February 19-21, Matt and I set out for my first ever Yosemite experience.
It will be remembered for the snow, snow, snow, and, well, SNOW! What a mesmerizing land Yosemite becomes in the winter, when snow dusts the valley, sprinkling it with a Heavenly hand, marking nature as its own, displaying before us a cornucopia of awe, like an oasis kingdom that appears to only a chosen few. I am so blessed we were of the chosen. The snow clung to every tree branch and every rock like it clung to life.
We arrived at 3am Saturday morning and grabbed our heated tent at Curry Village. The next morning after a few hours of sleep, we located Upper Pines #112, the most amazing tent site in the Valley, with a direct view up to Half Dome. We shoveled for a few hours, creating our own version of Home Sweet Home. Kitchen, Tent, walkways, beer cooler: CHECK!
That afternoon we snowshoed through the valley to Yosemite Village. We grabbed some supplies and hiked the short yet breathtaking Lower Yosemite Falls trail. We grabbed a shuttle and opened a few beers as we made our way back to camp. Spaghetti down, we climbed in to a warmed tent compliments of Mr. Buddy, and crashed. Day #2 we awoke later than expected and gobbled down a tasty pot of scrambled eggs and sausage. We drove to the Lodge and prepared for our hike to Upper Yosemite Falls. We made it to the base, where the rest of the trail remained unbroken. It was an amazing accomplishment in all that snow! We hiked back to the truck, grabbed showers at Curry Village, then dinner at the Ahwahnee. Back at camp we heated the tent and crashed. We awoke to a gorgeously COLD day, packed up, and hit the road. We will be back, oh Yosemite. Yes, we will.
"It was like lying in a great solemn cathedral, far vaster and more beautiful than any built by the hand of man." -Roosevelt (on Yosemite)
No comments:
Post a Comment