half-dome part 02

after you initially enter the yosemite park there isn't an instantaneous feeling that you have arrived. in fact as we rode those first few miles the whole scene had one of desolation as we saw huge sections of burned out acreage, like riding through a war zone where only the splintered tops of the trees remained. but this was soon replaced as we climbed higher past crane flat, the last gas stop before the valley and then rode through the 3 tunnels. and when we came through the last tunnel now suddenly we were transported. like some land that time has forgotten or protected we were treated to these amazing vistas that left me speechless. each time i have come here i see it in a new and different way. the magnificence and closeness of the towering rock made me feel at once both very insignificant and totally tied in with the Creator.


we followed the signs to our new home for the next 2 nights - curry village. curry is a special place to me. it's always been the home away from home when i've come here. first when i was young and my own dad brought me here, and then as a teenager with my high-school youth group. our tent cabin was a welcome base after being on the bike all day. we unpacked and changed, and then took a walk around the village. it was sunday night and the place was still buzzing with weekend activity. we shared a pizza and sat outside in the amphitheater as half-dome towered in the background. i pointed to it and asked jake if he felt ready to climb it. "i guess so" he replied.


after dinner we walked around the valley spotting deer and coming within a few feet of one doe. i saw the signs for the ahwahnee hotel and wanted to show jake how the other half lived so we walked to it. by now it was getting darker and as we started to head back we caught site of the shuttle stop and decided to take advantage of this great transport system. we boarded with a group in high spirits (from spirits no doubt) who were out for a birthday dinner for one of their group. as we boarded the bus i mentioned that it was in fact jake's birthday the following day. as we rode away from the ahwahnee, the group broke into an impromptu rendition of "happy birthday" for jake as we rode on in darkness.


the following morning we awoke early. we grabbed quick showers and a coffee for me from the lodge, and then were off. curry is about a mile from the trail head, and from there we began the long climb. up first to vernal falls where 3 tourists had met their end only a couple weeks earlier. they had gone over the view railing and were swept away. there was still a missing persons poster nearby with their photos although 2 of the bodies had apparently been pulled out of the river the day before according to the shuttle driver. we said a quick prayer there for them and their families and pushed on. from here at the top of vernal marks the spot where the day tourists separate from those with more serious intentions. nevada falls was our next destination...


(to be continued)