Half Dome

nice place for a nap nice place for a nap

crazy Frenchies with their stuffed animal crazy Frenchies with their stuffed animal

Peter, blinding spy satellites Peter, blinding spy satellites

Peter, displaying gut Peter, displaying gut

Peter, blinding more spy satellites Peter, blinding more spy satellites

John, resting with unshod feet John, resting with unshod feet

over the edge over the edge

critters critters

Gil, leaving a voicemail Gil, leaving a voicemail

point point

critter going for Gil's bag critter going for Gil's bag

gone gone

random folks on top random folks on top

Gil, contemplating the view Gil, contemplating the view

a hat someone left a hat someone left

looking away from the Valley looking away from the Valley

neat people up at the top neat people up at the top

woman from Stockton on the rock point woman from Stockton on the rock point

leaning over the edge (~2000 feet down) leaning over the edge (~2000 feet down)

woman from Stockton inching her way back in woman from Stockton inching her way back in

neat couple getting their picture taken neat couple getting their picture taken

neat couple neat couple

playful playful

and from the other angle and from the other angle

Peter, modeling what a summer of In-N-Out Burgers will do for your tummy Peter, modeling what a summer of In-N-Out Burgers will do for your tummy

Peter Peter

looking down, with Peter's foot on the left looking down, with Peter's foot on the left

Peter Peter

Peter Peter

Peter Peter

Peter Peter

John John

John John

John John

Gil, about to head down Gil, about to head down

the marmut? that was exploring around up top the marmut? that was exploring around up top

cables going down cables going down

cables cables

cables (note the gloves) cables (note the gloves)

a view to the side showing the angle a view to the side showing the angle

don't fall don't fall

people working their way up people working their way up

cables cables

going down going down

cables (I traversed off to the side a few feet with a bare end of cable to take this) cables (I traversed off to the side a few feet with a bare end of cable to take this)

same idea; a shot of John same idea; a shot of John

don't fall on me, please don't fall on me, please

down (with my boot) down (with my boot)

up again up again

side view with the cable for perspective side view with the cable for perspective

John John

others others

pile of gloves at the bottom (much recommended. don't use gloves with finger cut-offs) pile of gloves at the bottom (much recommended. don't use gloves with finger cut-offs)

serious warning sign serious warning sign

more folks more folks

the Half Dome approach from a distance the Half Dome approach from a distance

videotaping the bears videotaping the bears

momma bear momma bear

momma bear momma bear

momma bear's butt momma bear's butt

momma bear momma bear

momma bear momma bear

cub on the tree at left cub on the tree at left

both cubs both cubs

momma bear's butt momma bear's butt

no idea no idea

bears heading away bears heading away

she stood their for a while as we slowly backed away she stood their for a while as we slowly backed away

and then some of us snapped a last shot and gave them wide berth and then some of us snapped a last shot and gave them wide berth