California, Part One

Day 1: in Fresno they got that indo 

Flew in to Fresno (100F when we landed... holy crap, we throught fall was almost here), picked up the fly blue rental, then hit up REI for some gear. Rei signs here are bilingual. Don't get that in Boulder. Stop at In n Out Burger, the best thing about the west coast. Drive to Oakhurst and hit the motel

 Day 2: into the Yosemite. 

kinda hard to miss el cap. it's like bam all up in your face


Hit the park then visitor center for trail suggestions.
Hike up four mile trail for a good view of half dome.

aww shit, that's the stuff right there

Then set up camp

these signs are everywhere. jeez, it's just a little highly-contagious rodent-borne virus. what's the big whoop.


dinner at the deli and a ranger presentation about some big-shit hotel in the park 

Day 3: outside the box 

Drove 2 hours to Tuolumne (twah-loom) at the northern edge of the park. Good choice because its at 8k feet and much cooler than yesterday. It's mid September but hot as hell here.

Hiked up to cathedral lake 

try not to poop your pants at how pretty that is

Then on to visitor center and long drive back to our camp. Saw 2 baby bears ross the road. finally a bear sighting! (more about this in Sequoia NP in a later post)
Dinner, then ranger program about bears. 135 incidents so far this year (that's one hundred and thirty five times a bear has broken into a car. think about that) and $40k worth of damage to cars

Day 4: up a canyon 

Up early and packed camp. Hiked up to Vernal falls then Nevada falls. Hike was steep and ruthless and very hot by 10 am but had great views of half dome and the surrounding peaks.



Finished by gift shopping then driving out of the park. Overall, 20 miles of hiking in 3 days. Drive back through Fresno for some more In n Out Burger (of course), then on to Three Rivers CA.

seriously, though, who puts q-tips down the toilet?

stay tuned for Part 2!

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