Yosemite

We've been to Yosemite a few times now as a family - early spring (okay, not really, it was totally snowing), winter and summer - but never in the peak of the snow melt in the spring. And with all the snow this last season, the water was just pouring out from every place it could find. It was just stunningly beautiful.

Thursday we drove to our campsite just outside the west entrance to Yosemite. The bathrooms were the best ever, but the campsite was not so impressive. We were just happy to have a place to sleep on Memorial Day weekend near Yosemite.

Friday morning we parked at Curry Village and took the bus to Happy Isles ...

... then began our hike to Vernal Falls. The distance to the footbridge honestly just flew past. My memory of last time was that it took forever. I actually think it did take forever last time. Anyway .... we made it to the footbridge and everyone was definitely game to go to the top of Vernal Falls. Yay! Because mom and dad definitely wanted to go. At the footbridge:

At the top:
We were SOAKED - though you can't tell in the pictures - and poor Blake just had on a long sleeved onesie. There was one point on the way up where we stopped in a little cave area thinking we could rest for a moment before going back out and up through the mist. Well, it turned out to be covered but FREEZING. The wind was blowing through there and we were wet and completely underdressed for the experience. I walked up to Blake in the backpack and he just looked at me with this stunned expression like "what have you done to me?" His little fingers were just icy cold. Poor little guy! But up top and out of the backpack and in the sun, he thawed out and was his happy, usual self.

The three big kids looking down at the top edge of Vernal Falls:

You can see the trail down below. It's a challenging hike. We felt so proud of our kids for making the climb - especially Eliza. The last portion of the trail is climbing big, uneven, rocky, wet stairs. Eliza and Ben actually outdid me there. I felt a little aged at that moment ...

Enjoying the beauty of the "Silver Apron" just above the falls. Next time we go to Yosemite we hope the kids will continue with us to the top of Nevada Falls!

Somehow I convinced Ben that he needed to hold hands with Mom or Dad on the way down - that we needed his help being steady on those wet stairs. It really was like walking down a waterfall at some points. There was just so much water. It was just awesome :)


Needless to say, the troops were pooped. We went to Curry Village and ordered pizza. Ethan read and Ben fell asleep:


Eliza and I bought her some dry socks at the store:

And Blake walked around making new friends.

Saturday we decided to be a little more mellow. We walked to Mirror Lake and gaped at the beauty around us. In the summer, there isn't even a lake here. That was hard to imagine when this spring there was just so much water (have I mentioned that yet?)

Jeff has always dreamed of taking a tour of the Yosemite Valley on one of those open air tram things. So we did it. We rode around the Valley floor and listened to a ranger explain about what we saw. It started out great. Then we met the traffic. Yuck. But we made it up to Tunnel View and got out to enjoy.

But then on the way back down to the valley floor, the traffic was even worse. Yuck. And then it started to rain. Double Yuck. The tram driver pulled out emergency plastic ponchos for everyone and we sat and sat and sat and sat. Jeff and I kept debating whether to get out and walk (it really would have been faster). But we didn't. In retrospect, I don't know how Blake put up with it. Actually, I think he fell asleep. Anyway, we made it back at last then gently (forcefully?) coerced the kids to continue with our plan for a short walk up to Yosemite Falls. In the rain. I assured Ben and Eliza that they would surely remember this experience, but, without the rain, it would have just been another hike.

Yosemite Falls was just HUGE. I could have stayed there a long time, but the kids were eager to get out of there. It was really wet. We were thankful for the tram ponchos!

Blake and Jeff were quite the sight in their rain gear:


Until next time, Yosemite! We'll definitely be back. Anyone want to join us there Memorial Weekend 2012? We'd like to make reservations early so we can stay in Yosemite Valley and ride bikes to get around (thus avoiding the traffic). Can't wait!