About a month ago we road-tripped to California. Here is all the stuff we brought.
We stopped in Vegas to visit the Rabes
This was the view from our first campsite right outside of Yosemite.
After entering the park and waiting in line for a couple hours to get our back-country permit and setting up at the backpackers campground we visited a few sites within the valley. This one is Mirror Lake.
This is Yosemite Falls
Our tent could be a model. Isn't it good looking?
The beginning of our back-country adventure aka our hike to Little Yosemite Valley. The next 4 pictures are from the hike to our camp site.
The Merced River was raging
Phil may have had a heavier backpack...
He is so nice.
Behind us is the infamous half dome
Looking down Nevada Falls. There were rainbows everywhere.
After we made it to the site we claimed a spot and set up camp. It was only 4 pm so we thought we would do some more exploring. About 3 minutes in to the exploring I heard a rattle snake and then spotted it right by the trail. It gave us a good scare. Then we saw another one about 10 feet ahead so we decided to explore in the other direction.
In the other direction we found this beautiful meadow. I was still a bit frightened from the rattle snakes so I asked Phil if we could go back to the camp. So we turned around and started singing "the bear in tennis shoes" song to try to keep my spirits high. We stopped singing when we heard a rustling sound in front of us. I freaked out when I spotted a baby brown bear climbing a tree about 30 yards ahead. The mom was staring us down. We busted out of there. I am glad the bear climbed the tree or else we probably would have walked right into them. And I am glad I was with Phil who knew what to do.
That night the rangers were shooting rubber pellets at bears entering the campground.
I hate bears.
Another view of the river on our hike back.
We came back on the mist trail where we hiked right by Nevada Falls. And we got soaked.
That evening (after a shower!!!) we went to Glacier Point to see the sun set. It was a long drive but the view was so worth it. Yosemite is majestic.
I heart half dome
After another night at the backpackers camp and another night of waking up to bears being shot at we hiked up to the top of Yosemite Falls. It was a hard 7 mile hike and the sun was hot. Here is a picture of us at the top.
Crazy trail
Yosemite
beautiful water
breath taking rock formations
streaming light
and the best part:
experiencing it all with my best friend
ok I really want to go back
