Yosemite and Tahoe Pictures

Mirror Lake, Yosemite

It may not look pretty, but it was a welcome sight on that hot day! Who needs swimsuits anyway?

Bridalveil Falls Hike, Yosemite

Eliza and Kim

Lake Tahoe

Sage

My Favorite Picture
Grandma and Sage celebrate a victorious canoe ride

Lake Tahoe

-JW

Hiking Half Dome, Yosemite National Park

To introduce Yosemite's most famous hike, allow me to quote another hiker's description:

"Hiking to the top of Yosemite's magnificent monolith Half Dome means miles of stone stair steps, miles of switch backs, chugging water continuously and then upon approaching the goal you find that you must risk your life hauling yourself up the side of HD on two steel cables at about a 45° angle before reaching the summit and the spectacular view." (http://www.terntec.com/hiking_half_dome.htm)


The day: July 16, 2007

The place: Half Dome Hike, Yosemite National Park

The total distance: 17 miles

The participants: Keith, Krista, Bryce N., Rebecca, Jordan, Suzanne, Richard, Heather

The first leg of the journey led past Vernal Falls (source of the waterslide a few days before), and then later Nevada Falls.

There was amazing scenery along the way, including an appearance by two of Yosemite's mascots, black bears.

The chains at the end: (that's right: straight up that rock in the background)

The view:

The Casualties:

-JW

Vernal Falls at Yosemite National Park

After we reached the top of the Vernal Falls hike, we had fun playing in the pools and drops of the falls. There were 100 other people sitting around looking at this natural waterslide, but it was our Jordan, and then our crazy family that actually had the guts to ride it! (Notice the admiring tough guys all watching in the background.)



Unfortunately, the ride was anticlimactic for the Wilson train, who inched their way down, but overly climactic for Jordan (and later Bryce LeBaron) who received a few wounds going solo!

Krista and Eliza played on the other side of Vernal Falls. If Eliza had had her way, she would have been in the previous picture with the group going down the slide.

-JW