The kids enjoyed looking at the different waterfalls and rock faces through the binoculars. We went home for dinner and a fire and off to a chilly nights sleep. James and Casey have slept on top in the tent each night and are much colder than the rest of us in the car. Monday June 16 we went out for our longest hike yet; an 8 mile out and back through McGurk Meadow to Dewey Point. The high mountain meadows are really very pretty with windflowers and we saw about 4 mule deer grazing. When we eventually got to Dewey Point we were rewarded with great views of the valley once again.
We took our time and had lots of water and snack breaks. Molly has impressed us so much with how much hiking she has done. It has been a 180 from last summer where she barely took a single step. She hiked all the way to Dewey point and most of the way back, often refusing to take a ride on our shoulders.
Such a trooper! We had quiet time back at camp and I read James and The Giant Peach to the kids outside. Later that afternoon we went on a short hike to the Taft Point fissures.
These are sheer cliff faces with no railings. James and I were terrified and had the kids in death grips.
Molly and julia both fell asleep in our arms on the hike back to the car. We had run out of dinner supplies so we had oatmeal and hot chocolate for dinner by the campfire and we read more of James and the giant peach.
Tuesday June 17th we headed down into to the Yosemite valley. Our first stop was the market to stock up on food and then we hit the Mist Trail to hike to the top of Vernal Falls. We were very glad we got an early start becaue by the time we were hiking down the trail was packed. This is a steep 2 mile hike to a long waterfall. The waterfall hits rocks and gives off a mist that gets you wet as you hike the stone steps next to it and also gives off rainbows everywhere which the girls loved.
There is a cool area up above to rest and look around. We hiked up a bit more to see Nevada falls but then turned back.
Being on the crowded trail and in the crowded valley was not very enjoyable compared to the quiet we have had thus far. We went and had some ice cream and lunch over at El Capitan, a famous rock face for climbers. A park ranger was there with telescopes to show you climbers and answer questions about climbing. The kids earned their junior park ranger badges and we left the valley. We drove to the north eastern corner of the park and explored Toulumne Meadows for a while before heading on. These high mountain meadows are beautiful.
They have a nice stream, and unbelievable snow capped mountains all around. We left Yosemite and had a picnic dinner of hot dogs by Mono Lake with its tufu spires.
We camped at a campground nearby and left for tahoe the next morning.