Yosemite Trip Report!
 

We're here, we're safe, and we're having a rad time! At Overlook Point now :)

I'll be jealous. If I'd known back when how this economic collapse would have worked out for me I'd have been there in a heartbeat.

Remember, if you go into caves and find bears it takes three kicks to wake up a hibernating bear. So enjoy the first two.

So basically you tell Kevy your buddy, "Hey, watch this you can kick a sleeping bear and nothing happens. Kick it once for proof and then let him try it.

Note: I'm assuming you were fibbing and it only takes two kicks.

Huzzah!

Wendybeth says hi and behave :)

We're heading back to the Swank Cabin for dinner and drinky drinks after a nice afternoon at the Ahwahnee with snow flurries and beautifuls views!

Have a great time and don't kick the bears!

I out rank her. Screw behaving.

Say hi to my stamina while y'all are there. I lost it about 1/3 of the way up to Nevada Falls.

SNOW!!!!

I wondered...it is freezing cold here and I am no where near any mountains.

Snow flurries from the Awahnee....no photo???? Live stream???

I was going to call someone...if any of you remember the webcam page link I sent, if we can work it out somehow {timing wise} we can catch you guys in the cam picture!! We did it once but the computer crashed so we lost it. :0(

Set it up with me or someone and we can save it. I think if you walk along that sidewalk right there along the houses that face the meadow/halfdome, you'll be able to find the camera...or if someones cell phone/crackberry can get the internet you can really set something up.

I'm just saying.....

Have lots of fun!!!

Scream for me :)

That's a rather tall order.

Scream for everyone. Scream for justice. Humanity. Whatever. But most of all, scream for ice cream.

I only got in about 24 hours of Yosemite swanking goodness. Awesomeness is all I can say. Riding with the Lashpair is an adventure, we were also accompanied by the Queen who directed us to our destination. A gaggle of LoTers arrived simultaneously.

Alas, I had to basically do a drive by since my job decided after layoffs we were now short handed and I being low man on the totem pole, got my time cut by 3 days. Oh well, 2 days was better than nothing.

Experiencing the drive in to Y on my own was an experience, but to share the joy and incredulous wonder with the LashPair was really great. Poor Stoat kept removing his boots, only to have to put them back on to get out of the car for a photo op. Ansel Adams was a great photographer, but even he did not capture nor prepare you for what you see. Is it too soon to start planning Camp (Cabin) Swank for 2010? I need a week there and if I plan now, I WILL have the time off.

The cabin was great. It was great to meet SuperK, JWBear (and Bill) Wendybeth and Eric and ToriBear!

In my one night, we had a great dinner (Kudos to Lisa) and a mean Side Car (Thanks Euro) and Tim Tams a plenty (thanks LashPair). Ooh! I forgot, kudos to Lash for reating a yummy breakfast of scrambled eggs with (believe it or not) velveeta and we all experienced MRE bacon from a can. Clearly it was tasty, or desperation, 3 cans down, 50 slices per can and some sated LoTers. Of course, who knows how many slices were downed by the chef????

We saw a coyote, who posed beautifully for the assembled throng on the deck. I'm going to rely on others for pics, my few are woefully inadequate.

On the trip home, I suspect there was an error in the programming of the GPS, I took the slow scenic route and ended up a little ways out of my correct way. Damn that Queen of England! ;) :blush: I ended up losing about an hour and a half as I had to back track. It was scenic, but sheesh.

I know everyone else is having a faboo time, sorry I'm not enjoying it with you!

Snow: I had that same problem leaving Kings Canyon last year! I now back up my GPS with maps so I know when to overrule the GPS :) (Oh, and my "Angus" sends his greetings to Her Majesty)

You will get to hear Her Majesty and Patsy, I will be mailing down the GPS back to the LashPair.

*pout*

Sounds like everyone is having a blast.

*pout*


The pouting is my jealousy.

I will pout when you get to Cambria..............

I don't think we're coordinated enough to make it to the webcam location...

We had an amusing time playing The Game of Things last night :) Now we're back in the valley and we're having sporadic snow flurries as we ventureto the Visitor Center! Next up: Hirt hike to Mirror Lake!

Say hi to everyone for us, SuperK! :D

Do board games pass iSm's strict technology use guidelines?

Well, you guys have phone numbers. Just remember the came stays up until it is dusk, I think. Either way, you guys are getting tons of photos, right???

Still flurries??? BEAUTIFUL!!

What is a 'Hirt Hike'? I don't think you 'hirt' until after. ;)

Mirror Lake was beautiful! Heading back to the cabin for the night...

Lisa said hi CP!

a couple of pics from the deck and from the car on the way out of Yosemite. My camera spent most of the time in my bag, as I said woefully inadequate.

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Those are pretty good clear shots, I must say. Thanks for sharing them. :0)

Sorry you had to leave early. :(

Amazingly beautiful! Can't wait to see more from the other swankers and like MW said, sorry it had to be a 'flyby' trip for you but in this case fast and furious is better than none at all.

At the Vernal Falls overlook with NotAfraid, iSm, Frodo, and LashStout! Pix of our adventure at http://twitter.com/keithsuperk

Steep hike, eh? I think the trail was closed, but, did anyone head all of the way up the Mist Trail?

Thanks for tweeting!

We're home. The car is unpacked. Tired. Fantastic time (until the drive home). More tomorrow.

Back home at last!!! John and I just made it back home safely after one hellova day!

On our way home from Yosemite, we stopped in Oakhurst at the Ol' Kettle for lunch. John ordered a simple French Dip. About half way through he started to act funny....as though he'd tasted something bad and was trying to spit it out. Then I could hear him sort of coughing or gagging and at first thought he'd just swallowed something and it went down the wrong way and that he was going to be able to get it out. Then when he started gasping for air, I knew something was wrong.

When I asked him if he was choking, he was able to tell me he was and although I knew that if he was able to do to so, he'd be okay, I wasn't going to take chances. The look on his face and the sound of him gasping for air told me differently, so I hopped up from my seat (running on adrenaline) and made him stand up so I could "Heimlich" him. No one in the restaurant knew really what was happening, so just in case we needed more help I shouted out, "He's choking!"

I quickly put my arms around him, but I had them too low and when the waitress heard me yelling, she shouted back to me, "Higher!" (meaning to place my fist higher into his chest). When I did and gave him another good squeeze, he expelled the food.

He was noticably shaken up, so I sat him back down to get him calmed down. The waitress ran over with some water and everyone else in the restaurant returned to normal. Still, I knew John was still pretty shaken up, so we just relaxed a bit before finishing our meal.

Then just before we left, a woman from a nearby seat came over our booth and quietly told him, "I wasn't able to perform the Heimlich, but I was praying to Jesus for you." John thought that was humorous, so I knew things were getting back to normal. As we left the diner, we noticed her getting into her car. She had a "I (heart) Poodles" bumper sticker on her car which added further to her eccentric demeanor.

Before our lunchstop, he'd tried reaching Lisa once we'd gotten a signal after leaving Yosemite. About ten minutes down the road after our lunch, she called back. Of course, I was driving as John was still shaky; so when he answered her call and was telling her about what had just happened, she apparently asked where we'd eaten lunch. As John was telling her, I told him to tell her, "And the French Dip is to die for." He burst out laughing! Then I knew everything was going to be okay.

We had a great time at Yosemite, but after today's incident, I know the both of us are exhausted. We'll be sharing our better moments with you guys later, but right now, it's off to bed for us.

Wow, glad you're both okay. Great meeting you both, too!

That sounds scary, I'm glad everything turned out ok!


I can't wait to hear all the stories!

We've been home for a couple of hours - exhausted from everything. Yet I am unable to sleep.

It was an amazing trip of which I will need to share more and post pictures later.

We're quite dead tired, but very happy. More later, and about 500+ photos too.

Glad to hear that things turned out ok and everyone had an amazing trip, can't WAIT to see photos and hear the stories!

Good work, SCC.

Had this been a zany film comedy, the lady would have run up to you mid-crisis with her Jesus comment, and you could have said, "Oh, good, Jesus is here. I can go back to my meal." Hilarity would have ensued.

Here's the group (minus Snowflake, as she had to leave; and minus me, as I was taking the picture) at the scenic overlook.

LOVE it!!!!!

*jealous*

I think that's Stoat

Yes, but with a Photoshopped face

Al Hirt hikes with you, playing "Mountain Greenery" on his trumpet.

Visible hero mojo for SCC!
:)
Glad JW is okay.

Oh, you all look great, even Stoat!

I'm so glad JW didn't meet his end at the Ol' Kettle in Oakhurst. As quaint as it sounds, that's just not swanky enough. Good work, SCC!

What's up? Is Stoat in the witness protection program? :eek:

Lovely shot!!!

And yes, big giant Hurray! for SCC!!

Gn2Dlnd~ ah, what a lovely thought.

I can't wait to see more photos. Finally, on the webcam page, Tioga pass is starting to melt....life goes on....

I love that Lashbear is the only brave soul in shorts!

Here's a small teaser of just a few of my pics.... stories and more pictures will follow sometime next week when I get time.


Bridalveil Fall glowing in a momentary sunset light:


Bridalveil Fall


Someone really loves snow:


Cabin warmth:


Yosemite Falls


Yosemite Falls


Here I am, reflecting about Yosemite (literally):


This is what happens when squirrels eat too much dropped food near the restaurants:


PUSH!


Kevy Baby crushes his opponents in Monopoly:


Half Dome


Can you spot the deer basking in the sunset?


DEER!


OH DEER!


BEAR!


The fabulous BLT - The Drink, invented by Lashbear and me (consists of bacon bouillon, tomato juice, and vodka):

I really love the pics! The waterfalls are just breathtaking. And you saw a bear!!! I'll pass on the drink myself though.

Can't wait to see more photos.

Ken and I saw three total. The one in the photo, and also a mom and cub further up the road.... all in the same day. :D

T wouldn't those be lower case bears tho? The upper case Bears were in the cabin!


LOVE the photos, will pass on the drink as well...what an amazing 4 days you guys all had!

Great shots, DP! You have such an incredible eye! I especially love how the tall trees framed the crowd at the bottom of the Yosemite Falls shot.

And I couldn't wait to see how the deer shots turned out. They're great!

Looks to me like you could have lead the Photography class you missed there. Can't wait to see more!

:blush:

Thanks. :)

Disneyphile, I agree, your photos are beautiful!! I love them all but the deer one in the sunset, took my breath away!

I got really lucky with the sunset deer one. Ken and I pulled over to just enjoy the sunset on the way back to the cabin. I took some other shots, and then two deer walked right into the area. Of course, I started snapping as many as possible at that moment. Nature seemed to have the perfect timing on this trip. :)

I think that is a nice bonus, that you have that memory of taking the photo.

It looks like you were able to catch the perfect shots as you were coming up and down from the valley during the sunsets? That is when I always notice a lot of people out, to get the perfect lighting reflecting. Did anyone get up super early to take shots? We've been our as early as 5:30 to try and see what we could find {mostly looking for bears...from the safety of the car, of course!}.

Where were the bears? We'd seen them down by the deli and post office. Only ones we've ever seen in Yosemite, 3 all within a matter of 10 minutes.

Thanks for sharing, I know it takes time to upload and post. :0)

Bambi X10! And a bear! And a big beefy squirrel!

The pics are beautiful. I haven't been to Yosemite in ages and now I really want to go back. All the waterfalls are just so gorgeous this time of year.

We usually hit the Tunnel View Overlook on our way to an from the Valley, but never really got there before noon on any of the days. So, I have some interesting shots under different lighting and weather conditions. I'll have to post some of them side-by-side for comparison, because it's really neat to see. :)

The bear in the posted photo was hanging around in a big field just south of Yosemite Village. The mom and cub were on the 41, just across the road from the John Muir/Roosevelt historical campsite marker. I took a few photos of them, but they were rather far away and it was fairly dark, so they're pretty blurry.

And Deebs - there are a TON more deer pics. I was literally 10 feet away from them in the meadow. They didn't even care that I was there. :)

SacTown waited till I was drunk and stoned in Cambria to tell me about JWBear's Heimliching. The story rather tripped me out ... seeing as I had to be Heimliched at the Cabin not 48 hours earlier!


What are the chances?!?!

I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who contributed to the amazing-ness that was this trip... I experienced innumerable great amusements and adventures, and I couldn't be more satisfied with it all.

THANK YOU!

P.S. It was wonderful meeting the LashPair and Snowflake!

Those BLT's need to be marketed.

The shots are amazing. I loved seeing the deer cross our path at the base of Yosemite falls.

....and it was me that wrote "I Luv Snow" I admit it. :D

We're back in Long Beach and have many a story to tell. I have about 1000 photos that either I or SuperK took. It was an AMAZING time and even our treacherous hike ended up being one for the books.

Some of the highlights:

We had actual SNOW at the cabin! It was really a white Christmas for the Lashpair. We went hot tubbing in the snow, crunched our way across the lovely balcony and completely enjoyed the ambiance that the snow provided. It melted enough by the time we left the next day to be able to get out of our driveway. It was pure magic.

Every dinner and breakfast we had was wonderful. The Mountains always make me super hungry and I consumed all of the deliciousness with gusto.

The cabin was really great! I always worry when I book something sight unseen for a large group, but it completely met - and even exceeded - my expectations. We all actually got along the entire time and there was really no drama with the exception of one meltdown incident.

Stoat and I proved that we have stamina that we didn't know we had - and this is a long story (how do you report 10 1/2 hours in a simple post?). I think I'll save that adventure for a later post. I will say that Ken is AMAZING on a hike and I owe a lot of gratitude to him for helping me out. Keith's constant encouragement and love got me through it as well.

I got a Peppermint Schnapps hot chocolate by mistake at the Awahnee, took one sip and realized what I had. :eek: Later that night, I ended up with Tequila-flavored pants.

We went to be every night at about 4 am after staying up and talking while sitting by a roaring fire.

There is so much to post about and so many pictures to go through! This may take a while - and I need more coffee before I can even begin to remember all of the goodness.

So? Should we book the cabin for Swank Camp 2010? I'm totally into doing a return trip, for a MUCH longer stay (for me anyway).

Anyone with me?

I'd do this again in an instant (sans 10 1/2 hour hike).

By next year the store should be self-sufficient enough to allow me to start taking some time off. It sounds like everyone had a wonderful time!

I thought we were going to try for Half Dome next time! ;)

We would totally be up for doing this again. It was the perfect time of year, the perfect abode and the perfect bunch of people. :)

Dare I start a planning thread? ;)

As long as you also include meal assignments, sure. ;)

Pics of cabin fun make me truly jealous, even more so than the spectacular views (which make me pretty jealous).

Schedule this for a non-Coachella weekend next year just to give us the option ;)

If only we had a picture of the accidental falling inflatable bunny assault on Keith and iSm. That moment alone was comedy gold. ;)

*throws bunny out onto the deck* ... "AND STAY OUT!"

;)
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We just got home- took a few extra days and have a great time going up the Oregon coast via 101. Drove from Astoria to Spokane today, and I am wiped. Still, all in all a fantastic trip- sign me up for the next one!:cheers:



(Oh, and came home to some very excited animals. Mellie was barking like mad before we even came up the driveway, and I hadn't been inside ten minutes before Samwise was making me floss his teeth. Our animals are so weird.)

I'll post pics and thoughts when I've settled in, but until then- thank you, everyone! We really had a tremendous time, and I am in love (and awe) with Yosemite. Btw, Tori is writing a trip report- and she is very detailed in her writings. (For her school portfolio- we may have to edit a wee bit).

She should totally recap the Game of Things night in verbatim. :evil:

I was really hoping she'd forgotten some of that.......;)

Judas Priest, I've had to floss Sammy twice so far. Cat's acting like he's going through withdrawals.

Especially the B'ing the B's B under the desk while the B has a conference with his B (which is something you should never do in an office)

Oh, and Chook Fvcking :blush:

Hahahahaha... Oh man. So much happened over the course of the week!

BYBBWYB... There were more letters, but after the first few everyone knew what you meant ;)

Whoda thunk we'd only have one game night, with only one big group game (so much freaking fun, enough for 6 games)?

Whoda thunk the biggest partying night would be the first cabin evening and not the last?

Whoda thunk two of us would have to be Heimlich Choo-Choo Trained within 24 hours?

Whoda thunk the mishap-filled, truly dangerous, nearly crippling, scary dark-ending, amazingly beautiful 6-hour hike that turned into 10 and ended with my near-death experience would turn out to be my favorite adventure of the bunch?


Cabin Fever. I've Got It.

I'll bet you're trying to!

I WILL post an account of our harrowing, mistake-ridden, stamina defying hike very soon.

YES! Inquiring minds want to know.

My husband and kids went on a quick hike in big bear one day while I waited at the car... I read and read and read and was beginning to wonder just where they'd gone when they came up the trail - soaking wet! After "losing" the trail :rolleyes: they went down a hill to a "pond" where they waded across in nearly up to their neck water. My son was starting to panic. All in all they are very lucky it didn't get any worse.

You're story sounds like it could be theirs on steroids and I can't wait to hear all the gory details! :cheers:

Heheheh.:evil:

You wish! I can remember things like you wouldn't believe!

Oh, and about that bunny picture- Best watch your head when you're under stuff, Keith! *Grins evilly*

OK, so the 6 hour hike that turned into a grueling 10 1/2 Survivor-ish challenge.

We (Stoat, Ken, Steve, Keith and I) started by getting up at 6:30 am to head out to the Mountaineering store to pick up CamelBacks (or Camel Toes, as we now refer to them). After filling them up, we got on the trail to lower Vernal Falls at about 10. The trail to Vernal is paves but is a bit steep (400 ft elevation gain). We stopped for breathing breaks aften but we all did just fine. After taking a break on the rocks to take some photos and rest, we headed on up taking the famous Mist Trail to the top of Vernal. My personal goal was to take the Mist Trail to the top then break off from the group with Stoat and head back down to concentrate on taking some photos with my new camera.

The Mist trail (1000 ft elevation gain) ended up being VERY icy and trecherous as it was slippery, narrow, steep and crowded. Think of climbing up 500 ice block steps and you have an idea of what we went through. It was slow going and involved each step being a careful one and required a bit of crawling on all fours to make progress. When we got to the top, we discovered they had closed the trail and we had to climb over the gates to continue on.

At the top, we ate our sandwiches that Teresa (ie: Saint Teresa as she is now known) had made for us. The sandwiches were the BEST SANDWICHES EVER and the brownies that Susan had made the night before were heavenly (as was the bag of red vines I had brought along).

With the Mist Trail closed, we had to look at other options to getting down. Steve is very familiar with the trail and presented us with 2 options: Taking the trail UP another significiant elevation gain to Clark Point then taking the horse trail down OR continuing up to Nevada Falls and catching the top of the horse train there and go down that way. The upper portion of the horse trail was listed as closed, but Steve didn't think that would be a problem for us. So, between the eleation of making it up the Mist Trail, being revived from lunch and wanting to see Nevada Falls, we decided to continue. Either way was up, right? Why now have the "up" result in a fantastic view? So up we go atempting another 1.3 miles and a 700 ft elevation gain to the top of Vernal. The trail is VERY rocky and consists of stone "steps" that go up switch backs carved into the side of the cliff. There were some pretty scary drops only a few feet away. (Stoat is a bit afraid of heights and I'm a complete klutz.) Part way up, I stopped and attempted to chicken out. My back was hurting like mad from my camer toe and I was simply exhausted. Steve offered to carry my camel toe and take turns among us lightening my load. Ken ended up carrying it most of the way up - and down. He's also as saint. Ken also gave me his walking stick which really helped my stamina as well as balance.

But, we made it! We colapsed at the top of the falls for a bit and those who could still walk, explored the territory. I laid on a rock like a dead person.

It was now 5 pm and we headed off to the horse trail, climbing over the closed sign and taking the trail along a cliff face. We got maybe a half of a mile before it became apparent WHY the trail was closed. There was basically an avalanch covering the trail and ice, snow, rocks and water pouring off the side of the upper cliff. Ken went further to see if there was ANY way to pass, but it was impossible.

At this point, Steve had a bit of a breakdown on the Mountain. But, what were we going to do? We had no other choice but to head back DOWN the Nevada Trail to the top of the Mist Trail (still closed), then UP the trail to Clarks Point (another 700 ft elevation gain - and where we were SPITTING distance from where he had to abandon the upper portion of the trail.) Then down the horse trail to the bottom of Vernal, then down the Vernal Falls trail to the trail head.

It became completely dark by 8:00 and were were still on the horse trail (which also had portions covered by snow drifts and required short cuts over the side of the switch backs). Ken had a headlamp and Steve had a small flashlight but the rest of us were light-less. I had taken my Petzel out of my pack that morning because "I wouldn't be needing it". Famour last words. It was after 9 pm we reached the base and caught the bus back to our car.

We arrived home about 10 to a house full of jokesters, but we were too tired to care. Susan had made a fantastic dinner of bacon meatloaf and baked potatoes and we were starting to eat and tell our tales when Steve gagged and vomited at the table. He was also crying pretty hard at the time and Wendy performed the Heimligh manouver on him. he continued crying and we were all pretty shaken by it all - especially those of us that were beyond exhausted by the trip.

It was a bad end to a day where both Stoat and I were feeling EXTREMLY successful of our accomplishments. Stoat was 4 days away from 50 at that point. I was remembering that a mere 5 years ago I had had breast cancer surgery, radiation, graves disease and radiation for that and couldn't get up off the ground without help from friends. The fact that I complete this hike - which was MUCH more than I had expected, was a miracle.

Stoat blew out his knee on the trip and I was feeling a lot of pain, but we both survived and are doing great now.

While I loved seeing the Top of Nevada, I'm glad Keith had my camera and took lots of pictures, becaue I don't think I want to have that scary experience EVER again!

Wow!

So glad you all came down the mountain, made it alive and well.

Serious hiking mojo to one and all. Really glad you're all okay and lived to tell the tale.

Wow! I'm so impressed and so thankful all of you made it back down the mountain safely if not in complete perfect condition. Thank goodness for first aide training and having the skills to help out in an emergency, visable mojo to Wendybeth!!!

Wait just a cotton pickin' a minute! While everyone's been distracted by the mysterious stoat at the bottom of this picture, you all seem to have failed to notice that someone's gone and photoshopped Tori out and replaced her with an image of some unknown young lady. Nice try, can't sneak that past me!

That story scares me senseless.

I don't mind heights on a ride, in a building or elevator, or on a plane. Controlled containment off the ground is fine. But looking down a steep drop from a very icy cliff? Yeah, no.

Jeebus, you guys. I'm so glad you are all okay.

BTW, 10 hour death march aside, you all are lucky Coachella was awesome. Otherwise I'd be horribly, disgustingly jealous instead of just awfully, terribly jealous.

See, this is why we still need the word "retarded."

Very glad you're all okay.

Wow! What an experience. Why didn't you just come back down the same trail you went up? I have serious issues with heights... well not so much being up high really. It's the thought of falling. It physically makes my wrists hurt or tingle and I have an irrestable urge to curl up my hands. Even looking at a photo of someone standing on the edge of a cliff does it too me. What an accomplishment for you guys. And I'm so glad you're all okay too. And then when you finally got back to the cabin... poor ism.

Certainly an experience you will all remember for the rest of your lives.

Couldn't go back down. The trail was closed. In fact, while we were negotiating the treacherous ice steps in an environment of frozen mist that crystalized all vegetation, the Rangers had closed the trail at both ends ... leaving any unfortunate hikers trapped in between to their own devices.


Yikes.


It was, in truth, an amazing adventure.


Just not one we were eager to repeat. ;)

She's changed a bit, eh? Just today, a waitress offered her a Perfect Margarita. Grandma wasn't too happy......:D

I bought a book at the Awahnee Hotel, entitled "Deaths in Yosemite". It tells of all the deaths in the park since it's discovery, and is loaded with tales that sound very much like NA's and Co's, except for the outcomes. This is one park you MUST have respect for and a cautionary spirit to experience- it's no ordinary state park. Plenty of very experienced climbers, hikers and such have died, often in a very spectacular and gruesome fashion.

And the special, hand-printed Fore-Foreword to Wendy's Edition of the book details one particularly spectacular and gruesome death in Yosemite. ;)

LOL. Yeah.

Wow! Holy sh¡t!


See, what y'all really needed was a guy who knows how to lead a hike. Me. I would have led you to a power generator or something and then we'd all be going back home safe and sound.
:D

Glad all y'all are fine.
:)

Glad everyone is safe. You guys are f'n nuts to ignore closed trails, you know that? Guess sometimes crossing boundaries has crappy results - at least they were merely crappy and not catastrophic.

The best trails frequently start at the "Danger! Do not go beyond this point!" sign.

That said I wouldn't have opted for taking Muir down from the top of Nevada if there was ice on the ground. That section of trail has several running streams and seeps that cross it so odds are that even without obstruction there would have been lengthy sections of sheet ice on a downhill cliff face.

But any story you survive is a good story (unless it involves rape..or murder of a loved one...or malomars).

If they ran out of food, I wonder who they would have eaten first?

I'm thinking it would have to be Stoat. The rest are Americans all full of preservatives and all that. Lisa would be a good choice though. I mean, she's fallen down so much she practically tenderized herself over the years... I wouldn't eat iSm, not with all the drugs he used to do. I would think it would be like eating a giant Jewish hallucinogenic mushroom... But that could be fun. I'd say Ken, but he's the only pharmacist I know and if he goes then I wouldn't know any. And you can't deprive Vegas of a very good DJ... so I'm thinking it would have to be Stoat.

:D

You owe me a new keyboard!

Wow. This is why my family hates to take me. We tried to go up the Horse Trail once and I was freakin' out over the ice. I pissed and moaned over snowed/iced over trails. I thought for sure we'd fall off. After threats that I would never forgive the Hubster if we lost one of our kids, we turned around.

I am so glad you guys survived. What a challenge.

You guys trudged on and you should be proud of yourselves that you made it.

I am glad to hear you wouldn't do it again. Those steps are scary when just wet!

Like I always say, whatever doesn't kill you has a chance of leaving you horribly maimed and in crippling pain for the rest of your miserable life.

Used to do?

I'm the only one allowed to eat Stoat around here. Thank you.

:p

Perhaps one should go through the what would you taste like to a cannibal thread and then decide. :)

I bought a new camera just before this trip. Barely used it.

Especially at Yosemite. I was almost always in the company of Keith, or Stoat, or both ... and the term 'Shutter Bug' was coined for people who snap half the photographs they do.

And at any given time, 3 or 4 other people had cameras going off simultaneously. It was like paparazzi in the wilderness.


So, um, I didn't take many photos in Yosemite ... but, for what it's worth,
here they are.






The prelude to San Francisco with SuPeR K, on the other hand, was a different story. He and I took quite a few pics of our San Frantastic adventures.

Easter with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, the 10th Annual Big Wheel Race, and -of course - what Easter Sunday would be complete without Hunky Jesus? ;)

Enjoy.

Yay! Our pix!!!

Grand Canyon has a similar book - mostly about people who took one to many steps backwards while taking photos. Stop moving backwards to get a better shot was a part of our vocabulary.

Glad you all are ok! How scary!

Hmm... I wonder why you took this one? ;)

Probably because of the ghostly Alien monster about to eat them from the top-right.

I'm uploading photos tonight. I've edited the Yosemite portion down to a mere 210 photos and it is taking over an hour to upload them. Fortunately, I didn't take too many in Cambria.

I think we were too busy Storming the Castle or totally vegging out. "There were 7 brothers..." That still makes me chuckle.

NA, did you ever get your Cream Soda? ;)

I'm such an idiot. I've been complaining about my camera not working- it won't stay on long enough to load from the dock- and then it was pointed out to me that perhaps removing the chip and loading via a t-drive would work.

Uhm, yeah. That probably would. I'll get Eric on that tomorrow.:D I also need to load the pics from my cell, as the camera on there took some great ones as well. It was impossible to get a bad pic at Yosemite, and our group was pretty darned photogenic as well. (Excepting yours truly- I never am).

I have no clue where my camera cable is. I have to use the card reader.

I actually recently tried the card reader slot on our TV for the first time. I was kind of underwhelmed.

People rarely like photographs of themselves.





Ok, maybe the fabulously good-looking like photos of themselves. The rest of us ... strictly case-by-case. But I dislike photos of myself so much that people think I'm part native-American ... because I really avoid photos being taken of me.

I like this pic of me.

Omg, I had almost forgotten The Hair.



I'm writing up the Yosemite stuff for my el jay write now, so all such reminders are timely.

Any links to uploaded pics?

So far only mine. I took 12 shots.


Lisa or Lisa's camera took 1,695 shots.

Stoat took 2,212 shots.


But everyone else took something reasonable in the neighborhood of 500 shots. Where are those?!?!?

HA! Well the order part was easy enough to change.

I saw this pic and thought "Hey! That old guy has a jacket just like mine....... Oh..." :eek:

I love when a dominant color takes over an image. Blue-haired Keith ... and check out all the blue highlights everywhere else in this sweet photo.

I'm done tagging. Whew.

A few favorites:











The last smile.

Great angle!


OMG, must see them all later. Beautiful.

Ok - got some of my pictures up - which can be seen here

But here are a few of my favorites:

What's on Kevy's Mind


Our Neighborhood Coyote


Reaction at the overlook (and return of cell coverage)


Rainbow at Bridalveil


Wendybeth sneaking into the Awahnee


Redwood


The Deck after snowfall


LOL Deer


Finding the trail


Just before Dusk


The Photographers


Mountain Burlesque


Where's Chris?


The Ride home


Uh, trail's closed...


Kevy & Gus Gus


Waterfall

Lol! I do look like I'm sneaking around there, don't I? Great pictures, Chris, and I'm glad you got the one of the rainbow at Bridalveil- that was cool. The one in your album with Lisa, Tori and myself petting the mule (poor things!) really drives home that the Kid is actually taller than me now, and she is still growing!

Nice pics.

Just a flesh wound.
Oh. Oh, I see. Running away, eh? You yellow bastards! Come back here and take what's coming to you. I'll bite your legs off!

Great photos!
I'm glad you got the coyote and I see at least one squirrel showed up for Stoat.

Beautious place! And WB, you are wrong, you take great pics (meaning you look great!)

VMPMJ

Here's a few pics from the trip, prior to my camera dying:Yosemite


As you can tell by the wrong time stamp, it was on it's last legs. Luckily, I have my phone camera and tons of pics on it which I'll load as soon as I figure out how.


(Actually, on review the time was correct. A bunch of other pics I loaded from the chip had the wrong time, though).

(Upon reviewing my review, I discovered some stamps were wrong. Not that it matters.)

I promise I'll get some pics up soon. Really.

I'm so glad Wendy caught so much cabin life (albeit mostly the uber-fun first night). So many people tend to take their cameras on outtings and somehow forget to snap photos while they're carousing and drinking and crying with laughter!

I got a lot on my camera phone as well, iSM- I'll try and load those today. I got some great shots of the scenery, but even better ones of our group. (Like the one at Bridalveil). I like to just point and shoot- largely because I'm not the best photographer, but also because I like the candid shots.

Does anyone have a closer shot of the pillow cases that Susan and Lisa made for the Lashpair? I couldn't believe the fabric they found for these!

Attachment 1105

Somehow this amuses me, the proximity of MRE bacon to the Margarita mix.

This was the morning of the birth of the Bacon Bloody Mary's was it not?

We almost missed Lash's breakfast..........WHO would have thought of bringing processed cheese? ;)

That was our doing (assuming you are talking about the canned cheese). We are high-class all the way baby!!!

No, I was referring to my and NA's commentary and chucking out of the fridge the sliced processed cheese from the fridge as we were loading the fridge up with real eatz.

It was a mad dash and rummaging through the trash to retrieve the cheese product saved Lasbear's bacon, figuratively, for the breakfast eggy cheesy microwavey eggs. The look on his face was priceless when he learned we'd tossed it out. Thank goodness you can't kill processed cheese product and neither did it kill us.

I was unaware of that shenanigans. So we had food picked from the trash? Even more high class!

Only the best for you Kevy!* ;)








* The cheese product was still hermetically sealed in the outer packaging and interior individual packs, as well.

I threw away both the processed cheese food and the pub cheese that looked like it was going to burst with bad gas any second. Boy was I surprised to find out those were both MEANT to be there!

I learned SO much about "American" food from the LashPair. Did you know you can buy potatoes in a can? There is also this thing called "Instant Mashed Potatoes". Also, there are single serve packages of Spam; frozen, complete, White Castle burgers; microwave mac and cheese and all sorts of other wonders.

Instant mashed potatoes are good camping food. Microwavable mac and cheese, not so much.

Instant mashed potatoes are not good ever for anything. Blech!

Both Chris and i grew up with completely different food than what was the norm for kids of our era. Chris' family is German and they are German bread and traditional German food (ie: lots of meat and overcooked veggies). I grew up with all organic and health food. Yellow cheese was unheard of, most of our veggies came out of the garden and I only ate whole wheat bread and "natural" peanut butter. I was at Brite Spot with a few Lotters the other night and eating a grilled cheese sandwich. It seems to be what I usually order when I'm at a diner. Grilled Cheese is somewhat exotic and unusual food for me. The closest I ever came to Grilled Cheese growing up with wheat bread, slathered with whole grain mustard and white cheddar, stuck in the broiler for a bit then add avocado, tomato and sprouts. Mac and Cheese is another oddity for me. I don't think i EVER had it growing up.

I like instant mashed potatoes since I grew up with them. They don't hold a candle to the real thing, but if you make 'em right (which to me usually means a little less liquid and a little more butter/margarine than the package calls for), they're a good enough substitute with far less effort.

Hear, Hear !!

I grew up on instant mashed potatoes. The only way to eat them is as GD describes, otherwise they can be runny and that's just yucky. They are also very good with a few things added in.

When my stepmom first moved in with my Dad she was sure we were lying about instant mashed potatoes, hamburger helper and many other things!

Bacon Boullion Cubes, perhaps??

Add in real potatoes perhaps?

Here's one of my favorite pics, taken between blasts of freezing spray at Bridalveil: