What happens when you get 11 people from HDC together for 4 days in the Yosemite Valley in the hot summer month of July? You get us crazies running around the valley floor of Yosemite, crackin jokes, pokin' fun of Roberto trying to set up a tent (uh...Scottie...where does this piece go?) riding bikes, singing songs around the campfire, watching Jason as he preformed his Chiropractic skills on the 5" wide bench of the picnic table, floating down the Merced river with no rafts in 50 degree water and freakin' out at the bear that was going through our neighbor's campsite about 20 yards away. What we really had in store for us was our 17+ mile hike to the top edge of Half Dome and back from our campsite. Unattainable?...ha ha. I don't think so.
So there we were, all excited, energized and anxious as we breathed the mountainous air of Yosemite. It was early Thursday morning, the breakfast was cookin,' the sky was just starting to turn a purplish-blue color, the birds were cheerin' away and we were gearin' up for our exciting hike.
We began one of the biggest challenges most of us ever faced, even me. Who climbs up 5,000 feet elevation and then back down in a single day anyway? Ummm...we do. As we started out on the valley floor, we didn't see many fellow hikers coming from the opposite way or going our way. Why? Because we took the wrong trail to start out! By the time we figured it out, we were almost 2 miles in the negative, even before we started!! Figures...
On our hike up, the shade of the trees kept the trail cool & tranquil. We crossed over the Merced River as it raged under the bridge beneath us about 1 mile into the trip. What powerful force water has. We kept going, taking breaks as need & hydrating ourselves. We arrived at Vernal Falls (about 3 miles from the base) and were in awe of the enormous waterfall. It was a great site. We crossed the waterfall to stop for lunch and enjoy the scenery. We pushed on again, reaching to a point where the John Muir Trail & Mist Trail cross. And there, a sign was posted...Half Dome = 4.3 miles. It was about 11 am or so, and we pushed on. By this time, conversations started to dwindle, laughs were more spread out, and our pack started to break up into smaller 2-3 people groups. We kept going, enduring the mid-summer sun directly above us. Food was getting low, water was 1/2 way gone and the sunburn was starting to show.
About 3 of us rounded the corner there it was...a sign for half dome. We had no idea how much farther it was. We rushed to the sign. As it got closer we read it..."Half Dome...2.1 miles" We were like, "Are you kiddin me?!" We couldn't believe it!
The breaks were becoming even more frequent as the day wore on. By this time, it was about 1 pm. Exhausted, foodless and low on water, we kept going. We started noticing we were passing the treeline (the elevation where trees do not grow anymore) and we knew we had to be close! A couple of us stopped at the base of the last tree to wait for the others and awe...there it was. We could see Half Dome just ahead. It was massive, much bigger than all of us thought. But to get there, we still had to climb rock switchbacks for another distance of about 1/2 mile. This was terror on our legs and feet and...there were no supports to keep you on the trail. You slip and fall, you are heading down the mountain. At this point, we were fired up. Between the cuts, bruises, empty food containers and minimal water, we had arrived at the base of half dome. Some turned back because the switchback rock climb became too narrow and dangerous. For the rest of us, Half Dome was in sight, and we were going to give everything we had to get to the top.
At the base of Half Dome, piles of gloves ly scattered around from people that leave them behind after the climb up half dome. Parallel cables line the face of half dome that disappear up the side of the rock. The cables are steel rods that are driven into the rock that go all the way to the top (about 700 feet) at about a 45 degree angle (so much of an angle that if you don't hang onto the cables to pull yourself up, you will fall backward and down to your death...hence the reason for the gloves).
The few of us that were left pumped ourselves full of energy and went for it! We strapped on the gloves, gulped the rest of our water, and climbed like we never climbed before. The rockface was very slippery but we held on. Foot by foot we climbed up to the top were there are no trees. The wind blew like a constant voice from all around, the temperature dropped significantly and the top was almost near. Our arms and shoulders were giving all they had to keep ourselves going, for the goal was just footsteps away! And after about 20 minutes, we grabbed onto the last cable, pulled ourselves up and there it was...a breathtaking view of the Sierra Nevadas, almost 10,000 feet in the air with nothing but crisp, clean air, 360 degree views of the surrounding mountains, and the valley floor 5000 feet down. The view was stunning. It really is hard to believe in no God when you are surrounded by these views.
From the top, the views were spectacular, completely breathtaking, unlike anything you have ever seen. Your body, mind & soul go into a sense of awe, taking it all in. We had done it, put our physical bodies to the test. Now we just needed a helicopter to pick us up and fly us back down to the bottom with dinner ready. Yeah...right.
We enjoyed about an hour at the top taking pictures, meeting our friend "Badger the Marmot" and fed the squirrels before we turned around.
On the way back, we weren't looking forward to the 8.5 miles back down to the valley floor. We had no food left, most of our water bottles were empty and it was already about 3 pm. As we traveled back down, conversations were quiet, and we could think about is getting to the campsite for food, water & relaxation. On the trail, our feet & legs started to shake as we walked. There was nothing we could do except push on. Your body does funny things when it's pushed to the max. It goes into overdrive. It hits a threshold when it is completely exhausted. Muscles shake so bad, its hard to stand. That's what we were fighting. About 3/4 of the way down, we finally came across the Merced River. Most of us didn't think we were going make the rest of the trip without stopping, so we dove into the frigid 50 degree water. It was freakin' cold! As cold as it was, it gave our bodies a shock and contracted our muscles. The temporary relief was much needed and felt soooo good. A married couple were sitting on the sand with a water purifier which we borrowed, pumped fresh water from the river & drank from it. We were all determined to make the rest of the trip without collapsing.
On we went as the sun went down. I fell back with Roberto and Maryjo as we closed in on the last 1 1/2 miles. It was dark now, we had flashlights to light our way and Roberto's legs were giving out. I could tell he was really struggling just to stand and walk, even with walking sticks. About the last mile, I bent down. Roberto got on my back and I carried him back to where we parked. What are friends for right? If he could pick me up, he would have. We had made it, the last 3, back safe.
There were so many things we all learned on this trip. I know I keep rambling on, so I will make it quick. It was a triumphant trip, one that will never be forgotten. It was a journey of faith, where friends keep you going, encourage you till the end, and rely on you to get you through it. We all leaned on each other the entire trip. What makes great friends? Dependability, respect, trust, giving each other room to change, disagreeing without hurting each other, listening & solving problems, laughing with you and standing by you. Anais Nin says it best as she writes, "Each friend represents a world in us, a world not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born." Friendships get us through. Period.
~Summertime~ 
