Yosemite Trip: Days 4-5

Day 4-Monday: The day started off with waking up at 3:00am and wanting to leave by 3:30.  Of course, in true McKown fashion, we didn't leave until 4:00am.  My mom drove as she didn't want to get car sick again, but her driving got the rest of us a little sick! We just couldn't win on those windy roads.  We got to the starting point and started hiking at about 6:00am.  It doesn't matter how much you read online about a hike, nothing compares to actually hiking it.  I was very surprised by how steep it was right away.  My mom was nice to let me use one of her walking sticks and it was my saving grace.  I wouldn't have done as well as I did (which really wasn't that well) without it.  When we arrived to vernal falls (I think that's what it's called), my entire back was soaked with sweat!  There were these evil stone stairs we had to climb to get there.

I know that I'm hiking a mountain and you have to go up, but I felt like I didn't get much of a break from going up.  I ate really well and my legs felt fine, but I used up a lot of energy going up the mountain that it made going down difficult.  Hiking the small dome was tough so that when you got to the top, it made wanting to hike to the very top less enticing. 

Nevada Falls

That's what we hiked. Ugh.

We rested for a minute at the top of small dome before going up the cables.  You need gloves to climb and I guess we got there at a busy time because it took almost an hour to climb the cables as you had to wait for the people in front you to move. People were also coming down so you had to take them into consideration also.  Going up the cables is rough! There were sections that were a little scary to climb and at one point, my left shoulder almost popped out! That really impacted me as I looked around, realized how high we were and started having a panic attack! I was crying and gasping for breath.  It was really scary, but my brother Aaron was great in helping me to calm down.  I made it to the very top of half dome and it took me a minute to truly relax.  We spent about 30 minutes up at the top before taking another 45 minutes going down. 

Honestly, those cables took everything out of me.  Going down was the worst!  It took forever and all of us were hurting.  I was shuffling so slow at the end that I bet other people (who didn't hike as far) thought I was crazy.  Aaron and I got done at the same time and waited about 10 minutes for mom to show up and then 10 more minutes for Brianna and Kyle.  I know I'm repeating myself, but we were exhausted!!  No one felt good and no one was happy.  Kyle drove back and on the way to exit the park, we saw a sign saying that there was a fire in Oakhurst and roads closed.  We weren't sure what that meant, so we continued driving to the exit.  The rangers in the park really didn't know much except that the one and only road that takes us to Bass Lake was closed.  So, we had to turn around and drive all the way through the park again. Mom got sick on the way and we had to pull over so she could throw up.  We had to take another road to get us to Oakhurst which added at least another hour and a half to our drive (but I can't really remember as driving anywhere after hiking felt like 20 hours).  Mom was still sick so she hated all the extra driving we were doing.
     The other scary thing about the fire is the fact that I couldn't get a hold of Scott!  He stayed behind with Kylie all day and I just wanted to make sure they were okay.  Even though we got cell reception in Oakhurst, Scott didn't have any at the chalet.  I looked up the number to the resort and got connected to our chalet so I was able to talk to Scott.  He gave us a different route to take to Bass Lake, but we missed the sign to get there, got lost and drove another extra half hour.  At this point, things were just ridiculous.  We hiked a ridiculously hard hike, were exhausted, starving and mom was throwing up.  I just want to get to the chalet!!  I want to take a shower and go to sleep and try to forget about this horrible, no-fun day.  And that's what I did when we got there (except the shower part as everyone else took one and I didn't care to stay up any later. Problem with only having one shower).

Day 5-Tuesday: Even though we were leaving today, we all slept in.  We stopped for some breakfast at Pete's Diner and then headed out. We wanted to have breakfast at Tanaya Lodge (where Scott and his siblings worked), but since the road was still closed due to the fire, we couldn't.  We also couldn't drive through the park which is the faster way home.  So, we went up to Sacramento and through more of Nevada.  This route took longer and the drive was long.  Kylie watched Frozen again and we stopped about 3 times again.  We didn't arrive home until 3:30am.  It was a long day and we were glad to be home.
     If you think there was a lot of complaining in the post, then you're right.  I don't feel bad about complaining as I've never been on a vacation where so much went wrong.  It is one that will be used as an example to never do again.  I've also decided that hiking is not for me.  I just don't get enjoyment out of it like others who hike. I felt this way before this hike, but this experience just solidified it.  I'm glad that it's over and that cute Kylie was there to make things better.  Hopefully next vacation goes more smoothly, especially since we all decided it will be at a spa. :)

Just talking to the wildlife. :)

Frozen is now her favorite movie.