There’s a feeling I get when I look to the west…
Missy | April 19, 2009
I’m going on a California vacation soon, to Yosemite, where I’ll be mostly hiking with a little bit of biking. It’s a solo trip, which is great because that means I can do WHATEVER I WANT. I’m currently working out what hikes to do; the downside is, however, that there’s no one to tell me, “You know, I don’t think you’re quite physically ready for that…” For example: Glacier Point. Four Mile Trail rises 3200 feet in 4.6 miles. My most similar experience was at least 500 feet shy of that and spread over 7 miles. Still, I’ll do it, up & back, assuming the full trail is open for the spring. I can’t predict how my legs or my knees will feel the next day but I will have plenty of Aleve on hand.
Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls should be easy. One could, were one so inclined, continue past both falls to the famous Half Dome. It’s 8.5 miles one way from the valley trail head, which is kind of long but doable for a day hike. But. The true killer happens at the final ascent. That’s what I want to focus on for a minute. Let’s assume the trail is open for the season and that the cables are up.
Wait, cables? (This is what I said to myself when I first caught mention of them.)
I have a fear of heights. Well, to qualify, a fear of falling. I don’t feel so woozy safely inside a tall building like I do when climbing a ladder. The ladder to my roof from my fire escape always makes me anxious. As I’ve gotten older, I often find I much prefer to keep airplane windows closed to ward off tolerable but nevertheless annoying levels of anxiety & claustrophobia. I remember once, in my cheerleading (shut up) youth, learning a simple partner prep move and my legs were quaking. I still climb ladders and I still fly, not so much with the cheerleading stunts, but my point is that I have it in me to push past my fear.
This is how you get to the top of Half Dome (photos via yosemitehikes.com):
I’m pretty sure that guy in the lower left corner is crying. Let’s push in on this trail a little bit.
Are you feeling as barfy as I am right now? Such a shame because I love an adventure.
