California Trip Day Five: What Eyes Were Made For

I shouldn't even be sitting down to write this post. I started work on Monday and am feeling totally overwhelmed with the lack of time and sleep I have. I was hoping to be in bed by 10 tonight, but here I am. I think I'll sleep in a little to make up for it. I need to stop writing about it and start writing about Tuesday.

Tuesday
Yosemite National Park is the kind of place that makes you see God more clearly. You occasionally have to just stop in complete awe at the amazing beauty that is surrounding you so powerfully. I just finished taking a "architecture in the landscape" class, where we discussed how humans have an inherent need to be connected to nature, a concept they call "biophelia." At Yosemite, I felt in awe of the landscape, and in awe of the fact that humans are predisposed to appreciate it. If that isn't evidence of a creator who cares deeply about us, I don't know what is.

We had a big decision to make about Yosemite. We could either do Half Dome: 17 miles; 10 to 12 hours; 4,800 feet elevation gain or Upper Yosemite Falls: 7 miles; 5 to 6 hours; 2,000 feet elevation gain. Supposedly, since I slept in late we couldn't do Half Dome. I'm sure Half Dome is amazing (Adrian seems to think it is), but honestly I can't imagine having a better day than I did. Because of this, I'm willing to take the blame for sleeping in (even if I wasn't the only one).

Because we didn't do Half Dome, we got to see a lot more of the park. We still didn't even begin to see everything there is to see, but we did see some amazing stuff and get some amazing pictures. After scoping out the valley floor, we drove to go see more big trees. We went to check out a grove of sequoia trees. I'm really terrible at biology, but I gather the sequoias and the redwoods are related. The redwoods are less thick around than sequoias, but they are taller. The sequoia's were still pretty ridiculously tall and they had some amazingly large pinecones.

After the big beautiful trees, we drove to Glacier Point, which has some amazing views of the rest of the park, including Half Dome and a bunch of waterfalls. The sky was amazingly blue that day and there were some really great clouds. Ok, to be honest, I didn't notice the clouds until I looked at our pictures.

At 4:15 we decide it was time to do our big hike of the day, from the valley floor to the top of Yosemite Falls, 3.4 miles and 2000 ft up. Honestly, I secretly was freaked out that a) I wouldn't make it to the top or b) it would get dark and we'd never make it down. I don't like looking weak, and I'm too stubborn to fess up to such doubts, so we got started without a word from me about my doubts. This was the most wicked hard hike I've ever been on. Adrian and I decided we'd push it hard to get to the top quickly (again, me being stupid and not wanting to look weak). At 4:30 I looked at my watch and wanted to turn around and go back to the car. I thought I was going to pass out and my legs hurt like crazy. The entire trail is switchbacks over and over and over again. The way I mentally made myself keep going was by counting the switchbacks down from 20 and trying to only take breaks when I got to 0. I don't think I ever got to 0. It was pretty much pure torture.

On our way up we passed some people on the way down who were in desperate need of water. They had done the hike without any and the woman had started throwing up from dehydration. So not smart. Adrian, like the noble guy he is, gave up his Gatorade for them. Even more impressive because my drink was the white "arctic shatter" powerade which he doesn't like. I was feeling damn near ready to quit when I caught a glimpse of the waterfall. The top didn't seem so high and far away. I was totally wrong.

Eventually we passed some guys who told us we were only 10 minutes away. I almost stopped and hugged the dude. We made it to the top in 2 hours. I don't know which was more satisfying, the view or just the fact that we made it to the top (in 2 hours no less). The view was pretty great, but getting there was better. Tortuous, but better. We snacked on some granola, finished the powerade, enjoyed the view and headed back down. We did the hike in 4 hours. (Way better than the estimated 6 to 8).

With the hike done, it was time for us to drive to Susanville to stay with Adrian's parents. The sky as we drove west out of the park was probably the most amazing I've ever seen it look. The sunset was this really deep dark pink and the sky turned this perfect shade of blue. Add to that a clear view of the moon and whatever that planet is that's hanging out with the moon this summer.... wow, totally amazing. If I could see that color and hear the sound of the ocean on the rocks in Crescent City at the same time, I think I would actually implode with the insane amount of pleasure.

Adrian really enjoyed the drive down out of the mountains. He especially enjoyed trying to keep up with the white Infiniti which was enjoying the curves as much as him. My mom would have pushed her foot through the floorboards trying to use her imaginary break, but I found it pretty entertaining. Mostly I loved the shear look of joy on Adrian's face. That boy certainly takes pleasure in living life. He was really impressed I didn't make him slow down, I think he even later said that I was worth keeping around because I let him drive like that.

The drive was totally exhausting, but at least at this point we had started listening to a better book. I think. Can't really remember. The first book was really really bad. Anyway, the drive to Susanville pretty uneventful, besides the fact that we drove through Reno. You know what that means right? Only 11 more states!

We arrived safe and sound, though dirty and exhausted in Susanville. Took a shower and then prepared myself for some major sleeping in.

Here ends day five.