Yosemite backpacking trip

Backpacking the North Rim of Yosemite: 3 nights, 4 days out

Our route, roughly.

We had intended to do another route, but when we arrived, we found it was still too snow-covered. The North Rim was our other choice, and it turned out to be wonderful. Especially with (or maybe despite of) the advice we got - from a couple of very drunk Texans at the backpackers' campsite the night before we started - about an unmarked trail through (or rather, straight up) some rock slides...

Scrabble, travelers' edition - to pass the time at the backpackers' campsite the night before getting started...

Gabe: Really?? "GRIEF??" Come on, Meg, we're on vacation now...

Off we go.

The rock slides...

View of Yosemite Valley...

Ribbon Meadow, on our second day out. We were trekking over snow moments later...

Taking a rest on a cliff...

Campsite, day two.

View from North Dome, day 3.

Half Dome!

View of Half Dome, at our campsite on the final night.

Sunrise at the Arch at Indian Rock, day 4.

I believe Gabe is making oatmeal up there.

One year down...

First year of grad school, done. Looking back at my first year here, I can't believe: 1) I survived. 2) I now have two cats. Hm.

Joshua Tree

The end of the winter quarter brought a (short. very, very short.) "Spring Break"...

Camping at Joshua Tree!

The wildflowers in the southernmost part of the Park were in bloom...

The Joshua trees were also in bloom. The blossoms look like big popcorn balls...

Joshua tree in bloom

close-up

Joshua trees are funny things... Often, they are really impressive and striking to look at... But, other times, they look a little silly.

A hike (approx. 7 miles) through the "Wonderland of Rocks" to a little oasis called "Willow Hole":

Near our camp site:

Arch Rock

Kitten updates!

... I have to.

Not-Andy is the perfect size (and shape) to fit in my bag.

This pose, by the way, has become familiar.

Like this, but fuzzy. And cute.

Updates

I have been meaning to update this for... holy cow... about three months now....

Cough. Well. Better late than never, I suppose.

First! ...

Ski trip to Tahoe!

After living almost my entire life in the snowy northeast, I finally (finally!) put on a pair of skis... (Again, better late than never, I suppose...) Thanks to the Dillons and Duques, I not only survived, but had a great time.

See? Me, having a great time. (I am pretty sure I wiped out getting off the ski lift shortly after this was taken, but for the moment, I appear to be doing well...)

Lake Tahoe!

In the gondola...