Meet Half Dome

A granite dome that sits 8,000 feet in the air. From Yosemite Valley, it is a 16.4 mile trail of strenuous uphill climbing, stair stepping, waterfall spraying, cable mounting activity. The views from the top include snow-topped mountains, lush green pastures, and emerald colored waters. The experience is nothing like I have ever experienced before in my life.

There are no words that do Yosemite justice. I am not even sure pictures capture the true essence of its beauty. To spend 4 days in pure nature with God's gifts surrounding us was an incredibly spiritual journey. Combined with the extreme physical activity of mounting Half Dome made for the most memorable 4th of July yet.

Months of planning and training went into this weekend. All well worth it in the end. Because to face and conquer a challenge together is to strengthen the love between us.

Rising at 4:15am, we suited up, loaded our backpacks, packed the car, and headed to the trailhead. After a black bear sighting, we locked our food in the bear lockers and hit the trail at 5:30am.

Taking the Mist Trail, we started up the steep paved road. After a very deceiving moment of downhill, we crossed a bridge flooded by rough rapids. Making a turn to the left, we began ascending the stairway leading to Vernal Falls. The stairs were slick with water and puddles lay between crevices. The falls sprayed water against our bodies as we climbed to the top. Reaching the emerald pools, we encountered another set of steep stairs winding around to the top of Nevada Falls.

For about a mile, we ventured through a vast green meadow during the wee morning hours. Just past Little Yosemite Valley, we began another dirt and stone path upward, zig-zagging back and forth.

We rounded a left corner to find a large climb to the top of the mount. Granite man-made stair steps cut ever so precisely. One by one, we stepped and stepped and stepped. Alas, we reached the metal cables. In our packs, we grabbed our gloves and set out to complete the last daunting steep uphill torture (I mean climb). Using our upper body strength and what was left in our legs, we pulled our way to the top.

Breathtaking.

We could see for miles and miles and miles...a range of terrains and landscapes. We truly were on top of the world.