Half Dome
July 16 (Half of this was typed yesterday. Photobucket went down in the middle of posting so here's the finished product.
I didn't do it!!!! But I still feel great because I hiked 16 loooong miles yesterday. Training paid off too - I kept a slow steady pace to the base of the steps before the dome. We stopped here and there, but never for longer than 15 minutes. I never got to the point physically where I felt like I couldn't do it anymore. But when I got to those steps - actually I think it began when I saw the Dome for the first time, I had a mini panic attack. What if I fell? Who would be Sophia's mommy? That's what I was scared of the most...
Here's my story in pictures:
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Allyssa, Bruk, Julie, and Alan. We started out at 8:15. The others were ahead of us by 30 minutes...blasted parking! I was bummed we didn't start out as a group, but in the end, it all worked out.
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Bruk dunks his head at the top of Vernal Falls.
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Alan and Julie (feeling ubercool) at the top of Vernal Falls
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I think rounding the corner and seeing this is when I first started feeling like I didn't want to do this anymore. I'm going to climb that???
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Nevada falls, 4 miles into the hike. So beautiful!
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Lunch time. Top of Nevada Falls. I make phone calls to report that we lost Allyssa somewhere along the way. Turns out she took the Muir trail to the top...Yay Allyssa!
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This is where Julie and I split. She's beginning her ascent up the steps to the cables. I'm taking the picture sitting down, deciding that I'm ok with not going to the top.
You're kidding me! I'm right here, in the middle of my post and photobucket goes down. Just a few more at this point...like my incredibly dirty feet.
Alright - fast forward, gotta finish this thing.
Here's what my legs looked like when I was done...
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And yes, they were clean shaven when I started.
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So this is what I sat staring at while the others were on their way to the top. That's just high! And now, two days later, I regret it. Of course I do! Then on the other hand it was just so freaking high! I should have done it. Physically I was fine. It was no breeze and am I sore now, but the cardio part wasn't an issue. At times when I was hiking I felt like I was getting into a zen sort of meditation. It was good...
..
">
Keith and Melissa, on our way down.
But not before Jeremy and Julie take time to smell the trees. I had no idea that Ponderosa Pine smells like butterscotch.
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">
Hey look, it's Julie again! I just realized that I have no pictures of me in the group. But I was there, my aching behind says so. This is Julie, elated that we're back in civilization and she can have her Non-fat, Sugar-free, Cinnamon Dolce Grande Latte. I'm drinking a Non-Fat Iced Rasberry Mocha myself. Tasty. Everyone else went for Pizza and Beer in Curry Village. Julie and I hobled back to the car for Pizza and Newcastle at home. It was soooo good.
Here's Julie...
..
">
What a great weekend. I met my physical goal. Even if it wasn't to the top, I still hiked 16 miles in one day. I feel like I want to run a marathon...but I'll start out with the 5K first.
I didn't do it!!!! But I still feel great because I hiked 16 loooong miles yesterday. Training paid off too - I kept a slow steady pace to the base of the steps before the dome. We stopped here and there, but never for longer than 15 minutes. I never got to the point physically where I felt like I couldn't do it anymore. But when I got to those steps - actually I think it began when I saw the Dome for the first time, I had a mini panic attack. What if I fell? Who would be Sophia's mommy? That's what I was scared of the most...
Here's my story in pictures:
..
">
Allyssa, Bruk, Julie, and Alan. We started out at 8:15. The others were ahead of us by 30 minutes...blasted parking! I was bummed we didn't start out as a group, but in the end, it all worked out.
..
">
Bruk dunks his head at the top of Vernal Falls.
..
">
Alan and Julie (feeling ubercool) at the top of Vernal Falls
..
">
I think rounding the corner and seeing this is when I first started feeling like I didn't want to do this anymore. I'm going to climb that???
..
">
Nevada falls, 4 miles into the hike. So beautiful!
..
">
Lunch time. Top of Nevada Falls. I make phone calls to report that we lost Allyssa somewhere along the way. Turns out she took the Muir trail to the top...Yay Allyssa!
..
">
This is where Julie and I split. She's beginning her ascent up the steps to the cables. I'm taking the picture sitting down, deciding that I'm ok with not going to the top.
You're kidding me! I'm right here, in the middle of my post and photobucket goes down. Just a few more at this point...like my incredibly dirty feet.
Alright - fast forward, gotta finish this thing.
Here's what my legs looked like when I was done...
..
">
And yes, they were clean shaven when I started.
..
">
So this is what I sat staring at while the others were on their way to the top. That's just high! And now, two days later, I regret it. Of course I do! Then on the other hand it was just so freaking high! I should have done it. Physically I was fine. It was no breeze and am I sore now, but the cardio part wasn't an issue. At times when I was hiking I felt like I was getting into a zen sort of meditation. It was good...
..
">
Keith and Melissa, on our way down.
But not before Jeremy and Julie take time to smell the trees. I had no idea that Ponderosa Pine smells like butterscotch.
..
">
Hey look, it's Julie again! I just realized that I have no pictures of me in the group. But I was there, my aching behind says so. This is Julie, elated that we're back in civilization and she can have her Non-fat, Sugar-free, Cinnamon Dolce Grande Latte. I'm drinking a Non-Fat Iced Rasberry Mocha myself. Tasty. Everyone else went for Pizza and Beer in Curry Village. Julie and I hobled back to the car for Pizza and Newcastle at home. It was soooo good.
Here's Julie...
..
">
What a great weekend. I met my physical goal. Even if it wasn't to the top, I still hiked 16 miles in one day. I feel like I want to run a marathon...but I'll start out with the 5K first.