Lions and bears and plague and sweat bees, Oh My!

A few weeks ago we were back in Yosemite for the guys to practice and me to hike.  My goal was to hike a marathon (26.2 miles) in a day.  Unfortunately, I had been sick earlier in the week and there was an unimaginable amount of sweat bees on the trail I chose and so it didn't happen.  It also didn't help that I would be hiking alone in high bear and mountain lion areas, which I decided was really unsafe and so turned around.

I did, however, get an early start and so hiked 7 hours before calling it quits and going to sit with my feet in the river.  That part was perfect!

The guys dropped me off at the base of El Cap in the valley, which was a pretty start to the day!

 Things in Yosemite are vast...and dry.

 Looking into Tenyana Canyon from the trail.  It was a remarkably strenuous hike; I was resting every few switch backs!
Here is the link to the Snow Creek Trail information

 I call this look "Bug Bandit". Mirror Lake is more like a marsh because of the drought and the sweat bees were making me crazy.  Thank goodness I still carry the bandanna from my friend Jessica!  I was covered in little welts by the time I was done.

Bears. Right where I planned to hike.  This is where I decided to turn around: I love a good challenge and take as many precautions as I know to be safe on the trail, but am not foolhardy enough to think I could fend off a bear or mountain lion on my own.

Views like this are what keeps me coming back to these really tough hikes: you have to earn it.

 This is Mirror Lake, a stark reminder of how severe the drought is.  I am standing in the middle of what should be a full lake: they used to have a boat house and charge tolls to cross it because it was so large.  It makes me so sad.

Tiny strip of stagnant water=tons of bugs

Dry sand where there should be a lake

I forgot my "reward shoes" back at the tent: flip flops to celebrate being done hiking and enjoy chilling my feet in the river.  Thankfully, I was able to get a deal on these beauties before joining Brit and Mark in the river.

xoxo

My guys

It was such a great weekend visiting the DC crew, and I am so excited to see everyone else at Thanksgiving!

Xoxo

Story time

I love "Penguin and Pinecone"!  I'm excited to go to DC today and see Uncle Patrick, Auntie Kem, and Alex!

Xoxo

And...

I'm out. Auntie Nomey has too much energy!

Xoxo

Good morning!

Happiness is...playing with Marrok!

Xoxo

Salad

Until yesterday, I did not own salad tongs. (Odd considering how much salad I eat!) My friend Ellie brought these back from Kenya and surprised me with them yesterday!

Xoxo

Happy Korean Independence Day

This morning we celebrated Korean Independence Day at the Center. This afternoon we will have a Hawaiian celebration because we have no Korean clients in the afternoon.

I love this place.
Xoxo

Reward

This was the end of my hike: I love Yosemite.

Xoxo

I did it

I finally hiked over 20 miles in one day!  Saturday I hiked 22.5ish miles from our campsite at the Lower Pines Campground in Yosemite Valley up the Upper Yosemite Falls Trail, across to Eagle Peak and straight to El Capitan (where Brit and Mark will spend a week climbing in October).  Horray! 

Off we go!

Half Dome, one mile up the Upper Yosemite Falls Trail

Close up about a mile up

There are crazy people swimming in the falls pools.  I left.

Half Dome from the top of the falls

It is hard to capture how vast it is

Half Dome from Eagle Peak

I'm terrible at selfies.

High Sierras

El Cap Canyon

El Cap Canyon.  It was breathtaking!

Umm....where is the trail?

Way down in this valley is the chapel I have hiked past and photographed before.  Brit and Mark were climbing the rock wall behind the chapel while I hiked!

Seriously, so bad at selfies.  Especially after 21 miles.

The evening was so beautiful.  A little cool as I hiked back into the campsite, the guys were already there with the campfire burning and cold water ready for me.  I'm so blessed!





xoxo

Upper Yosemite Falls Trail

I'm having difficulty with my computer and am trying to figure out how to share photos from my camera. For now, I'm sharing what I can from my phone.

Mark (Brit's climbing partner) and I made a very fun stove for our huevos rancheros breakfast!

I finally hiked over 20 miles Saturday, going roughly 22.5 miles in 9.5 hours. It was hot and the trail was my least favorite yet, but I'm very happy I did it!

Xoxo

I love Oakland!

http://www.movoto.com/blog/opinions/oakland-best/

Hopefully this link works, because it shows a little glimpse of what I love about Oakland! 

Xoxo

Work

I think it is pretty clear what my client is asking for, don't you?

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Calm

It's hard to beat a midsummer's night

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Afternoon hike

What a great way to spend a day!

Xoxo

This is my box

I convinced Mom to keep it for me forever!

Xoxo

Squaw Valley

Today we rode the gondola up to the high camp Olympic Village from the 1960 Olympic Winter Games. Learning about the games and seeing Lake Tahoe from way above was really neat!

Xoxo

Morning in Tahoe

I feel so fortunate to be here!

Xoxo

Quiet afternoon

I got up from the sofa... Pootz did not.

Xoxo

Port Saint Luis Boat Yard

Next stop: the pier for some people watching and fresh shrimp cocktail!

Independence Day Weekend

We traveled down the coast to Santa Maria to see Ellie's grandpa this weekend. Last night was the perfect night for grilling, laughing, walking the neighborhood, and a movie. After a breakfast of fresh eggs and juice squeezed from backyard orange tea, we're spending the day traveling from beach to beach. So fun!

Xoxo

Crafty

I made a t-shirt for work!

Xoxo

Bay Bridge Bike Ride

Brit and I took advantage of a calm, sunny Sunday and rode the Bay Bridge. I can't wait until it is open all the way to San Francisco!

Xoxo