May 12-14
By Eliza
Oh my goodness this place was so pretty!!! From the green, forested valley to the steep gray cliffs rising into the blue sky, Yosemite Falls in all its glory and majesty, booming and crashing down to its fate in the valley floor.
One morning (really the only day we had actually in Yosemite) we packed our granola and milk in the van and drove the hour to get to the start of a trail which climbs its way uphill to the top of Yosemite Falls. The elevation change on that hike was over 3,000 feet, and the distance was at least eight miles. It was a steep uphill climb! Surprisingly, Lev (he just turned five), only needed two short piggybacks, and they were on the way down! Somehow us kids were not the least bit sore the day after that hike, but poor old mom is still sore, to this very day! Dad, unfortunately, could not join us on this adventure because he had to work. I feel bad for him, because it really isn’t a vacation if you still have to work for hours each day! That hike sure had some remarkable and STUNNING views!! I think it’s one of my favorite hikes I’ve ever done!
We stayed at a campground right outside of Yosemite. A short stroll from our campsite there was a pleasant river. We enjoyed splashing and swimming in the (ice cold) water! My brothers and I attempted at fashioning a raft out of three BIG bark pieces. It floated Abel and Simeon for a bit, but not me. We also tried making a raft out of short logs tied together with thick grasses. That attempt, however, failed. The logs were not tied together tight enough and the grasses broke apart.
At our campsite there was an ingenious fire pit. It had a nice grill, that could be rotated around, and a bar from which hooks were hung to hold the weight of a pot of soup or perhaps to roast a chicken. One night we baked pizza in a cast iron pan over the fire. It turned out nice and even gave the pepperoni a slightly smokey flavor!
Dad experimented with mounting the Starlink on a pole. Usually we have it secured on top of our van or camper. If you aren’t familiar with a Starlink, it’s basically a panel that connects to satellites in space and gives us access to internet. That’s why I can write this right now!
Dad made a link to a video he made:
Starting out on the hike!
Yosemite Falls!!!
Lunch break at the top of the Falls
The stream that pours over the cliff to create Yosemite Falls
A bridge across the beginning of the falls
Eating supper in a meadow on a comfortable log!
Dad and the mountains:)
Attempt at floating the bark raft!
Pizza over the campfire
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