The Takeaways – Half Dome, Yosemite

What do you mean it’s only August?

It’s only August. But I still feel like I’m running out of time before we depart (in March of 2016. that’s like… 7 months away, time is short here people!!!!) I’m equal parts excited and nervous right now, and the best way to calm my nerves is to prepare. Obviously, my favorite way to prepare is to go backpacking.

Eric and I went backpacking in Yosemite in July and here are some things I took away from the trip.

I love my tent.

II feel super justified in spending way too much money on it. Eric and I used to squish in to a Big Agnes Copper Spur UL 2. It was a nice tent. We really liked it. It kept us dry through at least one incredibly aggressive shoulder season rain storm. But it was squishy, as backpacking tents tend to be. We decided we wanted a 3 person tent, and damn the extra weight. We want to “decrease opportunities for conflict.” Well the tent we ended up with is a zPacks Triplex and it weighs less than our old two person tent anyway… Sweet cuben fiber baby jesus. (But oh, the $$$$).

IMG_8258 (2)

Home Sweet Home

Food weighs… a lot

This was the first time I was out in the woods for more than 2 nights. We had enough packed for a 5 day, 4 night trip. It made my very reasonably light pack feel quite heavy (don’t get me started on my Dad’s not so reasonably weighted pack.) It made me glad that I have worked hard over the last 6 months to decrease my base weight. The gourmet hot chocolate packets are totally worth it.

IMG_8511

Breakfast on Top of Half Dome

Sunrise is so worth it. Hiking is so worth it. It’s all just fucking worth it.

We woke up and night hiked to make it to the summit of Half Dome for sunrise. We didn’t quite make it that far, we stood on the sub-dome as the first rays of light hit the summit. But good lord I feel like a new person from that experience. As much as I wanted a cheeseburger at the end of it, what I really wanted was someone to deliver me a cheeseburger and let me hike on.

 

IMG_8359

 

IMG_8415

Our Shadow’s being cast by the sunrise on the Half Dome Cables!

IMG_8482 (1)

 

IMG_8646

I miss my backpack already. I totally miss my tent. I miss being dusty, I miss washing off in really cold water. I’m still practicing present-ness and waiting-ness and not jumping all around my cubicle incessantly-ness but discussions about when who is quitting a job have increased a lot since we’ve been back. It’s time to start settling out some details.

IMG_8765

We were up there?! Until next time…

Affiliate Disclosure

This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek may receive a percentage of any product or service you purchase using the links in the articles or advertisements. The buyer pays the same price as they would otherwise, and your purchase helps to support The Trek's ongoing goal to serve you quality backpacking advice and information. Thanks for your support!

To learn more, please visit the About This Site page.

Comments 1

  • Scrappy Malloy : Aug 6th

    Amazing photos! I love you. Can’t wait to get back on the trail.

    Reply

What Do You Think?