Wonderful Weekend

We spent the long holiday weekend up in Yosemite with Dave's family. Other than the HUGE crowds of people also wanting to visit one of the most amazing places on Earth, it was a GREAT weekend! The boys had fun with their cousins, Anthony and Tanya. Evan and Tanya (who is almost 5) were inseparable. Where ever he was...she wasn't far behind! They rode their bikes around the campground loop DOZENS of times.

On Saturday we took a hike to the top of Sentinal Dome....about 2.5 miles, the hardest being the last bit to the top of the dome. BUT, once up, the view was AMAZING! Beautiful 360* views of mountains and more mountains! Got this photo of the boys with Half Dome in the back! Climbing Half Dome is on Evan's list of MUST DO's!
Sunday, Dave, the boys and I got up early, and headed to the top of Nevada Falls. We had been to the top of Vernal Falls (on the way to Nevada Falls) but never to the top of Nevada so had NO idea what we were in for! Above is a photo of the trail to the top of Vernal Falls. Something like 600 granite steps up the side of the cliff! Talk about the ULTIMATE stair climber!!! LOL!
First good view of Nevada Falls (not flowing very fast this time of year).....kept asking myself if I REALLY wanted to go to the top! It's WAY up there! The hike between the top of Vernal and the top of Nevada is just over a mile but you climb 1000 ft in elevation!
We made it! Here are the boys at the top of Nevada Falls. Both did AMAZING! Evan has always been up for an adventure and lead us up the trails most of the time, never stopping to rest (unlike his mom who stopped every 5 steps!) except to WAIT for me! Alex though was a TROOPER! He kept going and never complained!!!! And finally admitted..."Mom, I kind of like hiking now".
Before leaving had to go get a photo of Yosemite Falls.....have dozens of photos of these waterfalls in all seasons...do you notice somethign MISSING in this photo of the waterfalls??? Yep...NO WATER! Yosemite Falls has all but dried up this summer. Kind of depressing but will make for a great scrapbook page where I can show the waterfall in the different seasons!

My legs are killing me, definitely NOT happy when I have to walk up and down the stairs, but getting to spend time in the most amazing place was well worth it. The hikes were hard but well worth the satisfaction of reaching the top! Now to climb the trail up Yosemite Falls and Half Dome!