WET & WILD

It's that time of year again... or rather well past the time I usually start heckling you to get your ass in shape for... the BIG HIKE.

I'd like to say the radio silence was for dramatic effect, but in all actuality it was because of far more irritating reasons that I'd rather not go into here... but unexpectedly, the suspense level has achieved a bubbling fervor! (You people think you can get information out of me with a simple groveling email? Never.)

So WHERE ARE WE GOING? It was a tough one. Grand Canyon -- check. Half Dome-- check. Permits for Mt. Whitney-- less likely than winning the SuperLotto. In addition, the prerequisites for the location of our trek this year had to meet the following requirements:

1) No Permits Necessary: the Grand Canyon automated call center system wore us out. (And wouldn't have had meals at all if it weren't for Myrha's magic persuasion skillz.)

2) No Head-count Stress: Our group is growing in number to obese proportions... until about 3 days before the hike when 75% of people back out. I'm not gonna stress about that this year.

3) No Time: Work, drive, hike, camp, enjoy nature's splendor, hike, hug, high-five, drive home, work... all in one weekend.

4) No Money: Hey it's the global economy version of the Zombie Apocalypse... regardless, camping is supposed to be cheap fun right?

5) And lastly, a natural playground more grand in scope, difficulty and beauty than the Grand Canyon, balanced with the travel ease, fun and sense of achievement of Half Dome.

Easy as pie. I could have solved a rubik's cube in less time. (But thank you for the suggestions... I took Mt Whitney, Mt. Dana, Ansel Adams, Lost Coast, and Desolation Wilderness in to careful consideration, but decided against them for various (see above) reasons... besides, we have to save something for future years.) Finally, I picked out amazing coastal hiking in Big Sur... it was perfect! ... Until a fire-storm burnt it to a crisp last fall. We'll have to wait 10 years to enjoy that one.

So I had to switch it up. This time we are not making it to the grueling TOP, or the depths of the BOTTOM, of any canyon or mountain summit. We are going OUT...

If we're ever going to truly enjoy some of the most splendid treks on the globe... then no more car camping. We need to get out and spend some time under the stars. And this time: no cantina, chardonnay, and steak dinner, or postcards, unless you carry it yourself. And since the 120 degree Grand Canyon was dreadfully hot and dry for my taste... we're gonna hike in a very moist, alpine lake strewn environment.

WHERE?
We are going to trek into the Emigrant Wilderness.

WHY?
This government land is one of the most beautiful, untouched gems of the Sierra Nevadas. Even though its 113,000 acres are considered wilderness, thousands of adventurers visit each year, and the trails are fairly well marked. On the weekend we will be sure to see some other humans... mostly fly fisherman and pack animal cowboys... but not many. The proposed trail leads us past literally dozens of sub-alpine, glacier lakes nestled between pines, granite boulders, and lush green meadows. Wild flowers, babbling brooks, and lily pond lakes will entice us to stop along the way. Not only will there be no shortage of water to drink (with proper sterilization) but possibly swimming!!!

When I was a little girl, my parents took me on a day hike to the very first lake, Bear Lake. And even though I insisted on wearing my walkman (loved my B-52's mix-tape) I actually took my headphones OFF when I came upon the splendor of this lake. This is monumental for a 13 year old. Forever its image will be part of my definition of "pristine". And this is only one of 100s of lakes here. That was the moment when I started to become interested in knowing more about the flora, fauna, and geology of the nature around me. I even started listening to what my mom had to say about each Latin-named plant species that we passed. (She is a very, very slow hiker.)

And lastly, I hope I quote this correct... When Starla was selling us on the idea of Mt. Dana and Tuolumne Meadows, she described it as one of the places that "makes you glad to be on planet Earth". She's right, there are places like this, and being OUT in them can hit the "reset button" like none other.  And even though we cannot get reservations there this year, I'm sure you will feel the same about the Emigrant Wilderness. (It's only about 35 miles north as the crow flies, minus the hoards of people, RVs and tour buses.)

I would like to thank Kevin* for the photos.

HOW?

Proposed Itinerary (very, very flexible depending on how many days people want to make of this):

Day ONE: [Friday Night - after work] LA people fly to OAKLAND and we all leave the Bay Area together (rental van) drive for 3 hours to Sonora. Base camp: Mom's lawn on her 40 acre wildlife preserve in Sonora. (Alternately, us southerners take the day off work and drive [7 hrs.] up from LA if we choose.) 

Emigrant Wilderness Trail Distance Map 

(not drawn to scale)

Day TWO: [Saturday Morning - 6AM] Get in car drive to Emigrant Wilderness: Crabtree trail head [45 minutes]. Start hiking ~ 9AM. Hike into wilderness to Deer Lake [11.3 miles]. 

[Saturday Night] Camp next to a gorgeous, pristine lake just outside Northern Yosemite backcountry. Our night's entertainment will be lakeside camping around a fire pit under some of the clearest, most spectacular views of the Milky Way. Wake to a morning swim in Deer Lake.

Day THREE: [Sunday] {OPTIONAL} Possible extra day hiking to Pingree Lake [12 miles roundtrip]. This trip is described as "incomparable beauty at every step"-- first past Kole Lake which is granitic, dramatic, isolated and barely nestled on a mountain summit (?!), and then finally onto Pingree Lake: a densely forested, popular lake of incomparable beauty. They say from the hill next to Kole Lake, there is nothing higher looking west all the way to the Pacific. From here you can see a lot of Emigrant Wilderness, and much of Yosemite. Let's hope for a clear day.

[Sunday Night] Camp back on main trail near Deer Lake or any similar lake. 

Or alternately, start the hike home

Day THREE or FOUR: [Sunday or Monday] Start the hike home along a parallel, but different, path home, just to bring in more sights and add variety-- Deer Lake back to Crabtree via Wood lake [11.9 miles] Drive back to Mom's base camp [45 minutes].

Day FOUR or FIVE (Monday or Tuesday) Half-day to play at mom's house (fresh water pool, sunbathing and championship badminton!) or go to amazing, nearby swimming hole on Clavey river. Meander back to SF [3hrs.], return rental car and catch flight back to LA, or drive (bleh) for 7 hours. 

So there you have it.

WHERE?

Emigrant Wilderness, Trailhead: Crabtree

Need an excellent first hand personal account?

Need an excellent trail description from the book I bought free online? (Deer Lake and Pingree Lake)

WHEN?

The upside: This trip is extremely flexible. I do have to apply for a campfire permit, but it's not a restricting factor. We can go any date, or we can start on any day of the week, we can go 4 or 5 days... all depending on how crazy you all wanna get, and what peoples' schedules are like. Ideally, we should go around August/September... as the temperatures will be more pleasant and the hours of daylight long. We could even do Labor Day, but it might be more expensive to travel this weekend. I need to start gathering a general consensus. Sooo?

COST?

Another upside of the trip is that the only expense is your travel to and from Sonora. There is no campsite fee, no permit fee, no donkey fee, or park entrance fee. Hopefully this will offset the fact that you will have to purchase adequate gear! At the very least, this means good hiking footwear, a load-bearing backpack, and a light sleeping bag. Think of it as investment for all future camping trips. Also, we can beg, borrow and steal gear. (We can talk more about these details soon.) We will not have to carry extra water, but we will have to bring food, and that food has to be in bear canisters. Bears are not a huge problem in this location, but it is very necessary not to even risk it.

PHYSICAL EXPECTATION?

The Two day version of the trip is 22.6 miles. The Three day version to Pingree Lake is 35.6 miles. This is a lot of miles. This is a lot of miles with approximately 25-30 pounds on your back. The good news is that the elevation change is minimal. Remember the 4000 ft. elevation change for Half Dome? Nothing like that. It's about 900 foot change over all. The Trailhead is at 7100 feet, and the highest section of trail never breaks 8300 ft., so there is no real altitude here. (No steep, crumbling cliffs or precarious cables Dubin!) Just refreshing lakes to put your blistered feet in every couple of miles. The other good news, is that we can shorten or lengthen the mileage according to the group's pace. Any stopping point along the way will be well worth the whole trip.

MENTAL EXPECTATION?

We will be in the wilderness. We will be there over night, possibly two nights. It will be dark. If you sprain an ankle, you will have to limp back 11 miles. There are bears there-- not the bold bears of Yosemite, but rather shy bears that probably won't bother a noisy group of 10, but bears nonetheless. We will be out there like the Emigrants who come from New York city to make it rich in the gold mines 160 years ago. Out there like the Me-Wuk Indians living off the land, except with freeze-dried food packets and lethermans, not bows and arrows. We will be out there. It will require a certain hiking acumen, an understanding of limits, and mental and physical preparedness.

But in return you will get to experience something that most people on earth never do. In this hectic, traffic-jam life, living in this globalized, urban sprawl-- to truly be OUT in nature is sort of a lost art. It's gonna be a beautiful experience. And it will prepare us for even more interesting and challenging hikes in the future.

Please tell me who is interested, and when you could absolutely NOT go... maybe we can figure it out that way.

LET THE TRAINING BEGIN!

*I would like to thank Kevin whoever you are... your hiking descriptions are wonderful, your photos spectacular-- and your appetite for hiking is amazing! Very Inspirational.

HIKE COUNTDOWN BEGINS!

So party people. 83 more days to our big hike. Less than three months!!! Amazingly we are pretty much set up to rock the Grand Canyon-- as far as planning goes. (Your gastrocnemius muscles might be a different story.) Campsites upper rim, and lower river are booked, dates set, and eight out of ten of the people have been violently confirmed, and two slots are still loosey goosey. I suggest Celebrity Death Match style wrestling for the last two slots-- you know who you are... but please hurry as I need to get back the people who have asked to bring friends...

SCHEDULE
June 27th --Friday night -- SF people fly down and spend the night at my house if they want a ride in my station wagon.
June 28th -- Saturday early morning -- drive to Grand Canyon. Saturday night car camp at Mather Campground at the rim (very close to civilization i.e. store, post office-- but very near rim too!) Star gaze as there is no moon. Get to bed early. No drinking!
June 29th -- Sunday get up at 4 am. 5 am start hike as sun is rising over Grand Canyon. Descend 7 miles on the South Kaibab trail. 10 am as temperatures soar, show up to riverside camp. Go to Phantom Ranch Cantina to drink lemonade and beer. Go swimming. Go exploring. Stare at 2 billion year old rock. Drink beer. 6PM sharp eat pre-ordered stake or vegetarian dinner at Phantom Ranch. Camp at Bright Angel Campground under the cottonwood trees.
June 30th -- Monday -- Get up at 4 am. Eat breakfast at Phantom Ranch at 5 AM and grab sack lunch. (Both pre-ordered.) Hit the Bright Angel Trail ASAP. Ascend 9.5 miles back up. Drink water. Take long lunch break under cotton wood trees halfway up. Drink water. Avoid sun at hottest part of day. Eat lunch. Drink water. Make the other half way up before night fall. Spend night at Mather Campground where we continue the tradition of drinking heavily, popping pain killers and making quesadillas at 3 am to celebrate. Thank the lucky stars.
July 1st -- Tuesday -- Sleep in. Have brunch on the patio of the fancy El Tovar Hotel overlooking the canyon. Bid farewell, congratulate each other on our 2nd iconic hike, and drive home to LA.

Sorry if this sounds like the work of a schedule nazi... but most of these times are dictated by the strange hours of the Phantom Ranch food services and by the sun's baking temperatures. I've done extensive amounts of reading, and I'm a nut for this stuff, but otherwise please forgive me.


So... What can you do? READ INFO, GATHER GEAR AND GET BACK TO ME ABOUT THE MEALS.
And get in shape... you have 83 days.

READ INFO:
I'm going to send along some info on how to stay hydrated and prevent heat stroke. The Grand Canyon even sent a DVD... I'll pass it around. They've also sent me 5 letters on the topic... and about 10 brochures. No joke. So read what I send on the topic. As group leader I'm legally responsible that you were given the info. And I like you and don't want you to die.

GATHER GEAR:
So... as for Gear? What to bring??? I love gear, and so here's my suggestions:

1) At the top, at Mather Campground, we will be car camping... so bring the Taj MaTent if you please... and plenty booze and food. There will be bear proof food lockers just like in Yosemite.

2) What to bring for hiking and overnight camping at the bottom is a different story: Think light as a feather.

In the 1930s, the Mountaineers, a Seattle-based hiking, climbing, and conservation organization, came up with a list of 10 essential items that no climber should be without. I forgot what they were... is a bikini number nine?... but I'm pretty sure almost NONE of them will be necessary on a well marked path, in the middle of summer, with 5 million other visitors in the Grand Canyon. Then again, I generally don't go anywhere with out a leatherman, first aid kit, waterproof matches, and a whistle-- but that's cuz I was raised by a pack of wild ravers.

BUT IT IS ESSENTIAL for you to add to that list: sunscreen, hat, more sunscreen, UV sunglasses, flashlight or head-lamp (yes, all the cool kids are wearing them) salty snacks and electrolytes. And for fun time: swim trunks, and a camera. (Food for meals will be discussed later.) All trash also has be carried back out... so travel super efficient and light.

I suggest the heaviest part of what you bring down is a water. Dehydration is the biggest threat to your health on this trip. But never fear... by saving up frequent flyer miles, I made a grand purchase of a SteriPen. This newfangled device is a ultraviolet light-saber that treats water by zap-killing bacteria, microbes and virus in 90 seconds with a flip of a switch. Yes it's exciting. Yes I'm a nerd. But since I'm willing to share: you with a large camel-back, the trail's frequent water sources (way up only), plus this new UV thingy about the size of a flashlight... we are pretty good to go. But in case I drop it off a cliff... or forget to bring batteries... you should all be prepared to carry water.

As it will be hot... a tent with out a sleeping bag, or a sleeping bag without a tent... seems do-able. But there's a lot of insects at night, so personally, I am going to bring a two person tent, thermarest, and a sheet. No sleeping bag. (Don't forget we are "car camping" up top... and sleeping bags and blankets will be very necessary up on the cooler temp rim.)

So, bring what you like, it's just something to concern yourself with as... those of you who are concerned about carrying weight back up... or just want to hike free like an eagle:

For $60.83 each way, per duffel, a reservation can be made in advance to have a mule carry your stuff back up.

Duffel defined: Weight limit is 30 pounds with maximum dimensions 36” x 20” x 13”

That's not much burden off your back... but any freedom might be nice in 115 degree heat on the 7th mile up. I'd like to coordinate the duffle service... so tell me if you're interested.

3) Hiking boots or sturdy trail runners. I just invested in a light weight pair of Asolo Stynger GTX boots that cost too much, unless of course, you have mad dividends already stored up at REI... and can justify buying them due to crazy visions of hiking Whitney or at least wearing them until you die... which ever comes first. Whatever you do... just please make sure whatever you wear has tread, has new shoelaces, and IS BROKEN IN! That means start wearing them NOW in April.

I like what they said about buying boots in this tutorial.

And this boot lacing method seems all the rage.

I'm also considering some Teva type water-proof sandals (but less gay) for exploratory hiking around the river after we get there.

Possible river hike to Ribbon Falls???



THE MEALS
As for our meals... I NEED TO RESERVE THEM NOW. No lie... the place is crowded. Breakfast is all-you-can-eat pancakes, bacon, eggs, canned peaches and hot drinks. Lunch is a sack lunch consisting of a bagel with cream cheese and jelly, a small summer sausage, apple, raisins, peanuts, a powdered packet of electrolyte replacement drink, cookies, pretzels, and a napkin.

Dinner is all-you-can-eat steak, baked potato, green beans, corn on the cob, cornbread, and green salad with hot drinks OR meat stew, cornbread, and green salad. Dessert is chocolate cake. OR The vegetarian meal is like the steak meal with vegetarian chili in place of the steak and served at the same time as the stew meal. So Stake people will not be even seated with the Stews and Vegetarians... cruel, but true... plan accordingly so you can eat with your girlfriend.



We will be there for dinner, and then breakfast... and then should get a sack lunch for the hike back up. Please decide:

a) Who wants steak dinners? Who wants Hiker's Stew? Who wants Vegetarian Chili?
b) Who DOES NOT want breakfast? Hope you can eat breakfast at 5:00 am, cuz that's when it's served.
c) Who DOES NOT want a sack lunch for the way back up?

I NEED TO KNOW ASAP. I will submit the food reservation this week.

As for any other sundries at the bottom... What is available in the canteen? (From the website)

FIRST AID AND SUNDRIES: Band-Aids, Moleskin, Ace bandages, Muscle easing salve, Rolaids, Advil and Aspirin, sunblock, Lip Balm, Tampons, Intensive Care Lotions, Pepto Bismol.

BEVERAGES: Coffee, hot cocoa, herbal teas, iced tea, lemonade, Glacier Bottle Water, Tecate and Bud beers, wine. BEER CANNOT BE TAKEN OUT OF THE CANTEEN!!!

SNACKS: Peanuts, Oreo cookies, fig bars, plain and peanut M&M's, Snickers, Gum, Lifesavers, Trail Mix, apples, bagels with cream cheese and jelly, summer sausage, Cliff Bars.

Fishing licenses and tobacco products are not available.

OTHERS: Print film for 35 mm cameras. Kodak disposable cameras. AA, AAA, L132 and 9 volt batteries, Flashlights, bandanas, Exclusive hats, postcards and tee shirts.

When is the canteen open?
During summer from 8 AM to 4 Pm and 8-10 PM. No sales during meal hours. Last call for alcohol at 3:30 PM and 1/2 hour before last closing. Credit cards, travelers checks and cash. No personal checks. And you can bet it's expensive.

So there you go... a reminder of what gear to bring and to start sweating on the stair master! Be sure to write back to me about your meal preference.

I'm sooooo frickin' excited!!! Grand Canyon Hotties Unite! Form of: Hiking Machine!

Get Your Hike On

Many have been eagerly asking what this year will hold for us in terms of ass-kicking hikes? Honestly, Half Dome was so incredibly fun and gratifying that it's been a hard question to answer. It was just so amazing to see my best friends on top of an icon that I've been dreaming about climbing for 20 years... that's kinda hard to beat.


But I'll try. Of course there are other natural wonders that I've been salivating over... unfortunately, so are thousands of other humans so these all REQUIRE MONTHS, IF NOT YEARS OF PRE-PLANNING. So here is my suggestion, and then a disclaimer:

Drum roll please: The Grand Canyon.





Disclaimer: It's SO hard to get a reservation at any one of the necessary lodging facilities (two separate sites need to be booked: one at the top and one at the bottom, because you can't go up and down in one day... and they are all managed by separate corporations.) That this plan will possibly be for 2009.

So here it is: I'm going to start to go though the reservation process in HOPES of getting space for 6 (or less?) to participate in this hike in the Summer or Fall of 2008, but may not get there until 2009.

In which case, we'll have to do something else this summer, don't worry I have many other ideas. But if I don't start the process sometime... then when? So read on and think about it. You may have EXTRA time to get in shape for this one, but hey... we're all friends forever right?

GRAND CANYON IN THREE DAYS:
(IDEAL ITINERARY)

Day One:
Drive 8 hours from Los Angeles to Grand Canyon South Rim.
Lodging: El Tovar (luxury hotel on lip of rim) or Mather Campground on the South Rim. The hotel is beautiful, even though the rooms are a shade tacky. So we should go to the hotel for victory brunch at the very least. As for camping, I stayed at this campground 4 years ago... and it is very similar to the ones in Yosemite, sans the ice cold river to swim in.


(See the Tovar's dark tower in the upper right?)

"El Tovar Hotel
El Tovar Hotel, the premier lodging facility at the Grand Canyon, opened its doors in 1905 and was most recently renovated in 2005. In the past, the Hotel has hosted such luminaries as Theodore Roosevelt, Albert Einstein, Western author Zane Grey, and many others.Today, El Tovar retains its elegant charm. Located on the Canyon rim, it features a fine dining room (open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner), lounge and curio shop with newsstand. El Tovar offers its guests Concierge, turn-down and room service and is a Registered National Historic Landmark. El Tovar Hotel has 78 rooms and suites, all with cable television, telephone, full bath and air conditioning. Standard rooms have one double, one queen, or two queen beds. Deluxe rooms have either two queens or one king bed. Suites have a bedroom with either two queens or one king bed, and a sitting room, and some of the suites have a porch or balcony."

Day Two: (At Crack of Dawn)
Hike down to Colorado River (Two available routes, 7 or 10 miles varying in steepness and length. All maintained by NP Service. Cons: Steep, shared with hundreds of other people and very hot in summer. Pros: Hike of a lifetime, vistas that will blow the mind.)




Hike will take 4-5 hours, in addition, we may have to stop for shade during noontime hours.

Bright Angel Trail
South Kaibab Trail

Lodging: Along the river at a Phantom Ranch Cabins or at Bright Angel Campground. Both Subject to scarce availability.

"Phantom Ranch
Phantom Ranch is a comfortable oasis nestled at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.
It is tucked in beside Bright Angel Creek on the north side of the Colorado River and is the only lodging facility below the Canyon rim. The Ranch can only be reached by mule, by foot, or by rafting the Colorado River and is a popular stop-over point for hikers and mule riders traveling to the bottom of the Canyon via the famous Bright Angel or Kaibab trails. Open year-round. The ranch was designed by architect Mary E. J. Colter and completed in 1922. The rustic cabins and main lodge are built of wood and native stone and do not intrude on the natural beauty and solitude of the setting. Overnight accommodations at Phantom Ranch consist of dormitory spaces for backpackers. Dormitories are separate for women and men -- each has ten bunk beds, a shower, and restroom.

Also popular is the Phantom Ranch Canteen where meals, beverages, and sundries are available for adventurous travelers who journey to the bottom of the Canyon. Meals MUST be reserved well in advance of your descent. Mule trips do include a lunch on the way down, steak dinner that night and a breakfast the next morning before the ride out. Hikers need to reserve meals separately and well in advance."

"Bright Angel Campground
Bright Angel Campground is at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. The campground is less than 1/2 mile from Phantom Ranch. The area is characterized by the river delta where Bright Angel Creek meets the Colorado River. Cottonwood trees shade Bright Angel Campground and the creek offers a great place to cool off.


Deer, ring-tail cats, gray foxes, and squirrels are often seen. Metal food containers are provided to store food. Protect yourself and the animals by following Grand Canyon's Food Storage Guidelines. Popular activities include relaxing, resting/wading in Bright Angel Creek, stargazing, fishing, and day hiking. Day hikes include the River Trail, Phantom Overlook, and Ribbon Falls. Check the campground information board for ranger led activities, and evening program topics."

Day Three:
Hike up. 10 miles. Takes about twice as long -- that's like 8- 10 hours but we would take the "easier" (read: less steep but still damn hard) but longer trail. Indian Gardens campground for lunch.

Check into hotel or campsite at top at South Rim see Day One above.


So simply think about it. I know it's hard to think that far into the future...

It truly will be another hike to tell the grandkids about... and I know that I am going sooner than later... and would love your company. Suggestions are welcome.

Yosemite or Bust

So Who's in? Who's in for a grueling hike of 8842 feet above sea level vertically? Who's in for hiking 17 miles in 12 hours? Who's in for hiking under a water fall? And climbing up a 45 degree granite rock for a quarter mile with nothing but metal cables to hold onto with dear life? No really. We're going on a big hike. This will be something so robust that you won't be able to stop telling your grandkids about it over and over again till they think you're senile. Ok, sorry, if this is sounding scary then let me put it this way: Who's in for getting out of the city to smell the crisp Sierra Nevada air? Hike though the majestic redwoods? See some breathtaking glacier waterfalls from trails that take us into the clouds? Who's in to push our thirty-year-old (or so) bodies to their top performance level? Who wants the oxygen high and the adrenaline fueled exhilaration of making it to the summit? OK if you're still not convinced then the last selling point I guess is: Co-ed Camping??? Heyyyyy. Well, if you're still dubious, just keep reading, there may be some fine print that might work out in your favor, so don't worry.


Hiking up the back of Half Dome in Yosemite has been a life-long goal of mine, well, ever since I laid my eyes on the post-card age six. This year, it's time to stop daydreaming and actually do it. I'm over the heroine chic look (cuz I never really achieved it anyway) and have stopped smoking, and cut back on drinking so much, and have started yoga classes again. Am I anywhere close to being in shape enough to climb for 17 miles? NO, but at the gym last night, as I hit the resistance button on the tread mill several times and I felt very pleased with the words "Cross-training" as I proceeded to pant for thirty minutes while visualizing half-dome in the far distance. I was very pleased indeed with this "new motivation" of the Hike. But am I at the gym tonight? No. I'm sitting at my computer typing. That's how badly I want some of my closest friends to come along with me on this trek.

So here I go trying to convince you:
I hope that the plan would go something like this: I will get a campsite or a tent cabins for all of us on the the valley floor for two nights. We'd have a healthy meal and go to bed early the first night, and then at the crack of dawn, we'd set off on a 8.4 mile hike (one way). We'd pass two of the most glorious water falls this side of Sweden, We'd actually pass near enough to the first waterfall, Vernal Falls, to "get misted".


We'd continue along the river and to a "double" waterfall, Nevada Falls, and then though some old growth forest.

The last 1/4 mile is the infamous cable accent (see pictures).
We'd make the summit around lunch, and eat while looking out over one of the most spectacular views.

After many hugs, congrats, and about a million pictures, we'd make the 8.4 mile decent the same way we came. That night, back at the camp we'd make a huge bon fire and drink wine and talk about how great we are for going on such a treacherous excursion all in one day. Then we'll pass out due to utter exhaustion. The next day is for eating a luxurious brunch at the devastatingly expensive Ahwahnee hotel, and buying post cards, and enjoying what we can see of the rest of the park via wheelchair due to sore leg muscles.

That doesn't sound so bad does it? You've got 6 months to get in the best shape possible. That means hiking, swimming, yoga (for big lungs and sturdy ankle muscles) and bike riding-- or any type of endurance training. And that's gonna be the hard part... but then again... at the top of the summit, besides breath-taking views, an oxygen high, and an overwhelming sense of accomplishment, there will undoubtedly be a 96-year old grandma and a small child asking you to take a snap shot of them on vacation. So obviously, if they can do it, then why can't we???


Soooooo... Here's a great website made by some dude who has a lot of advice... you may recognize some of the photos.

http://www.rahul.net/kenton/fun/yosemite/

Be sure of a few things:
1) I'll take care of all logistical planning, and will make all necessary reservations
2) you might need a good pair of boots, or cross trainers, but not much else in terms of expensive hiking gear. (Most everything else can be borrowed or purchased at a regular hardware store-- like gloves and flashlights.)
3) You're gonna feel it physically-- but it's gonna be that "good hurt" I swear.
4) It's a beautiful journey, I've hiked the first two/thirds up, and any stage (first or second waterfall, or dome base) could be a really fulfilling stopping point if it's necessary to quit and turn around. (But that would mean going again in 2008.)
5) It's gonna be something that you remember for the rest of our lives.
6) It's gonna be one of those bonding experience thingys and I'll really, really appreciate your company. (Ok I won't get all mushy, yet.)

So think about it. And suggestions are always welcome. There are only a few really big questions I need to know from you sooner than later:
1) Who is interested? I need to get a rough estimate because tent/ tent cabin sites fill up fast and I will be booking lodging over 6 months in advance. But this doesn't mean that you have committed, just if you are interested, so I can have a rough idea.
2) When? we have a window of weekends in June. I need a vote of which is best for everyone.

Ok, get back to me as soon as you can. Like I said, you don't have to be "for-sure-in" but I just need to know who's interested.
Love you guys, I just know this is going to be a blast. Write with any questions.
Love, Lola