J & T's Epic John Muir Trail Hike: Sunday, September 1st, 2013. Sunrise Creek to Happy Isles to Half Dome/Cloud's Rest

“I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.” --John Muir

Famous Last words: We are Day Hiking...it will be easy!

It was a great first night on the trail...the smoke situation today would determine our plan for the day. We had permits to climb Half Dome and while I originally planned on doing it around sunset, by this time I knew nothing was going according to plan! I woke up around 6:45am and was VERY excited to see the sun shining and blue skies! I quickly woke Jason up--we were going for it!! Get up and get on the trail while the sky was somewhat clear because we didn't know when or if the smoke would blow in again.

This is one of the few sections of the trail where you need to be really careful with water. We started asking people hiking by our camp how far the next water source was. We learned that if we left with water, we would be fine because there was another stream down the trail that was running. We also learned that the hooting & hollering we heard the night before wasn't people having fun...it was a couple staying across the stream from us screaming at a bear that was playing with their bear cans. The bear cans worked & the bear did not get any food but it made me nervous! This was the first & last night we kept our bear cans together. If a bear were to get one of ours--it wouldn't be able to get food but it can play with the can & who knows where it would end up! Hopefully by separating them, at least one would be safe. We never had any problems & never even saw a bear the whole trip!

While I was having fun with the camera before leaving the camp...

Jason was trying to alert me to the deer IN our camp. They were right there and so adorable.
It was a Mom and a Bambi!!

My what BIG ears you have!!

Self Portrait before heading out...

We quickly realized how close to the next camp we were...45 minutes after leaving camp,

we were at the next camp. If only we would have known, we wouldn't have wasted time

breaking down camp and setting back up. Jason dumped his pack while scouting out a camp site...

I'd say this spot looks perfect! It was at the Cloud's Rest Junction...water was a short walk away...it was up and away from the trail. We set up camp...hid our bears cans away from the tent and we were off!!

The plan was to Day Hike back to Happy Isles so I could get a picture with the darn sign. Once again,

Hubby was awesome and just said 'yes, dear...anything you want dear'. We went down to fill up on water

for the hike and met a volunteer Ranger who asked us where we were camping and if we had seen any bears.

We told her that we did not but the couple across the creek from us did. She said that bear was known in the area...and it had been in a nearby camp at 6am that day. So now I was freaking out since we just left our

camp for the day. I told my self I was not allowed to think about it until tonight when we were 1 mile from camp.

No use in ruining my day worrying a bear was going to get our food! Plus Day Hiking with just a Day Pack would be a piece of cake...right?? Hmmm...yeah, sure thing, easy day ahead of us.

The plan was to hike Half Dome right now since the sky was decent and I didn't want to wait and not have the opportunity on the way back to camp. We saw Pine Cones the size of my shoe...and awesome Blue Skies.

And there it is...2 miles

The day was turning out to be just perfect!!! The views were unbelievable.

I could not believe we were finally out here.

If you look really close on the left...you can see the cables and people climbing up Half Dome.

Half Dome is a 4 mile round trip side hike which has 1800 feet of elevation gain/loss.

They issue permits to climb Half Dome...and a Ranger sits at the bottom to check your permit.

There is a trail...or just rocks to climb

And the cables to get up Half Dome

Jason ahead of me on the cables...Thumbs Up!!

The view looking up...and down. Mind over Matter. I am afraid of heights and had to keep repeating this over and over.

And we made it so had to celebrate with a few Yoga Poses

And enjoy the views...still wasn't completely clear of smoke but not bad.

Obligatory self-portrait...

This is the Diving Board. When you are out there, you have no idea that there are all the rocks around below you. It looks like the just the one slab. I conquered my fears and went out there. I was standing with my hands in the air...Jason gave me the ok sign which to me meant he got the picture, so I sat down. Only to learn later he didn't get the picture and there was NO WAY I was going back out there! So sitting down is all you get!!

We now have 6.2 miles to the Valley Floor...we left camp 3 hours ago. It is roughly 1:15pm.

Views on the way...

We get to the top of the Mist Trail and see this sign. The Mist Trail is about 2.5 miles one way from here and takes you by Nevada Falls and Vernal Falls. All summer I debated between a 'purist' John Muir Trail hike and seeing the waterfalls. In order to do a 'purist' hike, you have to miss the waterfalls. So we actually got the best of both worlds!! We were going to hike the Mist Trail down to Happy Isles...seeing the waterfalls...and then once I get THE picture by the sign, turn around to start my purist hike. I would step every step on the trail. I would rejoin the trail in the morning where I left it the night before...if there was a tree over the trail that we had to detour around, I would walk up to the tree, then backtrack for the detour, then walk back to the tree. It was more of a joke but heck...I hiked 20 plus extra miles for the sign picture so why not. And no, I will not consider taking the John Muir trail down...

Although I agree that it's probably less steep and less dangerous to go down...

Views along the way....

Nevada Falls in the distance...give us a few hours and we will be hiking across the top of that!

Jason enjoying the view...

Emerald Pools...looks like a great place to take a swim...but there were signs all over the place telling you not to go in the water. I am still amazed by the number of people that can't read...or wait...knowingly disobey rules.

Vernal Falls...amazing views...had to take a self-portrait.

Uggghhh...can't decide if this is called a Freeway, a Highway or the Interstate.

Either way...this part of the day SUCKED. While I am impressed and amazed at everyone who hiked out to enjoy the view...I do not like to get behind people who think Flip Flops are the most appropriate shoe. Because of their wise decision of shoes...they would take one step down...three steps over...one step down. And would not let you pass. I do apologize to anyone out there if I was rude!

More views along the way

What I have waited all summer to do...the sign!

I also had bought a necklace with the outline of the John Muir Trail over the summer...I wasn't going to put it on until I was on the trail....and now it was official...I am on the John Muir Trail...to Mount Whitney 211 miles away. There was a family there joking about who would be that crazy...we just laughed right along with them!