Day Ninety-Four

Hike

The plan in my training guide has me running today - but Ryan and I took a day trip to Yosemite and counted our hike as the run.  In the morning I was a pill.  I had slept funny on my arm so it was really stiff and sore all night not allowing me to sleep well.  I was tired with a sore arm and debated going to Yosemite at all.  But I knew that Ryan was really anxious to see how much water was at the falls since we have had such a heavy snow pack this year.  I tried to cheer up and hopped in the car.  Then I quickly fell asleep for the first few hours in the car.  This is a known compromise.  Ryan wants to wake up super early to get to a destination and he knows, for me to be in a good pleasant mood, I need to sleep the first few hours in the car.  It makes the trip better for both of us.  I just don't do well on little sleep, I turn into such a grump.

We hiked to Vernal Falls.  This is a hike we have done a few times but it has never been easier.  Of course I started off slow with legs that felt like they had nothing in them - maybe just lead - lead that was poisoning my entire body.  But my legs quickly loosed up and this hike, that in the past had been a challenge, was a walk in the park.  Super easy.  I was barely out of breath 2 or 3 times.  It was remarkable.  As I am getting nervous about this next triathlon - wondering if I have the strength to do it - it was a nice reminder that I have increased my fitness level!

We started our hike up the mist trail.  This is not my favorite trail.  I am hiking along thinking how much I dislike this trail.  It is one of the top 10 most dangerous trails in the country.  I do not so much mind the trail, I just hate that it is popular and I have to trust that the person taking the step before me is not going to lose her footing and send me off the side of the steps.  This nice girl is drilling this into my head as she continually questions her footing and takes a step or two backward towards me (towards me falling into the depths of this canyon). As my mind is running about how dangerous this climb is peppy Ryan chimes in 'this is the best waterfall walk ever!' ...well at least I feel my efforts are appreciated by him. This is an image right after we got past the mist trail.

The hike was fun, lots of water as can be seen below.  Ryan hiked off the trail to take this image.  I stayed on the trail and hoped that he would return unharmed.

We stopped at the top of Vernal Falls for lunch.  There was a fearless squirrel up there.  It came up really close to Ryan.  Don't worry we did not feed him, but were entertained by him

Then a nice hike down the horse trail.  I have hiked down the mist trail for the last time a few years ago.  Great trip, worth the drive, nice change of pace for my training!

Two nice images by Ryan of Nevada and Vernal Falls.