274404 -
274405 - 
274407 - ..
274408 - Arriving at 0850 calculates to about 100 minutes from the trailhead,
274409 - and about 60 minutes from the Wood Bridge, per above. ref SDS 0 J39M
274411 - ..
274412 - This is much slower than last year, when Lindsey and I made Vernal
274413 - Falls in 50 minutes. It is closer to the time 3 years ago, on 130918
274414 - 0620, ref SDS 31, W14O, and slower than 2 years ago on 140917 0540.
274415 - ref SDS 61 W14O
274417 - ..
274418 - Reflects abundance of caution this year, stopping to rest, per above.
274419 - ref SDS 0 KY8O
274420 -
274421 -
274422 -
274423 -
274424 -
274426 - ..
274427 - Neveda Falls Took Steeper Trail
274428 -
274429 - Follow up ref SDS 68 6Q63, ref SDS 61 6Q63.
274430 -
274431 - Climbing up from Vernal Falls, there is a sign that says the trail
274432 - splits. John Muir Trail veering to the right is flatter and longer
274433 - about 1.6 miles. The steeper trail is only 1.3 miles. Last year took
274434 - the steep trail, reported on 150916 0535. ref SDS 68 6Q63
274436 - ..
274437 - Decided to take shorter, steeper trail to Nevada Falls in order to
274438 - test ability to do the hike along the same route where the fall
274439 - occurred last year. ref SDS 68 O87H
274441 - ..
274442 - The hike 2 years ago, took the longer and flatter John Muir trail,
274443 - because poor conditioning caused by metatarsalgia feet injuries the
274444 - prior 2 months, reported on 140917 0540. ref SDS 61 6Q63
274446 - ..
274447 - This year have not been able to train as much, so conditioning is not
274448 - great, but the need to repeat circumstances that caused falling during
274449 - the hike last year required taking the steeper trail today. This
274450 - tested ability to hike a location where trail has mostly irregular
274451 - steps, and so previously was problematic, shown in the picture hiking
274452 - this section - see next section.
274454 - ..
274455 - Despite falling last year, the steeper Mist trail to Nevada Falls has
274456 - shorter steps than the Mist trail to Vernal Falls, and so in general
274457 - is easier.
274458 -
274459 -
274460 -
274461 -
274463 - ..
2745 -
2746 -
2747 - 0940
2748 -
274801 - No Fall This Year Balance Problem Seems Solved
274802 -
274803 - Follow up ref SDS 68 O87H.
274804 -
274805 - About 90% up the trail to Nevada Falls, another hiker took a picture
274806 - showing success traversing the approximate location where the fall
274807 - occurred last year on 150916 0535. ref SDS 68 O87H
274808 -
274809 - 
274811 - ..
274812 - Was cautious and so slow hiking Mist Trail to Nevada Falls today, as
274813 - with hiking to Vernal Falls, per above. ref SDS 0 KY8O Making it
274814 - past the location of the prior fall, and on to the top of Nevada
274815 - Falls added confidence that prior balance problems are resolved, at
274816 - least enough for hiking Half Dome.
274817 -
274818 -
274819 -
274820 -
274822 - ..
2749 -
2750 -
2751 - 1010
2752 -
275201 - Nevada Falls Near Merced River
275202 -
275203 - Follow up ref SDS 68 G66H, ref SDS 61 G66H.
275204 -
275205 - Rested here for 10 minutes or so and then went ahead toward Half Dome
275206 -
275207 - 
275209 - ..
275210 - Nevada Falls is the top of the hike for most people...
275211 -
275212 - 
275214 - ..
275215 - There was a mule train hauling construction supplies up the John Muir
275216 - Trail that passes by Nevada Falls...
275217 -
275218 - 
275219 -
275220 - 
275222 - ..
275223 - 
275224 -
275226 - ..
275227 - After resting at Nevada Falls station, decided to hike on to Little
275228 - Yosemite Valley, as done last year after the injury.
275229 -
275230 -
275231 -
275232 -
275233 -
275235 - ..
2753 -
2754 -
2755 - 1057
2756 -
275602 - ..
275603 - Little Yosemite Valley Trail Relatively Flat .5 Miles
275604 -
275605 - Follow up ref SDS 68 M69J, ref SDS 61 M69J.
275606 -
275607 - In about 30 minutes reached the sign for Little Yosemite Valley...
275608 -
275609 - 
275611 - ..
275612 - The trail through the valley is mostly flat for about half-mile, but
275613 - very sandy. It is marked by small diameter logs on either side. A
275614 - path has been formed by hikers on the edge of the main trail because
275615 - firmer soil makes walking easier. This conserves energy. You have to
275616 - step over a few logs along the way that traverse the path and not the
275617 - main trail. These logs are mostly less than 2' in diameter, so this
275618 - is easier than walking in the sand.
275619 -
275620 - 
275622 - ..
275623 - Stopped and ate some cherrios, really just a few pieces. Took a few
275624 - sips of water.
275626 - ..
275627 - Decided to go further up the trail through Little Yosemite Valley.
275629 - ..
275630 - Along the way, another hiker caught up with me. He was hiking to
275631 - Mount Whitney on the John Muir Trail that is part of Pacific Crest
275632 - Trail, so meeting up was just a coincidence.
275633 -
275634 -
275635 -
275637 - ..
2757 -
2758 -
2759 - 1100
2760 -
276001 - Half Dome Top Not Reached Returned to Nevada Falls
276002 - Nevada Falls Returned before Reaching Top Half Dome
276003 -
276004 - Follow up ref SDS 68 FF5G, ref SDS 61 FF5G.
276005 -
276006 - Decided the purpose of the hike was accomplished by establishing
276007 - could hike up Vernal Falls and then to Nevada Falls without losing
276008 - balance and falling again.
276010 - ..
276011 - At this point, felt tired. Not used to carrying a backpack with 20
276012 - pounds of stuff. The heaviest thing is water. Will try not carrying
276013 - a backpack for the Half Dome hike on 160914. Will carry just a small
276014 - bottle of water in a coat pocket, as done for the hike on 130918, when
276015 - Half Dome was reached.
276017 - ..
276018 - Heading back toward Nevada Falls, another pack mule train caught
276019 - up...
276020 -
276021 - 
276022 -
276023 - 
276025 - ..
276026 - Finally, reached the rest station at Nevada Falls on the way back
276027 - down. This is where Lindsey provided first aid for the lower leg
276028 - injury last year, so took a picture showing no injury this year...
276029 -
276030 - 
276032 - ..
276033 - A short distance from the rest station, is the bridge over the Merced
276034 - river that leads to Nevada Falls at this point...
276035 -
276036 - 
276038 - ..
276039 - Views of Yosemite grainite peaks are awesome...
276040 -
276041 - 
276042 -
276043 - 
276044 -
276045 -
276046 -
276048 - ..
276049 - John Muir Trail Longer Easier than Steep Trail
276050 -
276051 - Follow up ref SDS 68 JA9O, ref SDS 61 JA9O.
276052 -
276053 - Decided to take the longer, but flatter John Muir Trail from Nevada
276054 - Falls back to the Wood Bridge.
276056 - ..
276057 - Here is a picture after starting down the trail, and looking back at
276058 - Nevada Falls...
276059 -
276060 - 
276062 - ..
276063 - At this location, the backside of Half Dome looms high above...
276064 -
276065 - 
276067 - ..
276068 - Another picture of Nevada Falls in the distance...
276069 -
276070 - 
276071 -
276073 - ..
276074 - Still another pack mule train with construction tools caught up
276075 - comeing down the trail...
276076 -
276077 - 
276078 -
276079 - 
276081 - ..
276082 - Going down is much tougher on the body than going up. The entire body
276083 - weight compresses each knee when stepping down. There is actually a
276084 - jolt to each knee. About half way down, there was pain level 2 in
276085 - each knee. At this point metatarsalgia in both feet also occurred at
276086 - pain level 2.
276088 - ..
276089 - The Brooks Ghost shoes were terrific. Only slipped once on the way
276090 - down. Twisted the right ankle, which in turn torqued the knee.
276091 - Thought this injured the MCL, but after the initial tension, there
276092 - was no further pain, and none since.
276093 -
276094 -
276095 -
276096 -
276097 -
276099 - ..
2761 -
2762 -
2763 - 1315
2764 -
276401 - Wood Bridge End of Difficult Trail
276402 -
276403 - Follow up ref SDS 68 H84K, ref SDS 61 H84K.
276404 -
276405 - Stopped at the wood bridge and rested for about 20 minutes, just
276406 - enjoying all the activity.
276408 - ..
276409 - 
276411 - ..
276412 - 
276414 - ..
276415 - Some brave souls climbed out onto large boulders that comprise the
276416 - bed of the Merced River passing under the wood bridge...
276417 -
276418 - 
276420 - ..
276421 - More folks crossing the wood bridge...
276422 -
276423 - 
276425 - ..
276426 - Then hiked a mile on the Mist trail back to the Trailhead, then took
276427 - the path to the road...
276428 -
276429 - 
276431 - ..
276432 - Completing this test hike without falling or injurious mishaps,
276433 - indicates BPPV (dizzY) defect that caused fall last year attempting
276434 - hike to Half Dome on 150916 0535, ref SDS 68 O87H, has been resolved
276435 - with treatment by Doctor Wiseman at the VA Audiology and Balance
276436 - Department, reported last month on 160707 0900. ref SDS 78 4355
276438 - ..
276439 - On reaching the roadway, decided not to take the shuttle, because it
276440 - would travels the entire circle of stations in the Valley, taking
276441 - about an hour to reach Curry Village again. Instead, hiked back to
276442 - Curry Village parking lot, where the car was parked - took about 10
276443 - minutes.
276445 - ..
276446 - Back at Happy Isle starting point on main road, took a picutre of
276447 - people walking out on rocks in the Merced River. This is much less
276448 - dangerous than up at the Wood Bridge, a mile up the trail, because
276449 - falling has much less consequences here...
276450 -
276451 - 
276453 - ..
276454 - Drove back down to the Curry Village commercial area.
276455 -
276456 -
276458 - ..
2765 -
2766 -
2767 - 1400
2768 -
276801 - There was a long line to get a coke, so walked around to a bar in the
276802 - back. Paid $3 for a coke with lime, including a tip. The waitress
276803 - gave me 2 refills to rehydrate.
276805 - ..
276806 - Got a table with shade and called Kathy. Let her know hike went well.
276807 - She was pleased there were no injuries today.
276809 - ..
276810 - Reflected on accomplishing the hike today, in relation to concern
276811 - about falling that occurred last year.
276813 - ..
276814 - Seems impossible to subject the body to that level of punishment given
276815 - severe injuries to both knees reported in the MRI test 2 weeks ago on
276816 - 160805 0800. ref SDS 84 FZ5L Those tests revealed multiple injures to
276817 - each knee, which nominally would require a walker or even wheel chair
276818 - just to get around. Hiking the Half Dome trail today demonstrates the
276819 - power of the body to heal itself.
276821 - ..
276822 - On leaving parking lot at Curry Village (now called Half Dome
276823 - Village), took a picture from the parking lot, of Half Dome, the goal
276824 - to reach on 160914...
276825 -
276826 - 
276827 -
276828 -
276829 -
276830 -
276832 - ..
2769 -
2770 -
2771 - 1500
2772 -
277201 - Started the drive home.
277202 -
277203 - Gave a hitchhiker a ride. Think her name was Mai or Mia, pronounced
277204 - as "my". She was headed to Mount Whitney to hike the Pacific Crest
277205 - Trail.
277207 - ..
277208 - Driving out of Yosemite Villege, handed Mia the cellphone and she took
277209 - a picture of deer grazing along the roadway...
277210 -
277211 - 
277213 - ..
277214 - Mia suggested not taking so much water on the next hike in 2 weeks, to
277215 - lower the amount of weight carrying up the mountain. Get a filter for
277216 - a small bottle. Fill the bottle at the Merced river near Nevada
277217 - Falls, going up and coming down.
277219 - ..
277220 - Stopped in Manteca for gasoline. Went next door to Bear Diner and had
277221 - something to eat, while starting to write up this record.
277222 -
277224 - ..
2773 -
2774 -
2775 - 2005
2776 -
277601 - Arrived home.
277602 -
277603 - It was a long day.
277604 -
277605 -
277673 -
277674 -
277675 -
277676 -
277677 -
277678 -
277679 -
277680 -
277681 -
2777 -