How did the OG “Adventure Crew” come to be? Only a recap of 5 legendary days in the wilderness will tell. With Ian at the helm, Katie, Chelsea, Faysal, Will, Dane, and I strapped on our heavy packs with countless gummy worms, nutella packs, and swedish fish and trekked through the endless trail from Tuolumne meadows to an unforgettable (and terrifying) ascent up Half Dome all the way past Vernal Falls and back down to Yosemite Valley. Buckle up 🙂
Highlights Include:
1) Mid trip: Left our camp and heavy packs behind and embarked on a fun, chatty hike up, up, and up in the blazing sun. Nothing beats finding a deserted lake miles and miles away from any other souls… our new playground. (see video for some mesmerizing lake dives).
#2) Had a very entertaining afternoon at this sparkling emerald pool when we discovered, after a long day’s hike, an abandoned High Sierras camp with the biggest fire pit known to man in the center of the empty micro village. Lunch, laughter, log races, and a surprise visit from cool ranger kept us happy and in the best of spirits.
#3) Stumbled upon an enchanting light-footed deer silently walking through a grove of trees while trying to fill up our water at a nearby brook. The way the evening light slipped and slanted through the trees and onto the deer made the whole picture so tranquil and memorable. All 7 of us watched in silence and appreciation for those moments that are small and fleeting but just right.
#4 That time we climbed half dome!! If ever we were early birds who got the worms, it was this glorious day. We skipped the crowds and climbed with pretty much just us and our Adventure Crew shenanigans. Katie, Chelsea, and I feared for our lives as we grasped for dear life onto the rough cables, and all I can remember is singing in unison the anthem of our Finding Nemo heroine Dory: “just keep swimming, just keep swimming, what do we do? we swim.” Proud of all of you. Challenging, immensely fun, and extremely rewarding.
Trails with Friends 