Yosemite, 2023

Half expecting a dinosaur to pop out of any corner this Jurassic Park-looking paradise. Also, the colors on the Fujifilm? *chef’s kiss*

I’m not typically a nature person, but overachiever me loves a challenge like hiking Half Dome, a bucket list item of mine. Luckily, living in California makes going out into nature convenient and rewarding.

Last weekend, I got the opportunity to join an adventure with a group of outdoorsy people from work. The majority of them were complete strangers, but we quickly bonded over our love of fitness, office snacks, and our collective need to survive in the wilderness for a few days.

We reserved some spots at Bagby Campground in Mariposa County, and set up camp on a warm Saturday afternoon by the Merced River.

Our campground was full of long-term campers in decked-out RVs.

While we set up measly little tents. Haha.

Everybody in the group also shared a love for music, and somebody was always tinkering around on a guitar or ukelele at any point in the day.

The Merced River.

Hiking to a different vantage point near our campsite. This was right before I experienced my first group music jam session.

Elizabeth, our beloved yoga teacher and fearless group leader.

Yosemite day

After a relaxing evening at the campground and a night of shuffling around in tents attempting to actually get some sleep, we woke up at 5am to set out on our day trip.

Despite a long entrance line, we managed to pull into the park around 9am. It was breathtaking, so much more beautiful than I remembered. I’d visited Yosemite in the past, but only for half day trips around Lower Yosemite Fall. I had no idea you could actually hike up next to the cascading waterfalls, trek through a range of tranquil scenery, all while surrounded by towering granite cliffs. It felt like stepping into a fairytale.

Because we got a late start to the day (Memorial Day Weekend is not the smoothest time to visit) and the Half Dome cables unfortunately weren’t open yet, I thought we’d spend an easy day doing some shorter hikes and taking in the scenery. However, we ended up bumping into everyone else (atop the waterfall) and got roped into hiking the entire trail up to the base of Half Dome. NBD.

Crisp mountain air.

Try to get into the park by 8am on a weekend or else you’ll end up struggling to find parking and then waiting in long lines for the shuttle bus.

We started our hike at 10am at Happy Isles.

Due to the intense winter in the Sierras earlier this year, snow is still melting even into the summer months. The waterfalls were roaring and the river flowed with raging speed. It was a magnificent sight to see and hear.

We knew the trail was going to be wet. There are two types of people.

Entering the most treacherous and wettest portion of the trail, where the fallout from the waterfall essentially turns into rain. Mist Trail? More like Monsoon Trail.

My plastic raincoat wasn’t enough to keep me dry. My hat, hair, and jacket got completely soaked.

Luckily the top of the waterfall was sunny. The perfect place to take a break and dry off.

Fellow pals enjoying packed lunches while airing off wet shoes.

We continued up along the river, stopping to admire its ferocity.

The exploding waterfalls barreling over the granite peaks. Nature is spectacular.

Skipping along as we ascended in elevation up to Nevada Falls.

Watching Free Solo last year gave me newfound admiration for these majestic rock faces. Maybe I’ll come out here with a rope and harness next time?

Spencer smiling at every vantage point.

Caleb awestruck by Nevada Fall. I love to capture humans in natural surroundings, humbled by the glory of nature. The sound of the falls roared like a jet as we continued along.

Ascending the Yosemite backcountry through the Sequoia trees.

Stopping to catch our breath and reunite with the group in the shady forest.

Bumping into the rest of our group, who had started the hike at sunrise and were headed down.

I love the variety of terrain and scenery during this hike. Skipping across boulders, crossing rivers, hopping over logs, and…

… into the snow! How magical.

Our turnaround point. It was 4:30pm and we needed at least 4 hours to descend this mountain. Quick photoshoot op, and off we went.

A rare snap of Yixiao, our fearless trip leader.

Breaks, and lots of them! Knee pain is real. (I wouldn’t know, but I understand.)

My favorite snap of the day. George was a fast hiker, and loved running down the mountain at his own pace, then waiting up for us at the most scenic spots.

Hey-ho, down the mountain we go.

Mentally preparing myself to descend the Mist Trail again, right after the sun went down. What looks like fog in the photo was mist, and I was nervous about having to navigate the slippery stairs in darkness. Luckily, the water splashed our backs instead of faces this time around, and we made it down to the valley just in time by nightfall.

We hiked pretty consistently from 10am to 9pm, only stopping for lunch break at the top of Vernal Fall, and some short stops along the way to fuel up on dried mangos and water. I was definitely winded ascending the steeper steps, but felt great on the downhill climb, setting the pace and trying to catch up with George. We had hiked around 15 miles that day, ascending 3,000 feet in elevation, and I was extremely proud of my legs for carrying me across the longest distanced I’d ever walked in a day. (I squealed when I opened my phone’s fitness app to see my ring spin 10x over my daily goal.) I was also pleasantly surprised to not have taken a bad step nor roll my ankle the entire day. Who would’ve guessed that bouldering would make me a better hiker?

This hike is not for the faint of heart. You need a good level of physical fitness, and luckily I was in the company of people who work out consistently. (In preparation, I had gone to the gym daily for almost two weeks leading up to this trip to keep myself in tip top shape.) The human body is capable of so much more than you know!

Feeling completely pooped the next morning but still in high spirits. Camping also wasn’t as terrible as I remembered it.

Tips

• Renting tents / sleeping bags is so easy, and much more convenient than owning. (I love the sharing economy.)

• Trekking poles are amazing for longer hikes. I didn’t bring any, but borrowed one from someone in the group. Even one pole can help alleviate pressure off your joints, maintain balance, and preserve good circulation throughout the body.

• Try to book a campsite in Yosemite if possible. A few people in the group stayed in the park, and didn’t have to do the 1.5+ hour drive into the park. You can easily catch sunrise and sunsets without worrying about driving mountain roads in the dark.

• Bring a cheap raincoat for the Mist Trail during spring runoff season.

• REI has meals! Just add hot water from a jet boiler and you got yourself a meal while camping in the great outdoors.

• Visit Half Dome only after you secure a permit, lol. My hope for this trip was to complete the entire hike as well as the cables potion, but that’ll have to wait til another day. I’ll be very prepared.

• The outdoors doesn’t have phone signal. But parts of Yosemite do. Do be prepared to lose communication if you’re with a large group.

Photography-wise, I haven’t been inspired to shoot in awhile. Nor did I expect to find inspiration during a camping trip. But being out here in Yosemite I couldn’t stop staring up in awe at the rock formations, roaring waterfalls, and everything in between. Everything was extraordinarily lush, vibrant, and green. I wanted to photograph everybody standing in the wilderness, taking in the natural environment and living in the moment. Feeling the water on your face and dirt beneath your feet really makes you appreciate life and this big beautiful planet we get to call home.

Thank you to the entire Mettafitfam gang for inviting me on this trip, and coordinating all the details. I loved that we were all fit enough to do a casual Half Dome hike. Feeling very grateful to have embarked on this extraordinary adventure with genuinely wholesome people I now get to call friends. Can’t wait for our next exercise adventure!

---