Yosemite Day 2: HALF DOME

Day 2 started at 3:30 AM so that we could get to the subdome to watch the sunrise. It was an early start after not a lot of sleep in a tent. We saw some bear eyes on the way out of the camp, but we scared him right off and carried on. It was a massive push and there was a little bit of suffering to get to the base of the subdome in time, but we did it and watched the sunrise there. It was amazing. What an experience. After we took our time there, we started up first the subdome (oh my gosh- so hard) and then up the cables of Half Dome itself- less hard, a lot of upper body strength to pull yourself up the cables, but it felt very safe...until you got down and looked back up at what you had just done. Then it seemed crazy that we did that. One misstep or a slick rain and you are a goner on either side. Annnnyway, we did it and it was fantastic. We sat on top of the dome for a good hour taking in the scenery and having a snack. There were three other people there the whole time, which was amazing. Doing it early was the right call, even with the lack of sleep. On the way down, we started seeing the crowds coming up, both from the day hikers and those that camped. 

What a remarkable, bucket-list-item. It is not lost on me what a privilege it is to see the world in this way, and to do it with Devin and such an awesome group of people was the icing on the cake. I had another moment on the top, thinking of how proud I am of the work I have put in to be able to do these things. I am not naturally athlectic, but I have worked hard. On the way up the first day, a woman gave me me the best compliment- she saw me coming up and said "I am so impressed by you! You look so strong and that you make carrying that pack look easy." It was not easy, but it was such a meaningful compliment. 

With that, a million more pictures. It is so hard to narrow them down. 

This is from the day before, but didn't make it and I liked it.

perhaps my favorite picture of the trip. Just love it. Shows well the climb and the view behind him!

Can you believe we went straight up that!?

At the top!

The whole group at the top. Last year, 5 of these guys did it and Stacie didn't make it to the top because she is scared of heights. But this year she did it!!!

So grateful for these fun and adventurous friends!! 

And this guy- Zach- for organizing this whole thing. We tried to recreate a picture of the 3 of us from Angel's Landing. Totally not the same, but oh well. ha. 

We all made it back down! yay!

And then, we had to go back to camp and pack up all our crap and backpack back out. It made for a long day, and the downhill with that big pack was ROUGH! But we did it. With jello legs, we did it.

I know there are waterfall pictures from the day before, but it was just so clear, I had to get another one.

All the way down! Some of us were too beat to even stand for a picture. haha!

We had dinner today at Curry Village, then Devin and I headed to our lovely hotel 20 minutes outside the park and the rest of the poor fools had to camp again. Ha! Suckers. We slept in the AC in our own separate beds and had a great night. ;) I mean, these guys probably loved their camping; I am just not cut out for it!