Some of the best times in life are when you are experiencing something new- Random hiking companion

After a mighty good night of sleep and a healthy dose of carbo loading last night, we set out into Yosemite to see what it had to offer us. What we found was more than we could have imagined. We began the day by picking up our camp site and venturing towards "Mist Trail". We werent real sure where this would lead us but with the map in Derek's hand, we felt confident we would see some great sites. (That may be the first and last time I ever say that.) Mist trail was an incredible 4 mile hike up to the top of 2 beauteous waterfalls. The first waterfall we passed was Vernal falls, a smaller but gorgeous waterfall. As we wove through the switchbacks on the way to the top, the mist from the falls refreshed us. The closer we came to the falls, the more the mist rained down upon us. The site from the top was an incredible view of not only the waterfall but also of the landscape and the surrounding park. The next waterfall, Nevada falls was just as breathtaking and perhaps more frightening. Side not- It amazes me how every park that we've been to has enormous cliffs with nothing to stop people from plummeting to their death. The top of Nevada falls also led us to the base of what is called half dome, one the biggest climbs in Yosemite. In what seemed at the time as the smartest move of the trip, we opted not to test ourselves against the treacherous incline of half dome. Instead we decided to hike down the mountain and repack our things for what would prove to be a heck of an afternoon.

After marveling at the wonders of Yosemite on our first hike, we decided to hike up to the top of Yosemite falls, the 6th tallest waterfall in the world. Our plan was to hike up to the top of the falls by dinner time, enjoy the sites, make camp, eat dinner, and sleep overnight somewhere in the backcountry. This all went according to plan, other than the fact that we struggled mightily up the trail. I thought I was tired after hiking the grand canyon but this was a whole different story. With a 30 pound pack on our backs and a rigorous climb for a full 2.5 hours, our tanks were empty. I'll be honest, it wasnt any of our proudest moments or best decisions but yet another adventure we're all glad we can share.

I must interject a side story in regards to this hike and many hikes that have come before it. There is a certain hiker camaraderie that is enjoyed by those who hike at national parks, in the backcountry, and im sure anywhere in world I assume. People are typically extremely friendly, encouraging, and overall interested in what your're doing or where you've come from. The verse do unto others as you would have them do to you seems to hold true in the hiking world. I think a lot of it stems from the fact that you are sharing in an experience and going through the same thing that really breeds a sense of communal purpose. This is true in any area of life that we live in but it has really been evident to us on the trails. With that said I have come to find a few phrases that people use often that can mean varying things.

Good luck- aka youre gonna go through the fires of hell before you get to the top

Enjoy- Its sweet wherever you're going so get ready for something breathtaking

You're getting there- Youre nowhere near where you need to be

You're almost to the top- That means one of two things. It can either mean you really are near the top or that they have been climbing down and have lost complete sense of where the top is.

I must say though, one girl really exhibited some brutal honesty on the trail. About an hour and a half into the hike we passed this man with his kids. As we passed this cute little girl who was about 8 or 9, she smiled at us, and simply stated "if you're going to Yosemite falls, you're not almost there. Bless her heart. I think we all wanted to throw her down Yosemite falls at that point but we simply smiled back speechly.

Anyhow, the views as you can see from the pictures were unbelievable. It was an incredible experience to be at the top of the falls, away from the crowds. We set up camp about a half mile off the beaten path and feasted on 3 boxes of mac n cheese, some applesauce, and granola bars. We had baked beans but we were too full to eat them. Following that delightful dinner we headed back to the falls to watch the sunset and enjoy the solitude. At that point we were the only people around. The ability to just sit on a rock overlooking the park and soak in the beauty of such a wonderful creation is hard to put into words. Without a doubt, those moments were some of the best on the trip thus far.

Quote of the day: I’ve read that I flew up the hills and mountains of France. But you don’t fly up a hill. You struggle slowly and painfully up a hill, and maybe, if you work very hard, you get to the top ahead of everybody else.- Lance Armstrong

Add Vermont to the license plate list along with Alberta and Quebec. We may get all of North America by the time this thing is done.