A Sunday Hike in Yosemite

I grew up in an LA suburb, with memories of smog and tract houses, but every summer, for two amazing weeks, we would travel the 8 hours up old HWY 99 to Yosemite. Almost every year we would hike Vernal Falls, we being my dad and me and some assorted kids. Dorothy usually went as far as the first bridge and waited for us. In 1974 I took my 4 children to Yosemite to camp, and we hiked Vernal Falls. I had to carry Melody most of the way down. Yesterday, climbing these stairs, I wondered how I managed that.

It is a truly lovely hike. Gorgeous vistas, and it is called the Mist Trail for a reason. I was glad for the hot day as I was soaked by the spray of the falls. Last night as I fell asleep, I could still hear the roar of water that accompanied our journey. Alison runs marathons, and digs holes at work like no one I have known, but she said at the end of the day, she was tired too! I'm so glad I wasn't carrying a child.

If you look closely at the next photo here, you can see the trail snaking up along the Merced River with tiny little people climbing along. It's only 4 miles round trip, but that last mile is just exciting enough and challenging enough that when you are done, it feels as though there is something to celebrate in addition to the power of those amazing falls. Actually, my greatest moment of celebration came AFTER I managed to get down all those steep wet craggy stairs. Thank you, Knees. You made it one more time . Many more photos on the Picassa Web Site, of course.