Yosemite

That evening we set our tent up in the fading light. While setting up a young buck ambled fearlessly through our site. His young horns were a handspan or maybe a little more wide, his eyes were bright and dark, and his hair was shaggy as he seemed to be losing his winter coat, and donning a newer lighter summer layer. He looked at us and then moved on, nibbling on shoots of grass and such.

THe moon was full and high and the valley was bathed in a silvery light. We walked to the points closest to ours for a different perspective and walked by moonlight back to our campsite. I got quite a fright when my night vision headlamp turned up 2 red eyes glowing not far from me. It was only our young buck, still grazing not far from where we would be sleeping. I took this to be a good oman, that he was our guardian animal spirit.

We fried up some tofuand veg and went to sleep utterly exhausted. The next morning we may have never awoken except for the fact that the sun heated our little tent to about a billion degrees. As we began to make ready for the day we realized that this day was the only one that had no deadlines or destinations. Instead of making for some ambitious day hiking, we only wanted to find some water to frolic in. We also needed water because our supplies were running low. Our map indicated a waterfall due east and some meadows and streams that probaby fed said waterfall, so we decided to leave most of our gear and pack only what we needed for a few hours hiking.

Snow still settled in the cooler shadier ridges, and had melted completely in other spots. The day grew warm and soon we were back to the sunscreen regiment. we reached a mountain brook but the water was spread thin, full of logs and reeds. We followed it away from the path and soon the stream consolidated into deep welcoming pools. a wide open meadow lay before us, sarrounded by old growth trees litterally dripping with bright green moss. Lodge lost no time. He was dirty and hot. 1-2-3 and he was in a deep pool of water. Croft couldn't wait. She too lost her cloths and took a dip. THe water was icy cold. It numbed the feet quickly, but felt delicious and pure. I was out almost as fast as i was in. We spread a blanket out and dried in the warm sun. we ate more cheese and veg, and had cooled some of our chocolate in the stream and we ate that too. It was restful and beautiful in that place and it was good feeling totally alone except for the animals, insects, and the like.

After a nice long while we rambled on, in no particular hurry along the Southern edge of the Yosemite Valley's Cliff face. With each curve came new Natural Wonders: an angle that brought a waterfall into view that we'd never seen before; a forest floor covered in pinecones the size of hotwheel cars, and another glade with pinecones the size of cats! eek! We headed back to our campsite with time to spare.

Lighting a camp fire is easy in Yosemite. The wood is nice a dry for burning. the wind blew as to constantly keep the flames a brewin. It took ages to make dinner. It didn't seem like it, but by the time we cooked the rest of the tofu, and ate the black beans and rice from the day before, it was almost midnight. Tired agian, bear canister secured, we slept soundly.

I drempt strange dreams and was up at first light. I was happy to see that the sun hadn't even yet risen. I watched it come up as i set the fire a light for breakfast, and felt exceedlingly thankful for such a wonderful experience. Today was our last day. *sigh*

We packed everything up and hiked out in one go. We saw very few people on our way out. Much of the snow in the 2 days we were there had been reduced. The streams were even higher. Deer, grouse, and birds of prey were abundant. No bears. oh well, maybe next time.

We made it back to the car and drove down to the valley we had just looked down upon. THe valley, unlike our retreat high above the valley floor, was crammed full of people. Here it was, past the middle may, EARLY supposedly in the season, and the valley floorlooked like a zoo. Lodge had to plug in the computer and do some "work" stuff, so I had an hour to amble about. I decided to head towards the foot of Yosemite Falls.

Kids, teenagers, old people, yuppies, you-name-it, we were all walking along, like cows to the slaughter, up the trail to the base of the fall. IT WAS WORTH IT! The falls moved the wind about and caused a rushing gale. It was all tourists could do to hold on to the hats while taking pictures with their free hands. THe spray reached hundreds of feet into the air, it seemed. Great footage of waterlogged folks doing their best against the wind blast. Falls was satisfyingly impressive. It was time, however, to go.

We drove along the Merced River, leaving the park behind us, and heading for the California Valley flatlands. Now I could see the fields of Strawberries, Peaches, Figs, Olives, and more. The mountians dissapeared behind us, and rolling hills took shape on the Western horizen. We passed through a land of windmills, hundreds of them dotting the hills and fields. It was like another world.

Please read my blog on San Fran, for the continuation of this jouney.

Blessings All
Crofty

We had just avoided the crowds at the Mariposa groves and Lodge and Croft hopped back into our trusty rental car and headed for the Wawona Inn to talk to some rangers and figure out the best plan of action. It took another small car ride to get there and the sun was now heading towards its zenith. It was now Satuday morning, and there had been no real sleep for us since Thurs night.

We really wanted to make for Osander Lake, which was a 12 mile round trip jouney. The rangers told us, though, that it was still really snowy and that everything was wet! We really didn't like the idea of waking up in a soppy pool of ickkyness, so we looked at our other options. The inner Yosemite valley seemed like a good option, but all the permits available had already been given out. Another choice north of the Valley seemed viable, but apparently there was some river crossings which might prove difficult. All the melting snow was gorging the rivers and making the meadows soggy as anything.

We decided to keep to the high road and take in some of the Yosemite Valley Vistas. We were going to drive to Glacier Point Road and hike to Dewey Point and camp there. We had to sort out our packs and shift a lot of gear around to get the ratios right, and we also chowed down on some fruit and veg and cheese. Sun was now overhead and the temperature had risen to at least the high 70s. It was time to hit the trail.

Another half hour in the car got us to Dewey Point. We dropped some unneeded items in the BeaR lock boxes, situated our food into our bear canister, and lotioned up! It was going to be a hot one! The best part of it was that there was SNOW EVERYWHERE. I had my bikini top on, yet was trudging though feet of snow! How cool!

We walked into McGerks Meadow. we were tired, but we had to find a fine place to nap. The meadow was lovely with the center of it a clear cold stream. Butterflys fluttered about and frogs could be heard loudly from the treeline. We rested on a small foot bridge, but not for long. Under the foliage, the snow hadn't had a chance to melt much, so it was an interesting journey up and down snow packs. I think Lodge was just too tired to go on, so we picked a flat ridge of snow and put our tarp down upon it and rested for maybe over an hour. My pants started getting wet from the snow, so we moved to the ground and slept a little more. Time was ticking though, and it was time to keep moving.

Feeling somewhat more refreshed we picked up the trail. We met few people. Most people enjoyed the solitude of the woods and kept on with little greetings. Others gave their advice on how to cross a rough patch of river. THe land was rising and much of our trek was uphill. we talked of many things and also walked in silence. The hike was only about 4 miles, and after a time when the shadows were growing again long, suddenly the treeline ahead grew thin, and we felt we were on the edge of a precipice. Indeed, we had reach Dewey Point. Dropping my pack I ran out to the cliffs edge and clambered upon the rocks until I could go no further.

The site was breathtaking. Far to the East jagged mountain peaks (oh god) maybe 50 miles away and capped in snow ran for miles and miles. The half dome, streaked with the waters of melting snow seemed right in the palm of our hands. Directly accross the valley was El Capitan. We were almost level with the top of it. just to the left a waterfall, its gushing roar easily heard amongst the winds. To the West the sun was dipping over the edge of the valley. It filled the gorge with golden hues and orange slices. a brisk breeze steadily blew towards the north. THis is where we'd camp. This is why we came...

In case anyone is thinking of going to Yosemite, (pronounced YO-SEM-ITE..heh) you might want to read on and see if croftee's path is right for you. Or maybe you just want an idea of what Yosemite is like...

I flew in from Atlanta to San Fran and arrived in the wee and i mean WEE hours of morning. ME and Lodge immediately hopped in our rental car and drove East towards the mountains. We stopped at a food store and stocked up on all the things we'd be eating on our trip. Red and Yellow bell peppers, cheese, crackers, tofu, beans and rice, an apple, and you know batteries and the like.

Croftee drove. Lodgey slept. The drive across California's valley was monotonous at best, but rather smelly at worst. I have NO idea what kind of farms I was passing buy, but manure would smell GOOD to me there. I grew up on a farm and animal poop aint no big deal. But as I drove, sandy-eyed in the darkness across miles of dead flat country roads, all I could smell was burning sulfer and maybe satan's bunghole for a time. Finally the land began to rise and soon the edges of the darkness were beginning to lighten. THe sun began to rise just over the mountains of Eastern Cali. Lodge woke up and gave Croft an hours rest. When she woke, the sun was just up, and all around were old growth trees. THe mountians were all around us.

By 6:45 we were in the parking lot for the mariposa grove of redwoods. The trees were amazing. They rose like sentinals from the earth, their lofty branches really too high to comprehend. We were both tired but determined to beat the crowds, so we hiked a few measly miles amongst these old trees. THe mosquitoes were the size of golf balls, but they couldn't deter us. Interesting fugus grew up from the ground, and deer timid but not fearful sometimes came close enough for us to gaze on freely. We saw the major sites to see, Old Grizzley, the bachalor and the Two Sisters, and of course the tree with the tunnel carved into it. This was actually kind of sad. I know they wouldn't damage a tree like that today but I still didn't wish to spend much time looking at this desicrated tree for some reason.

9:00am Making our way out of the grove and into the parking lot, we saw what we'd gladly not missed. Scores of people were in the parkinglot. It was all we could do to get from one side of the lot to the other without accidently ruining someones photograph. It was all ducking and waiting because cameras were flashing everywhere. There was yellow people, young people, old people, big people, and you know people-people. School buses, coaches, vans, and cars packed into the lot and Lodge and I just looked at eachother blearily and thanked our lucky stars we didn't take our nap already or else we'd be competing with all these people for views of the ancient and lovely trees in the grove.

So we left in a spirit of humbleness for having seen such majestic and breath-taking trees and a spirit of thankfulness for having skipped in just ahead of the crowds.

Now it was time to plan our hike into the back country....