Anyway, we left on Thursday morning and came back Sunday evening. It was a short trip but packed with lots of fun! Yosemite is one of my favorite camping places and I have very fond memories of going there summer after summer as a kid. Ethan and I stayed in Curry Village in one of the many white canvas tent cabins. They were mostly just a place to sleep- not much of a place to hang out in even out front as the tents were all packed in rows with people always walking by. They had no fire rings and you weren't allowed to cook anything. So it wasn't your typical camping experience but I didn't mind going out to eat at the various food places and restaurants there. Plus, no cooking or cleanup? Now that's a vacation! I did miss the campfires though. These tent cabins were just right for our needs but when we bring our whole family next time, we'll reserve a normal campsite.
If you go to Yosemite, definitely bring bikes! They have great paved, flat biking trails all throughout the park. It's my favorite way of getting around there since it's pretty big. There's nothing like biking past vast meadows with deer and going through groves of sequoia trees while breathing in amazingly clean fresh air! Friday morning after breakfast we drove up out of the valley over an hour to Glacier Point to overlook the valley and did 2 short but beautiful hikes up to the top of Sentinel Dome and Taft Point. Ethan wanted to hike Half Dome really badly but learned before the trip that you have to have a permit to hike the last crazy part up cables and they were sold out. It's a new policy for crowd control I think. I was kind of relieved but he was able to track one down last minute and hoped there would be time to sneak that hike in himself by getting up really early and trying to get back before noon while I hang out at camp. Normally Half Dome is a "most of the day" venture but with Ethan being in tip top shape, he thought he could do it in 5-6 hrs. I was willing to let him go but was very happy when he chose to stay with me:) He's a good man. I was also concerned as was he about hiking alone and especially early in the morning when few people are on the trail. He was sad about not hiking it but after our two little hikes on Glacier Point, he felt the same satisfaction of being on top of the world and getting that adrenaline rush of looking over an edge that plunged down to the valley floor a million miles down (or so it seemed). On a side note, Ethan has hiked Half Dome before 2 years ago and I did when I was a senior in high school. It was the hardest hike I've ever done and although the end result is amazing, I was relieved to not have to do it again after so many years and not being in the same shape I was as a teenager. He on the other hand, could do it every year since he's the real hiker in the family.
Friday afternoon when we got back, we rented a raft to float down the Merced river that runs all throughout the valley. Luckily they had just opened up the river for rafting/swimming the day we arrived! It had been closed all year because the river was too high for safety reasons. Then that evening we hung out at the lounge to charge our phones and have a place to hang out in since we had no campfire to enjoy.
Saturday we took another car trip to Upper Yosemite to Tuolumne Meadows. I'm sad that I didn't get any pictures here but we walked along the river through gorgeous meadows, had a picnic and did a little fishing. I caught one and got a huge bite that took my line and hook away but Ethan didn't get anything. It was still fun though. After heading back down to the valley we hiked up Vernal Falls. All the falls were so full from the snow pack so the mist trail going up to these falls was pretty nuts. I had never been so soaked before on this hike that I've done probably 4-5 times. It was refreshing and beautiful still!
Sunday we had to check out late morning and make the long 7.5 hr drive home. It was sad to leave and we thoroughly enjoyed spending that time together. I was also anxious to get home too so I could take over caring for my sick kids or at that point just sick Audrey. Yosemite is a great vacation spot that I'd highly recommend to anyone but be prepared for big crowds in the summer and you have to make reservations like 5 months in advance if you're lucky. Here are the pictures we took:
Just coming into Yosemite Valley (classic photo spot)
At the bottom of Lower Yosemite Falls
Top of Glacier Point with view of Half Dome in back:)
At the top of Sentinel Dome and on top of the world!
Taking a little rest on Half Dome- heehee:)Sorry the audio isn't great- it was windy
The trees were ginormous
Sentinel Dome from a different view of the valley
Ethan at Taft Point- a crazy drop off on 3 sides down to the valleyThis video doesn't do the huge drop down any justice. It gave us vertigo just to look over!
Rafting down the Merced River and loving every minute!
A sneak peak inside our little tent cabin- quite luxurious
Hiking Vernal Falls and just coming out of the mist trail- hence the drippy look:)
Taking our last pics on our way out. Sad to leave:( Seriously, our backdrop is a postcard!
Until next time:)
