Day 4 Of Our Trip, YOSEMITE, El Capitan Rockfall, Touching The Big ...

Yesterday morning we were up and out of the hotel a little after 7am. We had to stop for gas before heading into the park and since the tiny little town has 2 Starbucks we ended up getting coffee there. That mountain is Deadwood and holds the bulk of the cell towers for the basin.

We took the 41 into the park which took us past all the burn scars from the last few years. The traffic was shit as ALWAYS going into the park but we were in early so it was not the worst. The firefalls made for a boat load of people all hoping to see a glowing waterfall. We had no desire to stay for it so had the focus to be out of the park well before it started to get over loaded.

The view from the view point just east of the mile long tunnel. Truly one of the most classic views in America.

I drove us to Curry Village which sits at the base of the Glacier Point apron on the south side of valley which is an icebox. The entire area was a sheet of ice and just trying to get around Curry made me decide that we would go to the north side. I wanted to head up to see Vernal and Nevada but the trail is nothing but ice and we didn't bring any yak-trax. We checked out the mountain shop and gift shop then headed for Yosemite Falls. It sits in the full sun and has little snow and ice to contend with. We parked on the southside drive and walked across to the trail up to the falls.

Half dome is sporting a nice cap of snow 3000ft above the valley floor.

Yosemite falls is pretty cool. It is a bit hard to REALLY appreciate it without hiking the trail to the top but with the time we had that was way out of the options. It is a switchback trail that climbs the left side of the falls and you can get to the view point which is on the side of the cliff next to the falls exit from the cliff.

We headed for the visitor center next, then after leaving and seeing Degnan's with a 50 deep line out front we headed for the Village store. We got sandwiches and chips and headed back to the truck. As we got to the truck we heard the "whoop whoop" of the Ranger vehicle and watched them head towards the lower valley. I pulled out of hte visitor center parking lot and the entire valley to the west was filled with a cloud of dust. I instantly knew it was rock fall. That is the only thing that can fill the valley with dust like that.

We passed Camp 4 on the road an it is normally 2 lanes all the way to the west turn around where 120/140 connect in. Now the road was one lane from the Village and Camp 4 all the way to El Cap meadow. People were told to park at the village and walk the 3 miles to the viewing areas. We got close to El Cap and the traffic stopped. We sat for about 15 to 20 minutes before finally getting to go and we drove through the debris from the rockfall that had gone across the road. There were likely people on the road walking and driving when the rockfall came down. There was rocks the size of plums on the road and a nice coating of rock dust.

I parked at the west end of El Cap meadow and while eating we heard and saw more rockfall come down.

The right side of El Cap, the east face, is a notoriously unstable portion of the monolith and has been calving rock from it for eons. If you zoom in you can see 2 rust colored streaks near the base which is where this rockfall came from. As we hiked to the base of the wall we heard and watched more rock come down. The rangers ended up closing the northside drive and turned southside into two way traffic for the afternoon.

There is little else on this planet that has the feel, the energy, the all consuming presence that El Capitan has. It draws the eyes and attention, the mind, the soul. It screams to be climbed in its silent and solid fashion.

The boys had fun on the rap lines from sickle ledge and from the base of the stovelegs. These are the ropes that people use to descend the wall that remain fixed so other parties can use them.

The Nose had a couple of people in the stovelegs who got up to about pitch 8 and then we watched them rap down the lines we were at the base of earlier.

We walked around the toe of the nose route and sat below Pine Line which is the first pitch of the Nose. You can seethe person on it in the shot.

It's hard to describe how alluring the big stone is. It tantalizes the mind with potential and possibilities. The routes have been established and proven safe but it is up to each individual to decide if they are prepared.

I felt the immense desire to fly welling up in me as I sat there staring at the rock that has invaded my psyche for so long. I will get back to this gorgeous monstrosity and I will climb it multiple times more.

Hiking back to the truck we came across this tree that had been cut down and apart and as R walked past I saw the tree was wider than he is tall. Such a huge tree that was well over 500 years old looking at the rings.

When we got back to the truck the northside drive was still closed so we decided to make our way out of the park. I had wanted to go back to Camp 4 to do some bouldering with the boys but I did not want to get stuck by the rockfall traffic. In the end it was a perfect decision.

In the lower canyon there are a bunch of killer climbing areas and a bunch of waterfalls. This is cascade falls which is smaller but shuttles a good ab=mount of water to the Merced river.

The boys found caves and went exploring. Talus fields are rife with killer caves.

I took this shot as I am going to print this and trace it to help develop my drawing hand. I am figuring that tracing will give me a chance to instill an artistic hand, or at least try to develop one from the mostly empty bin labeled "art ability" in my head. I have always been enamored with trees and their form and find myself wanting to draw them more than anything.

It took a bit to get down the 140 to Mariposa where we met up with our good friend at the town park while her husband had a tennis lesson. After the hour or so the boys were both ready to go and we all headed for food.

The restaurant is super cool. It took over for Prospectors brewery on 7th street years ago which was a small little place but had a killer ambiance. The owner wanted to have music and the old place wouldn't handle the space so when the old mechanic shop came up for sale he jumped on it and turned it into The Cove. Good beer and super good food.

The drive back to the hotel was a bit fun. I felt myself slide back into "hometown" driving. The corners felt familiar and the turns are mapped in my mind and body as I felt the g-forces of the various corners. Driving is very visceral for me. This sense I have with driving is a VERY large part of why I am so focused on flying since the same feelings are a major part of flying.

Today we are going to spend time with my dad and go to eat at the brewery in town, I have a number of things to pickup from the house like my ancient climbing holds, it's going to be storming/raining/snowing up higher tomorrow so there will likely be a LOT less tourons in town to contend with before we head for Vegas tomorrow.