Saturday, November 10th: Tom and I woke to the hustle and bustle of San Fran weekenders. Sleeping on a busy city street had proved easier than either of us had expected. Without popping up the camper, we slept on the lower bed in an effort to appear less conspicuous; our success validated by our ability to sleep through the night without being hassled. We first called Lynn and Ryan to check in and make a plan before all meeting to prepare breakfast in a city park. The view of the Golden Gate Bridge was blurred by the smokey air, but still enjoyed along with our tasty bagel sandwiches and rich coffee. When finished, we ran a few errands before beginning our dreaded drive to Yosemite. Tom and I drove the truck, following behind Lynn and Ryan in their bright green rental. In an effort to break up the trip, we made multiple stops which ultimately prolonged the dull task. The seemingly endless roads. eventually landed us at our condo where we each openly expressed our excitement to be out of the car. After bringing our things in, we spent the night making dinner and playing games.
We had decided the night before that we would spend Sunday hiking Taft Point, Sentinel Dome, and Glacier Point. We came to find, while covering the 11 miles of trail, that it was a popular and heavily tourist trafficked area. Although the crowds impacted the experience, we each felt an overwhelming appreciation for the greatly revered valley. The long but leisurely trail allowed us to carry conversation and equally enjoy the experience. That night we made lentil sloppy joe’s and engaged in a few heated games of codenames and cards.
Monday’s hike required a long drive in order to reach the trailhead. On the way, we witnessed controlled undergrowth burning directly off the road. Even with posted signs announcing their presence, the fires were nonetheless unnerving. When we reached the trailhead, I broke off from the group to run while they hiked. By the time they reached North Dome, the final destination, I had been able to cover an exhausting 11 miles. Feeling proud and depleted, I walked back to the car with them, the last few miles being under a star-lit sky.
Lynn and Ryan were kind and patient enough to act as spectators while Tom and I climbed a few routes on Tuesday morning. The last route we attempted was a stout 11d that both of us had to work tirelessly at. After perfecting his beta, Tom was able to finish the climb clean on his second try. It was his first 11d in the books, which was an exciting moment to share with his family. Afterwards, we drove to Mariposa Grove to observe the “Grizzly Giant”, a 2,700 year old tree with a circumference of 100 ft. Needing to stretch my legs from the prior day’s exertion, I ran the 2 mile trail while everyone else walked. We had a feast of spaghetti squash that night and cheersed to Tom’s major climbing accomplishment.
Wednesday was our final day in the park, so we decided to take on a more strenuous hike. With a late start to the day and long drive to the trailhead, we knew that we had to keep an active pace. 3 miles of walking, trail finding, sweating and scrambling landed us atop Hoffman Peak, which is the center most point of Yosemite. Concluding the vigorous portion journey and reveling in the expansive view of the park, was an unforgettable moment that we all shared. I was not only proud of everyone’s ability to take on the challenge, but also to do so with a good attitude and perseverance. We made our way back to the car with the sky illuminating creamy hues of purple and orange. It was the type of sunset that had a quieting effect. Even if just for a moment, you couldn’t help but stop and draw from it’s soothing appearance. We hadn’t yet made it back before the sun had fully set, presenting the added difficulty of navigating in the dark. We ended the trip with the same spirit by which we began it. We recapped special memories over burritos and games, genuinely grateful for such a challenging and inspiring week.
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