Backcountry trekking in Yosemite

Hello,

We went back to Yosemite with Bruno and Mirjam for a 5-day trekking!

Wednesday June 22 - We packed everything, did the last shopping and finally headed for Yosemite at the end of the afternoon. We had dinner in Groveland at the "Iron Door Saloon" and slept in a hotel near the park entrance.

Thursday June 23 - After taking a Wilderness permit and having a big breakfast at Curry Village, we hiked from the valley up to Upper Yosemite Falls and camped near Indian Creak.

Friday June 24 - We reached the Tioga Pass Road just opened -- we had to shorten the route because of my knee... and we asked people for a ride to Tenaya Lake. There we started walking again. The creek at the exit of Tenaya lake wasn't easy to cross: the water level is very high because of the huge amount of snow the Sierras got this year ;-) We hiked up to Sunrise Lake: there is still a lot of snow and one might easily get lost... Fortunately with the GPS, the map and a compass, we found our way. On the way up Mirjam, Bruno and Go saw a big brown bear!

Saturday June 25 - After a long and quite difficult snow section, we started the way down towards little Yosemite Valley and camped near the path leading to the Half Dome. At some point, it started to rain and even to hail... but it didn't last long!

Sunday June 26 - Climbing Half Dome went well (I cannot say the same for the way down :-$, it was really challenging, but in the end it was ok). From up there the view on the Valley is beautiful! We then continued the way down to the valley and camped at Little Yosemite. There, everyone is obliged to stay in the main camp as wild camping is not allowed.

Monday June 27 - Back to civilization... via the mist trail: Nevada Falls and Vernal Falls. Lots of tourists but a must anyway. We even saw a bear with two cubs in the Valley!

Except for the aggressive mosquito's, we had a wonderful time. Take a look at the pictures!

MC & Go

Most of the pictures are by Bruno... with some editing by Go ;-)
There are also lots of little movies: that will be for later.