Day 72: Roughing it… not so much… (Part 2)

“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.  Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.  The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of the Autumn.”

-John Muir, The Mountains of California

Snuggled in a warm nest of blankets, I opened my eyes and greeted the morning with a warm smile. After a restful night, I awakened to the realization that I was in a cabin in the Yosemite National Forest and I was eager to explore one of the most beautiful places on earth today!

I peeled myself out of bed, brushed my teeth, made myself look semi-presentable, put some yoga pants on and a tank top, slid on my Tevas, grabbed my phone and key and stepped out the door.  As I stood on the porch, my nose began to crinkle as I could pick up the strong scent of burning wood in the air.  Yes, the breeze had shifted blowing the smoke back into the valley.  I decided that I wasn’t going to worry about the events of the day, as the only mission I had to be on right now was one of the java kind.  A hot cup of coffee with a little vanilla creamer and no dilemma could be too daunting to figure out.  I walked across the way to the lodge eating area and as soon as I walked in, the Peet’s Coffee lifted the fog from my mind like the sun rising in the distance.  One sip of this perky pleasure and the cobwebs were wiped clear and I was already thinking about the hiking adventure of the day, but with the smoke, the only question was, “Where will these hiking shoes take me?”

I returned to the cabin, showered and readied my gear for a day of hiking.  All the while knowing that at the end of the day, I could return to the stately Ahwahnee Hotel and there was every reason to smile.  The decision was made that the goal was to see the Nevada Falls, which would be a 2,000 ft climb. I was hoping that despite the thick smoke in the air, the views would be worth it.   My other concern was how the knee would handle the hike…I kept my fingers crossed.

I began my trek down an asphalt drive/walkway that would take me to the Vernal Falls/Mist trail trailhead. I started to feel a little trepidation about how tough the hike might be for this knee of mine.  Alas, I had already started and there is never the option to quit, just push ahead!

At the trailhead, I quickly realized that the path went in only one direction: UP!  The smoke was thick in the air and the views, although muted and grey, were still awe-inspiring!  I began to pass people on the trail and it confirmed to me that I was in better physical shape than I had thought.  I passed people from countries all over the world, Germany, Korea, China, Italy, France and Sweden… Those were just the languages I openly heard.  We all had one thing in common regardless of our origin, a desire to see this majestic natural site.

As I continued the hike, it was a constant upward climb with views of the Merced River that flowed next to it. I had plenty of time to myself to think and I was grateful that this region had been designated as a National Park.  But the questions began to pop up like the stone steps that surprised me along the trail.  “Who had the foresight to preserve this beautiful land?”  “Did it take some convincing to invest the finances into the infrastructure of the park?” And before I could contemplate another question, I found myself crossing a bridge and there before me was the Merced River rushing down the etched granite rocks that had all cultures and generations stop and appreciate the view.  Not even the smoky haze could stop the cameras from having their shutter focus on nature’s beauty.  And with only a one minute stop, it was upward again.

The path suddenly went from a dirt trail to stairs and the staircase seemed to be never-ending!  I would come to find out that before the staircase was created, visitors would have to climb ladders to the top.  This very thought made me embrace the stone staircase with a deep sense of fondness.  I made sure to take every upward step with gingerly caution and making sure to use my right foot for the initial step.  As the climb continued, I could see a waterfall in the distance that seemed unreal in its stature and yet I wasn’t even remotely close to its presence.

I continued one step at a time and I began to notice something intriguing.  Even traversing a moderately difficult climb such as this, my mind would quickly look at the rocks and try to place my foot in the surest spot.  Sometimes the place that the person in front of me chose was not the best step that I should take.  As the ascent continued, more often than not I found myself choosing different places to plant my foot. It seemed to act as a reminder that although we all were on the same path to the same location,  we all have choices on which steps to take to get us there, some better than others.

And as soon as I thought the hike could not get any higher there was a steep stone staircase that seemed to rise to the heavens. To the left was the Vernal Falls I saw from the distance, but now it was real.  I could feel the cool misty breeze as the water dashed over the edge in a race to the bottom.  I stopped and followed a wildflower path to get closer.

This was the closest I have come to a waterfall and the power and enormity of it was stunning; I could only imagine how intense it might be during the spring season.  In every direction, the wildflowers stood at attention as if to sing the praises of this majestic wonder.  The sun’s rays highlighted the waterfall as if to let us all know, “Make no mistake this is real!”  I gave a heavy sigh. There was no doubt this epic hike, complicated by a damaged knee, was worth every stone step to the heavens—even if the Pearly Gates were not my final destination today.  Yes, if this is but a sliver of what heaven could be like, then death never seemed so alluring… but I am in no hurry as there is still so much to see, experience and learn!

 

After taking many pictures, the trail started to beckon my name again as the Nevada Falls were awaiting my arrival.  I stood to take one last look, trying to burn the memory into my mind and upward I began yet again.  The stairs continued and so did the astounding views around every corner.

 

As I continued upward, just past the Vernal falls, the river water appeared in front of me and was calling out to me and I anxiously accepted the invitation.  Without hesitation, I flipped off my hiking shoes and peeled my socks off and dipped my feet in the cold water and sat to catch my breath and enjoy the view.  “Ahhhhh….”  the water seemed to heal my tired feet and before I knew it,  I was done with my spa treatment of the natural kind, and decided it was time for a snack, but this wasn’t the view I hungered for.   After getting my socks back on, I began my hike in search of a quiet place with a different view.

As I began my walk, I came across the edge of a cliff with a view that took my eyes to a depth of many miles.  I stood, as if to command the attention of the granite cliffs that towered over the valley.   I was as close to heaven as I could possibly be.  I wasn’t going to pass the opportunity by without saying something of significance to the powers that might be watching or listening.  I stood and with a soft internal voice only I could hear, simply said the following words… “Thank you for all that you have given me, for the ability to walk and climb to see such majesty, for the strength and courage to take on this Quest and learn.  Please help me continue forward to persist as the glaciers that carved through this land once did.  You must know I am ever grateful….”  And with that, I sighed and took a deep breath in, as if to subconsciously inhale the strength that emanated from the sight before me.  With my spirit centered, I turned and headed to find a place to indulge in a snack of the sweet kind.

A short walk away was Emerald Pool and Silver Apron.  The water had a natural deep green color and with the sun reflecting off the surface I could see how the name, “Silver Apron” was applied.  There in the background as a guardian of this gem, stood Half dome, commanding all eyes on him.   I decided this was the spot to stop and enjoy my sweet treat.  I sat and relaxed my body and my knee as it started to ache ever so slightly.  I knew that I was closer to the peak and the rest of the way would be downhill, which is never easy on the knee.  But the reward was the Ahwahnee Hotel at the end of the hike and I was just a couple of hours away from that indulgence.

I finished my treat and started the trek ever so higher to the Nevada Falls.  Every step was becoming a little bit more difficult for the knee to handle… and then as if I had made a special request, there in front of me I could see and hear the strength of a waterfall of enormous magnitude!

 

 

The climb to the Nevada Falls seemed long and difficult in some spots.  The staircase to heaven was never easy, but considering it could have been ladders to climb, in hindsight, it was a breeze!  I did not want to leave, but the last part of the hike, the John Muir Trail was waiting for my arrival.

Slowly, but surely, the downhill began and the marvelous views took the focus away from the pain.  It begged the question of “Who was John Muir?” thinking that he must have had some notoriety for having a beautiful trail named after him.  Alas, I put all the questions I formed during this Quest, on my official “To do” list before the vacation would come to an end.

Before I knew it, a couple of hours later, I was at the beginning of the Vernal Falls/Mist trail trailhead where I had started the 4 hour 2000 ft climb.  I was a bit tired and glistening from the work I had done. But I was left with some amazing pics and the tremendous feeling of having made such a climb when there have been many doctors who said I wouldn’t be able to!  I wondered if my Dad could see me now and if he would have come up to me and tugged on my ponytail as he use to do and say how stubborn I can be for not listening to the naysayers!  Somehow I think he always knew that he was the one that gave me that stubborn streak… I hope he had no regrets it worked out that way!

I returned to the car with almost a skip in my step, giddy at the thought of what I had just accomplished and where my next adventure would take me.  I was thinking of a cool shower in a beautiful hotel, what’s not to like about that?

I pulled up to the hotel and the valet took my bags and it was check-in time.  The check-in clerk, Christian, who happened to be from Reno, was the absolute sweetest gentleman.  After a bit of conversation about Reno and mountain climbing, he was ever so helpful to find the perfect room for the desired accommodations.  Alas, he handed me the key and off to the room I went.

As I opened the door, the refreshing chilled room greeted my very warm body and I immediately felt at home.  My bags arrived and I began to unpack and then indulged in a much-needed shower.  It was time to stroll around before dinner and maybe pick up a couple of souvenirs along the way.

I took the shuttle to the village as the knee needed a little break.  The first stop was the Ansel Adams gallery.  What a treat to see all of his work.  From postcards priced at a couple of dollars to priceless works of art hanging on the wall in the $10,000 range, they were all worth incredible value to me.  Ansel saw the beauty of Yosemite with his black and white landscape photographs.  I stopped and thought about that concept for just a moment as I was sad that the smoke skewed the beauty of this gorgeous park.  But to someone like Ansel Adams, that just wasn’t possible.  And when I went back and looked at my pictures, the waterfall was there and neither the smoke nor clouds could take away the intensity that it projected.  No, Ansel reminded me that our take away is what we choose it to be, whether there is color added or not.

I decided to walk back across the same field as I did yesterday—and I saw another magical sight.  In the same place where I saw the face of the distraught princess etched in the rock, were deer that just seemed to play around with not a care in the world.  More fantastic pics to be taken and my appetite was starting to nudge me from inside.

 

 

As I returned to the hotel, I decided dinner would be eaten at the grill in the hotel and hopefully the moon would allow me to delight in its presence.  Though I did want to walk around the hotel and take some pictures before dinner.

    

 

As I walked, it was clear that there was tremendous thought placed into every detail of the hotel.  From the original design work that was preserved and carried throughout the hotel to the varying sitting rooms and their different types of décor, and the fireplace so massive I could picture people cozying up to it with a good book on cold and snowy winter days; it was an unpredictable gift to be staying the night there.  I was left in awe and appreciation for such a fantastic hotel in the middle of a pristine national park but still left to wonder how this came to be and who were the Qi people who made it happen.

I made my way to the grill and was seated outside.  As if the powers that be listened to my request, the moon was hanging over the mountain as if to greet me with a warm, “Good evening.”  I couldn’t help but smile as that was indeed the view I had hoped for, not knowing if the smoke and clouds would clear for me to enjoy its full glory on this evening.  I ordered dinner and just sat with so many thoughts about what I have seen and learned on this trip with one last day ahead of me.  I was to check out tomorrow at noon and already thinking about what I might want to do in the early morning hours.

Dinner came to a close and I didn’t want to leave the view and ambience.  Alas, the night came to an end and I returned to my room.  I prepared myself for bed and remember the cool feeling of the sheets next to my skin and ever soft pillows that my head simply melted into.  I started to close my eyes as my mind recollected the intricate details of the day from how it started with a hot cup of java, to the  2000 ft. climb up the staircase to heaven and the breath-taking views. I recalled the words so softly spoken to the powers that be, to the challenging trek down and the enlightened discovery aided by a very talented photographer, Ansel Adams, to the deer that played in the field with the face of a princess etched in stone, to the tour of a hotel visited by royalty and heads of state, to the moon lending me light from above… and now my body rests with questions to be answered and still more to discover about the land and perhaps myself on my last day so close to heaven.

Feeling inspired, curious,  appreciative, with new perspective and hope for tomorrow… wondering what tomorrow will bring.