I decided to go
hiking the next day (9-28). I had planned to ride my bike to the top of Glacier Point
(about 60 miles round-trip), but now thought I would walk instead (about 9 miles round
trip). Glacier Point offers the best views in the valley – West toward El Capitan,
North toward Yosemite Falls, Northeast toward Tanaya Canyon, East toward Half Dome and the
higher reaches of the Sierra Range, Southeast toward Vernal and Nevada Falls, and straight
down toward the renown Ahwahnee Hotel. It’s one of those kinds of places I have
difficulty leaving, and I lingered there until late afternoon.
The Winnebago Story, Part II
– New Friends: On my way up the trail to Glacier Point, I met a couple, Deron and
Candi Miller from San Diego, who were taking the same hike. We walked and talked for a
while, and at some point Candi asked if I had driven to the trailhead. I explained that I
had no car, had arrived in the valley by bicycle, and had walked to the trailhead. Deron
then said "I think we passed you coming up Tioga Pass; we were the ones in the
Winnebago that kept stopping in front of you". This is the honest truth – I am
not making this up! At the top (Glacier Point), Candi invited me to dinner. They were
having fish (Halibut) that they had brought back from a recent trip to Alaska. I am
getting better at gratefully accepting offers like this, so I readily accepted. Deron and
I talked about other hikes from the valley, and both concluded that we didn’t want to
take the one that goes to the top of Half Dome (where the final 700’ is accomplished
by pulling yourself up a 45 degree incline with cables). By the time I got back to camp,
it was almost 7:00 and time for dinner. So off I headed to the Winnebago, and not just for
the Halibut, but because I now had two new friends. One of the first things I said upon
arrival was that I was going to climb Half Dome tomorrow (I had thought about it on
my way down from Glacier Point). Deron responded that he and Candi had decided to do so as
well. After a great dinner and conversation, I headed back to my tent (no after dark hike
tonight) to get to bed early for what promised to be an all day event tomorrow.
(Great
Adventures to Scenic Places)
