Travel Adventures By Amanda

The day had finally arrived.  At 3:00 a.m. the alarm beeped.  We wanted an early start so we could see the sunrise from Half Dome and so we could beat the crowds to the cables.  I had a moment of weakness where I almost rolled over in my sleeping bag and tried to convince myself that neither of those were good reasons to get up at 3:00 a.m.  Chris gave me a nudge and it was all I needed.  When we stepped outside the tent, I expected it to be much colder, but it was quite mild.  We hiked in what you see picture above: light pants, a t-shirt, and a long sleeve wool shirt.  The gloves only came on for the cables.  I carried a beanie and my zip-up sweater in my bag, along with an extra t-shirt and a pair socks (always carry extra socks).  I have read about people becoming hypothermic when they reach the top, especially in the cold, early morning hours.  They are sweaty, stop moving, and the temperatures are cooler.  Given the mild te...

Today would be a big day.  The official start of our two-day Half Dome hike.  As expected, we woke up early.  The coffee situation:  we were informed at check-in that there was a community Keurig by the back door.  I tip toed downstairs and brewed two cups.  Not surprisingly, we were the first ones up.  Being an older building, the walls are thin and sound carries.  All of the other guests had been exceptionally quiet in the late evening hours, so I tried to extend them the same courtesy.   I took a mental note that we would never be able to stay here with our children.  They do not use inside voices in hotel hallways. After coffee, we walked across the street for more coffee and breakfast burritos.  I love California mornings.  No humidity and the air is crisp, even on a day where the high will be in the 80s.  After breakfast, we headed to Yosemite National Park via Highway 120, which caused us to miss Tunnel View...

When Easton was 17 months old, we took him to Yosemite for a 6-night camping trip.   To date, it is one of our most memorable family vacations.   We drove, biked, and hiked all over the Valley floor for that week in 2013.   Chris lugged him up to Vernal Falls in the hiking pack.   I can still hear the sound of his giggle as the mist from the Falls peppered his face.   We waded through Mirror Lake    We threw sticks and rocks in the Merced River.   All the while, Half Dome loomed in the distance, calling to me.   May 2013 just wasn’t my time.   Not the right season of my life.   Years passed by.   We had another baby, then we moved out of state, but she was always there, floating around in the back of my mind…. On Sentinel Dome, May 2013... Half Dome in the distance  As 2017 was coming to a close, I mentioned to Chris that I had been thinking about it more and more.   The time was right.   I wanted to fi...