Yesterday we left bright and early (not so bright because it was 5 am) for Yosemite National Park. Our first hike was a 2 mile round trip to Tuolumne Sequia Grove. The trees kept getting bigger and bigger the farther down we went. At one point we measured a tree with a 4 Hackett and 1/2 Ryan diameter. (This is a validated measurement methodology we developed in Smoky Mountain National Park). Little did we know that was a little brother to the Big Berthas we saw. We weren't allowed to measure the biggest ones though because standing on the roots close to the base hurts the plants - at least that's what the sign said. I am willing to bet that hundreds of deer, bears, bobcats et cetera have wondered on the roots in the past 3000 years. Maybe even dinosaurs.
Our next hike was up to Yosemite Upper Falls. When we got to the trail head Ryan said "There is no where to go but up the cliffs." I thought that couldn't be possible because then it would be a rock climbing route. But it was pretty close, we had 60 switchbacks within the first mile to Columbia Rock. This was a very picturesque hike but very challenging at 7.2 miles with a 2,700 feet elevation gain. My favorite part was climbing all over the boulders at the top, just like it has been since we went goat backpacking as kids. Ryan's favorite part was enjoying the views from the top sitting on said rocks. Just so you know, Yosemite Falls does not exist in August, but there's a really nice river bed. I figure that most people people go up and wonder what is under all the water, but we know.
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