Hey all! It’s been quite a while since I last posted. I’ve been so busy taking over the world that I completely forgot to keep you all in the loop with life happenings! But I think this is a great time to get back since there are some big things happening that I’ll be sharing with you very soon! But for now, I’ll just bore you with some stories of beautiful Yosemite National Park.
I visited this grand display of natural beauty a few short weeks ago with my brother and a few good friends. For any of those who have never gone backpacking, it’s definitely not for the faint of heart. But for those who enjoy getting away from the normal day to day routine it’s an amazing experience. In the first part of this trip, we started through Rafferty Creek after camping out at Tuolomne Meadows the first night. While we only stayed one night, I’d strongly suggest staying a while longer either in the meadows or in Yosemite Valley to acclimate to the elevation. As I’ll mention, it was a strenuous adjustment coming from the easy elevation in northern NJ where I’m from.
That first day was definitely a challenge with over 2000 feet in climb, but each of us made it through with frequent breaks. Those breaks proved to be incredibly important and newcomers to the sport should definitely be cautious by taking necessary breaks.
The most incredible things the first day were the feeling of crossing 10 miles of rough and unforgiving terrain and getting to our first campsite, then relaxing at the campsite and taking in the beauty. We camped at the top of a massive rock overlooking Emeric Lake and the valley on the other side that night. It was one of the most amazing views I’d ever seen, and even with the headache and nausea from being at 8,000 feet, I still was amazed and in awe of my surroundings. I think we all were.
The first day was also the first time I ever at a dehydrated meal. I have to say, I was very happily impressed! It certainly wasn’t home cooking but we had some great meal choices with pad thai and a chicken and rice meal. Even with the cold and the wind, it wasn’t hard getting rest that first night with all the great experiences from a fun filled first day in Yosemite.
While the first day was a challenge, just wait til you hear about the next few days! Also, stay tuned for some big news this weekend. You don’t want to miss it!
Til next time!
Running Roamer 