Yosemite

We arrived in Yosemite (following the detour we described in an earlier post) in time to get a look at the valley before dusk set in.

The camping here was not what we are used to. The sites are small and right on top of each other. I guess we were fortunate to get the site we did, since it was one row from the end of the campground. We could actually see beyond the seemingly endless rows of campers and tents. The first night I could hear three men snoring. There was Curt, the 'snoring man' from the next site over - he started early to acquire that moniker - and the guy who came to be known as 'wood guy'. They each had their own style, but of course, Curt's was the most endearing. Close quarters made socialization part of the experience. We also met 'the bano couple.' They were unfortunately positioned directly in front of the bathroom. The guy had worse hair than Curt, and the girl spent her mornings fashionably dressed in her white terry cloth robe at camp. 'The wood guy' and his wife had a nice camp set up and left us a huge stack of wood and lighter fluid (for the burning impared) when they left. There was also John and Jean from Tahoe. She was a very chatty nurse and John a retired teacher and they gave us a tour of their camper trailer and some tips about some of the destinations on our agenda. I guess it may not be all bad to live amongst other fellow campers. I really wanted to photograph the scene, but we never got around to it. I would also like to mention that it appears that many campers employ the 'bin system'. It is further enhanced in this state by the fabulous 'bear bins' that are in every camp site. Very handy.

We hiked our butts off the next two days. The first day we took the John Muir Trail up to Nevada Falls and back down the other side of the valley.

The second day we drove to a trail head on the Glacier Peak side and made it to the top of our first dome, Sentinel Dome, elevation 8250. Nice views, but our uncanny ability to put ourselves in a race against dusk made it feel like a bit of a march. I was already stiff from the elevation gain on yesterdays' hike. I knew the next day would be worse. We were treated to a spectacular view on the way back down to the valley. The full moon rose between El Capitan and Half Dome.

Camp is still very cold. The sun never hits our camp site and the obsession to collect firewood is bordering ridiculous. We pack up to destination unknown and embrace another new found pleasure...coin operated showers.