We started off very early this morning because the hike is going to take a long time! The trail was beautiful in the early morning. We started off from the Happy Isles again, and marveled anew at the roaring waters.
Looking backwards on the trail, you could see the sun rising and hitting up at the tops of the mountains. We were still in the shade.
The rivers were honestly menacing. So much water rushing by SO quickly. There were signs that told of sad stories of children being washed away and to be careful of the water. It would be so frightening to fall in.
We kept on, and approached Vernal Falls in what Jon calls the Lord of the Rings section, where you have to climb these steep stone steps rising up into the sky.
Because the water flow is so tremendous, the steps are all wet.
The mist from the falls was everywhere.
I hid for a brief respite in the arch on the right.
Whew! We were seriously dripping from the mist all around us.
Jon's hair looked like it had been spray painted.
The trail wraps around on the same face as the falls, and up up up we went.
At the top of Vernal Falls, there's a lookout, with a very rudimentary fence. I think they expect people to have sense when they come up here. Yet people die every year.
Jon was here several years ago, and I think he's been really excited to show me around a place that was so amazing for him to visit by himself. Last time he passed this twisted tree root, he didn't take a picture. We remedied that this time!
The water was going by so quickly, and nothing between us and it, should we decide to get close to it. Here in this section it was rushing over quite smooth and almost flat rock...almost like a giant slip n slide. And then of course the waterfall is just to our left.
The hike continued through beautiful land, greening up with the warmer temperatures and melting snow.
The next waterfall was Nevada Falls, just as impressive as any other.
The smell of green growing things in the damp forest was incredible.
Up we go...here about midway height wise.
What is a day with Jon without silliness??
And then I discovered these TREES. They have the most amazing bark. It grows all layered and eventually flakes off the tree trunk in pieces that look like puzzle pieces.
They are called Jeffery Pines, and they are my new favorite.
It was difficult to get a picture that really shows how intricate the bark is on the tree.
They were beautifully colored, and literally just splattered all over the ground at the bases of these trees.
I was so fascinated, and Jon thought I was cute being so engrossed in them.
The hike was going great, and then we got high enough to start running into a lot of snow.
We had planned on the temps being fairly cool, and had debated what shoes to wear hiking...Jon's hiking shoes are waterproof, mine are not. We were prepared with layers and our hiking poles, but honestly we were surprised at how much snow there was. And also how hard it is to hike in it!
The main effect of the snow covered hills was to erase the trail completely. Jon had his AllTrails app, but we kind of just went straight up the hill. Which is HARD and honestly a little dangerous. The trail LOOKS like this here. Tons of switchbacks that make the uphill a little less strenuous. With the snow, we basically just went up in a straight line.
Jon was ahead of me, just plugging along.
The views were stunning, even when I wanted to just lay down and not get back up!
Jon captured much of my pathos in these shots, where my posture just screams I want to give up!
I kept going, though. One leg in front of the other. The snow was really rotten, so you would often set foot ahead and then sink 2 feet into the snow pack.
Once we got above the treeline, it was a bit more treacherous. To either right and left side, it was sheer drop offs to the rocky valleys below.
We finally made it up to Sub Dome, with Half Dome looming behind us.
You can't really see it so well, but the reports we had heard about Half Dome were true. The cables were down, and about 2/3 of the way up were encrusted in the ice, making summiting Half Dome impossible without ice picks and crampons. And even then inadvisable for all but the most experienced ice hikers. I was actually a bit relieved, but Jon was hoping to get to the top again.
The views were not 360 degrees like from Half Dome, but they were still spectacular!
Then, it was back down. Which was far more treacherous and difficult than going up. Jon looked like he was walking off the edge of the world. Going up, you naturally lean forward...going down, it's hard to lean back, and the hiking poles don't grab enough to rely wholly on them. Slipping was also a problem, both of us slipping multiple feet when intending to just take a step.
At one point Jon took a step, slid hard, and would have literally gone tumbling down the mountain had his hiking stick not caught and stopped his progress. It held just long enough for him to get his footing again, then the strain was too much and it snapped.
When we finally got down (safely!) to the bare ground again, we were triumphant! We got almost all the way to the top! My hip started hurting badly, likely from the stress and strain of the snowy uphill climb, because the pain was sharpest when I lifted my leg to take a step, so then I had to really focus on just making progress.
While we were still on flat ground, I was doing okay, and Jon was finding all manner of flora to capture his attention.
By the time we neared Nevada Falls again, and the trail started going down hill with steps again, I was hurting very badly. I began to be concerned I wouldn't make it down the hill. I've never hurt like that before and I was slowing us down significantly. Jon tried some deep tissue massage, which hurt like crazy, but after a few minutes blessedly seemed to ease much of the pain.
There were all sorts of lookouts and spots to get closer to the falls on, but most of them scared me without fences. And really, let's be honest...even the fenced areas scared me!
Not Jon!
This selfie scared me!!
And I pretty much said goodbye to Jon in my head during this shot. Nevada Falls is roaring just under Jon.
Because it took us so long to get back down the mountain, it was dark by the time we reached the car, and as we drove out of the park, we saw a white fox streaking down the side of the road in our headlights. I tried to take pictures, but my phone was just not sufficient.
We did it! As much as we could have. And I can't wait to sleep!!
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