A Cool Dip

Another day in the Yosemite Valley...it was another day looking to escape the crowds and the heat - and finding more ways to take in different views of the surrounding granite cliffs and domes. After a fairly long hike the day before, we planned to take it a bit easier - but to explore a new area of the park. South of the Valley is Glacier Point, but North of the Valley is Tuolumne Meadows - a high elevation mountain meadow area somewhere around 9,000 feet. The area is so high up, and they had such a heavy snow year this year, that the campground was not even open when we were there... Perfect - maybe the crowds would be thinner.

We found a trail to a mountain lake that was under 3 miles round-trip and headed out - to Dog Lake. On the way out of the Valley, we picked up a backpacker that was doing a section of the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) and was looking for a ride up to a trailhead off of Tioga Road, right on our way. Ever since Matt and I spent the summer hiking on the AT (Appalachian Trail) in 1996 and did a fair amount of hitchhiking to and from towns along the trail, we try to pay it forward whenever possible. Joe, a mechanical engineering student at UC Chico, rode happily in the back of the truck for over an hour en route to his destination - and was thrilled to bypass the 3500 foot climb out of the Valley.

After reaching our trailhead, just a bit further down the road, we began the climb up to Dog Lake. It was a pretty steep one, and the higher elevation got to us more than the previous day...but we all just took it slow and steady to the top. We tried to explain the Abby and Isaac about leg muscles using lots of oxygen...and how there were less oxygen molecules per cubic foot in the air at this higher elevation...but I think it was mostly lost on them. The only thing that jolted Abby out of trudging slowly up the hill was seeing snow (and the prospect of an impending snowball fight with Isaac). The lake was spectacular - clear, blue water with snow-capped mountain peaks in the distance - and we had it almost entirely to ourselves. We picked our way around to a sandy point and plopped down on the "beach". It was one of those rare moments when everything else just fades away, and you are alone in the universe... This is my outdoor cathedral, my place of worship in the business of everyday life.

The water was frigid, but we had brought suits for the kids and they were determined to play in the water...so they did. Matt and I enjoyed lunch on the beach and a relaxing rest with our boots off - feet in the rocky mountain sand. A ranger on horseback wandered by and chatted for a while. It was like we all knew what a special spot we were in, and none of us wanted it to fade away... We finally decided it was time to head back and started down the trail - wet suits attached to the outside of our packs, drying in the cool mountain breeze.

Back in the Valley after dinner we rode down to Yosemite Falls for one last look at the wonders surrounding us here. As the cool evening air whooshed by me on the way back, I tried to drink it in - yet another miracle in the wonder of creation. Thank God for people like John Muir and Teddy Roosevelt who fought to save it for us to see...

 Tracy