Summit

I couldn't remember if I said I was going to Yosemite or not on my blog. So I used the handy little ctrl+f shortcut and found out that there was no instance of the word "Yosemite" in my current blog postings. Thus, I had not told you.

I went to Yosemite! ;)

Ross, Scott, Ashley, Garret, Kaydee, Irene, and I were the grateful recipients of ibex-roommate-and-friend Emily's family's mistake. At least I think it was a mistake.

Em's family reserved two campsites for a week, but some of their extended family was not coming till later in the week. Em contacted a few people via Facebook to see if anyone could use

the two nights that were available at the second site. After contacting a few brothers, sisters-in-law, and a friend, I said, "Hey, we want it!" It was so awesome! Thanks Em! We had a great time. Unfortunately Audra could not come because she had to work. Sad times! Next time, Audra!

As we were planning for our Sunday to Tuesday trip, Irene and I decided that we wanted to hike Half Dome. Ross, Scott, and Ashley would have come up too if we were going to be in the valley longer, but they decided to spend the short time going to Glacier Point with Garret and Kaydee and hanging out. So Irene and I hiked Half Dome on Monday.

Here are some facts:

+about a 5,000 foot change in altitude; the summit is 8,836 feet

+8.2 miles one direction (unless you get lost like we did; then it is 8.7 miles one direction ;) )

+if you slip under the cables, you will fall to your death

+there are frequent thunderstorms with lightning, and there is nowhere to hide on top

+sometimes the poles holding the cables are loose

+you can get altitude sickness if you don't drink enough water

+put your feet flat against the rock when you climb the cables; if you try to use your toes, you will slip

Thankfully I knew about the altitude sickness before I started climbing, unfortunately from experience last summer in Tahoe. I was not about to do that again! So I drank a LOT of water. I used Scott's big Camelback and my Nalgene.

It was a great experience. The hike was tedious but fun. The views were beautiful. God's creation screams of His love of beauty. I was afraid that I would get to the cables and turn back because...I don't like heights. I know, I know...why hike it then?

'Cuz it is THERE. Staring me in the face. I'm not a quitter. I had to.

I stared at my feet as I went up, barely looking out at the valley waaaaaaaaay below me. I told Irene to shut up about the people dying from falling or about the fact that the poles were loose or about the fact that her feet were slipping.

We made it up, had something to eat, talked to a few people, took jumping pictures. Irene almost took a little nap; she'd been up two times before.

We were some of the last people to get back down. It was not bad at all going down, besides the knowledge of the fact that if you let go, you would tumble end over end to your death. But ya know, 'sides that, it was fine. ;)

I thought I would be happy to go downhill after about seven hours of going uphill. Nope. The miles had taken their toll on my knee, toes, and ankle. For the last few miles I was focusing on walking correctly. But I made it, and God didn't let me die. :)

Favorite moments:

Irene yelling/snarling at a squirrel before we realized there were also people behind us! They walked away...hehe.

Making it to the top without dying and taking awesome pics!

Talking to a bunch of random people on the way up and the way back down.

Ross trying to lure a squirrel into the tent with Cheez-its to get the squirrel to jump on Irene in her sleeping bag.

Hanging out and talking with everyone.

As you can see, I had a great time. I love adventure. It is a part of me, and I hope I never lose it.