Yosemite Day 1

Devin and I had the amazing opportunity to go to Yosemite on our friend Zach's back country permit to hike the famous Half Dome. Permits are notoriously hard to get (15-18% success rate, per our buddy Google). This has been on my bucket list for a while and I was SO happy to be able to check it off. Zach kindly allowed Devin and I to travel with him & his family- which includes my friend Trent and his wife Melissa, Zach and Stacie (Trent's sister and husband), Dan and Holly (his other sister and husband) and Melissa's friend Denelle. They all arrived Sunday and spent several days before we got there sight- seeing in nearby parks. Devin and I arrived late Tuesday night into Fresno and then drove to meet them outside Yosemite Wed morning, where we started up the Happy Isles trail toward Little Yosemite Valley. The back country permit meant we needed to camp and get up early the next morning to summit the dome before the day hikers with permits. 

The hike up was gorgeous, steep, and hard! It was so beautiful. We took our time and stopped when we wanted, including a long stop for lunch about 3 miles up. I have never backpacked before, and hauling up 30 extra pounds is no joke, especially with such a steep trail. But, we did it! We made our camp by mid-afternoon, then hung around the camp area in hammocks and took a swim in the nearby river. The nearby park rangers gave us several spiels about bears as the local brown bears had been very active in the camp area. 

Though we are not camper people, Devin and I survived one night in a tent (well half a night- we got up at 3:30 AM to start the ascent up to the summit!). It was totally worth the camping. It is just the sleeping in the tent part I don't like. Everything else I liked- the being outdoors, the swinging in a hammock with nothing to do, the sunset among the trees...all of it. Oh, the food was subpar too, but what do you do? ha. 

Okay, now for a million pictures of day one.

At the airport- it was funny wearing those big old hiking backpacks through the airport. Never done that before!

 

Camp Day 3

Day 3 was a favorite for many! We spent the morning up in the mountains. The kids were split into group and half went on an ATV ride and the other half shot guns. We are not gun people, so Jace, Hallie, and I had never shot guns. However, we were all pretty good at it-- gotta say! We won't be picking up any gun hobbies soon, but we had a good time learning. The ATV rides were a real riot. The YW leaders all went together in a covered ranger while the kids rode in open side by sides. The men driving them just flew through mud puddles. The kids were just drenched at the end. Hysterical. That afternoon we spent time at a park where everyone divided and did what they wanted- fishing, pickleball, games, crafts. It was a slower afternoon, but just what we needed. We had milkshakes and leftovers for dinner, finishing an amazing camp experience! Loved, loved, loved the whole thing with a lot of truly amazing youth, plus my own two kids, and incredible YW and YM leaders too.

 

Camp Day 2

We were so lucky to have the most amazing adventures at our camp. Day 2 started with repelling into the Paris wind caves. It was so much fun and such a thrill. Most of the kids did it and had several turns. I went at the end as well and loved it. My legs were a bit jello from the Cross fit workout the camp leaders had us do at 6:30 AM. Yes, you read that right- 6:30 AM! But we survived. The kids loved the repelling. 

That afternoon, we headed to the beach. I had worried going into Bear Lake in May that it would be pretty cold, but we had amazing, ideal weather. It was so warm and perfect. The kids had a survivor style challenge in their teams, including an obstacle course and a puzzle game, ended in the boat race. We absolutely thought their boats would sink immediately, but boy were we wrong. 2 of the 4 sunk pretty early, but the other 2 really held on. We originally said the winner would be whoever stayed up longest, but it became clear those two boats were going to float, so we had them race to the rocks on the other side. It was hysterical and nearly one of my favorite parts of camp. So, so funny. Yellow team pulled it off. We then had an impromptu polar plunge for those who wanted to and then headed to the Ideal Beach pool and hot tub, where the kids had the best time.

That evening, we had an amazing fireside with two speakers- one who sang the church's youth theme this year, Walk with Me, and the second our neighbor Nate Spencer, who had a virus as a child that left him unable to use his arms. He uses his feet to do everything- eat, drive, play games, etc. He is amazing and really inspired the youth with his story. He also challenged a group of them to open a can of rootbeer and granola bar with their feet. It was hysterical. Of course we later had to take the boys snipe hunting and there was always plenty of time for games, games, games.