Yosemite: Special Edition

So this past weekend I did way too much hiking for only three pictures, so you get seven instead.

On Saturday, I hiked up to Glacier Point by the Four Mile Trail, a 4.7 mile trip with a 3200 ft elevation gain, hard but extremely well worth it. After spending some time at Glacier Point, we hiked down the Panorama Trail which is 8.5 miles back to the valley. So including the travel to and from the trailheads, it was about a 15 mile day. This has officially become my favorite hike so far, that is until I do Half Dome. For anyone visiting I would highly recommend this hike. If you don't want to do the complete 15, I would say to hike up the Mist Trail, hit the Panorama and make it up to Glacier Point and take the shuttle down. However, it can get a little crowded and touristy at Glacier Point since you are able to take the shuttle up and down but the views are so well worth it. Best views I've seen in my entire life.

On Sunday we had our second service which went very well again. The number of people seem to be growing, maybe not quickly, but growing nonetheless. Afterwards, I walked the Valley Loop, or atleast attempted to. Apparently I zigged when I should have zagged and ended up completely losing the trail. However, although I lost the trail, I pretty much knew where I was since I was between the river and the road, so I just trudged through the forest, wading through streams and such, until I reached the road which I just hugged kind of looking like a hitchhiker. But I eventually found the real path after crossing the nearest bridge and made my way past El Capitan and to Bridal Veil Falls. Bridal Veil was really neat because it was extremely misty and when you get close enough to a rainbow it becomes a raincircle. So this trail was 12 miles with an elevation gain of maybe 200 ft and I think I did the equivalent of the trail despite losing it. And that brings the weekend tally to 27 miles. It was a good weekend but my feet are not happy with me at all. If all goes as planned next weekend I'll be on top of El Capitan.

The Valley from Glacier Point