Category Archives: Half Dome

“Ikon-ic” Winter – Side Trips (California)

April 9-10, 2019 As we rejoined the I-97 southbound from our failed attempt to peruse Crater Lake National Park in its state of snowy wonder, we considered heading to Squaw Valley to ski for a couple of days, then thought … Continue reading

Posted in Car camping, Half Dome, Mini Adventures, National Parks, Uncategorized, Yosemite National Park | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Lemonade out of Lemons.

So after Mexican food and margaritas at Roberto’s in Mammoth Lakes, and a fitful night’s sleep at the Quality Inn…we were actually too warm, we headed with our son and his girlfriend to Yosemite Valley to pick up his truck. … Continue reading

Posted in Backpacking, Half Dome, Mini Adventures, PCT, Uncategorized, Yosemite National Park | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

This should be interesting

‘Tis hiking season once again, and we are lucky and a little daft enough to attempt a week long trip into the Sierras from Agnew Meadows (following the PCT and hooking up onto the JMT), over Donahue Pass, down into … Continue reading

Posted in Backpacking, Half Dome, JMT, John Muir Trail, Mini Adventures, Snow Camping, Uncategorized, Yosemite National Park | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Yosemite Wrap-Up

If we thought a successful climb of Half Dome was the end of adventure, we were sorely mistaken.  Once we reached the Valley floor, we had the issue of getting back to our cars in Tuolumne Meadows. The walk to … Continue reading

Posted in Backpacking, Half Dome, JMT, Mini Adventures, Uncategorized, Yosemite National Park | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Half Dome or bust

The carved wrought iron sign posted at the edge of the trail read, 2.5 miles, to the top of Half Dome. Today is the day, and the skies at the moment are blue and free of smoke.  We will walk … Continue reading

Posted in Backpacking, Half Dome, JMT, John Muir Trail, Mini Adventures, Uncategorized, Wilderness Permits, Yosemite National Park | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

What a difference a Day makes

When we set up our tent the evening before we purposely set it to face the sunrise in the event the clouds had cleared.  As light began to fill the confines of our tent, I checked my watch.  5:30 AM?  … Continue reading

Posted in Backpacking, Half Dome, JMT, John Muir Trail, Mini Adventures, Uncategorized, Yosemite National Park | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Day of Firsts…continued

Even before we reconnected with the JMT, smoke drifted back in making for hazy skies that soon obscured the brilliance of Cathedral Peak whose shape seemingly changed as we circumnavigated its base. Small creeks ran adjacent or crossed our path … Continue reading

Posted in Backpacking, Half Dome, JMT, John Muir Trail, Mini Adventures, Uncategorized, Yosemite National Park | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Day of Firsts

This morning began slowly, but soon enough we were at our trail head to begin our 25-ish mile assault of Half Dome at Yosemite National Park. We would get just shy (.5 miles) of Sunrise High Sierra camp (HSC) of … Continue reading

Posted in Backpacking, Half Dome, JMT, John Muir Trail, Mini Adventures, Uncategorized, Yosemite National Park | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Permitted to Hike…

The fact that we spent most of our lives working in and for places that catered to summertime recreation, the thought of pre-planning and obtaining permits sometimes escapes us.  When we were working, and our kids were younger, our recreation … Continue reading

Posted in Backpacking, Half Dome, JMT, John Muir Trail, Mini Adventures, Uncategorized, Wilderness Permits, Yosemite National Park | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments