THE WELCH COMPANY
440 Davis Court #1602
San Francisco, CA 94111-2496
415 781 5700
rod@welchco.com


S U M M A R Y


DIARY: September 17, 1994 07:42 AM Saturday; Rod Welch

Hike to Half Dome at Yosemite.

1...Summary/Objective


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CONTACTS 
0202 - IBM Credit Corporation                                                                                                                                             O-00000319 0201                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

SUBJECTS
Yosemite, 940826                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
Armstrongs, Ross, etc.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
0504 -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
0504 -    ..
0505 - Summary/Objective                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
0506 -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
050601 - Follow up work at ref SDS 3 0000.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
050602 -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
050603 - Hiked Half Dome trail from Yosemite Valley.  Ross made it to the top.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
050604 - I got close, but leg cramps prevented hiking up the Sub Dome                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
050605 - switchbacks.  This was a major effort at age 49. ref SDS 0 HB72                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
050606 -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
050607 -      [On 950916 another hike to Half Dome less successful. ref SDS 5                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
050608 -      0001                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
050610 -       ..
050611 -      [On 110907 1030 discussed another hike in Yosemite up Half                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
050612 -      Dome planned for 2012. ref SDS 6 YS87                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
050614 -       ..
050615 -      [On 130918 0620 called Ross from top of Half Dome, 20 years after                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
050616 -      our first hike on 940917. ref SDS 11 GC6O                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
050617 -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
050618 -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
050619 -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
050621 -  ..
0507 -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
0508 -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
0509 - Progress                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
0510 -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
051001 - We started early.  Decided not to have breakfast.  Went to the car and                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
051002 - assembled the backpacks for the hike.  I was suprised by the weight,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
051003 - especially relative to hiking up to Vernal Falls which is a very steep                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
051004 - climb.  When Millie and I did this hike with Bob Chapman and Peggy                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
051005 - Ferris a few years ago, it seemed like a significant effort.  After                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
051006 - getting the packs ready this morning, I was not looking forward to                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
051007 - carrying an extra 50 pounds or so.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
051009 -  ..
051010 - After getting the back packs ready, we drove to the Ranger Station to                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
051011 - get a permit for staying over night on the Half Dome trail. We stayed                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
051012 - in a line for about 45 minutes or so to get the permit.  I played                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
051013 - catch with a young boy for awhile, using a football.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
051015 -  ..
051016 - When we finally got to the head of the line, the Ranger said all of                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
051017 - the permits had been issued yesterday.  This was not a huge                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
051018 - disappointment to me, since it meant we would not be taking the                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
051019 - backpacks.  It was troubling though that the Ranger didn't just make                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
051020 - this announcement in her pep talk before starting to process everyone                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
051021 - waiting in line for permits.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
051023 -  ..
051024 - Anyway, we drove to a parking area near Happy Isle, and I think we                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
051025 - then took a bus to the place were the Mist trail to Vernal Falls                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
051026 - starts, which is also the route to Half Dome.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
051028 -  ..
051029 - We hiked up the paved and steep Mist trail to the Wood Bridge across                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
051030 - the Merced River.  Then we started up the steeper, unpaved trail to                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
051031 - Vernal Falls.  Ross went ahead, while I struggled up the trail.  I                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
051032 - actually seemed to get going after awhile.  Made it into a little                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
051033 - contest, to see if I could avoid having anyone pass me on the way up.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
051034 - Curious there was no mist on the Mist trail due to the small amount of                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
051035 - water flowing over Vernal Falls above.  Noticed I was a little dizzy                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
051036 - near the end of the trail to Vernal Falls.  Once at the top, seemed                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
051037 - like I would never get there, the view was spectacular, but there was                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
051038 - no Ross.  I waited for about 10 minutes to see if somehow he had                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
051039 - gotten behind me.  Thought about just going back to the Valley, but                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
051040 - finally decided to go forward and look for Ross.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
051042 -  ..
051043 - I asked some hikers how to get to Half Dome.  They showed me the trail                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
051044 - to Nevada Falls, which they said is the way to Half Dome.  This was                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
051045 - not as steep, but I was very tired from the effort on the Vernal Falls                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
051046 - hike.  Took about 45 minutes to get to Nevada Falls.  Ross was not                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
051047 - there.  I was on the bridge that crosses the river near the falls                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
051048 - thinking about going back or going on.  I didn't have any water,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
051049 - because Ross had it so I didn't have to carry any extra weight.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
051051 -  ..
051052 - Just when I had decided to turn back, I heard Ross calling out my                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
051053 - name, but didn't see him.  I yelled out an answer, and he suddenly                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
051054 - showed up.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
051056 -  ..
051057 - Ross said I took the wrong trail coming up the Vernal Falls route.  He                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
051058 - said there is a separate route that takes off of the Vernal Falls                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
051059 - trail shortly after crossing the foot bridge.  I told him I didn't see                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
051060 - any sign for Half Dome.  Ross said you have to know it is there.  He                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
051061 - said he took that route, and then when he didn't see me on the trail,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
051062 - he doubled back and came up Vernal Falls looking for me.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
051064 -  ..
051065 - I told him I am thinking of turning back, that I have accomplished my                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
051066 - objective to extend myself.  Ross was emphatic asking me to go on.  So                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
051067 - we went ahead together.  A short distance up the trail, less than .25                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
051068 - miles, we reached a rest area with water and bathroom facilities.  I                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
051069 - felt even more like returning, but Ross encouraged me to go on.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
051071 -  ..
051072 - From this rest area just above Nevada Falls, the route is fairly steep                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
051073 - and rugged for about a half mile, then we reach Little Yosemite Valley                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
051074 - and the trail gets easy, relatively flat for a mile or so.  There is                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
051075 - some sand that makes walking difficult, but much less so than the                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
051076 - prior trail.  Then there is another mile of steeper terraine where                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
051077 - there is another rest area.  There are no apparent facilities, but                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
051078 - there are a lot of hikers just sitting and resting.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
051080 -  ..
051081 - Getting to this location, we took a number of intermediate rests for                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
051082 - me.  Ross was fine.  We did seem to get passed by a lot of hikers and                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
051083 - then later passed them, so that everyone seemed to pass one another                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
051084 - several times.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
051086 -  ..
051087 - After about 20 minutes, we started on the next phase of the route.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
051088 - About a half mile or so, we came to a stream and wanted to get more                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
051089 - water, since we were very low at this point.  There were a lot of                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
051090 - people getting water, and there was very little water at the stream                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
051091 - which was simply bubbling up.  I am not even sure that Ross actually                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
051092 - got any water.  At some point, though we went forward.  I was going                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
051093 - very, very slow at this time.  My legs were cramping up, so I had to                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
051094 - stop and let them relax.  On the flatter stretches, I was okay, but on                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
051095 - the steeper parts, my calfs and thighs knotted up.  Ross went ahead.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
051096 -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
051097 -            [On 130918 0620 about 20 years later finally climbed Half                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
051098 -            Dome, but forgot about little stream for filling water                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
051099 -            supply nearing top of Long Switchbacks. ref SDS 10 WM5I                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
051101 -             ..
051102 -            [On 180912 0545 durng 3rd climb to top of Half Dome,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
051103 -            Lindsey stopped near top of Long Switchbacks to refill                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
051104 -            water at a small, natural spring behind a large 6' diamters                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
051105 -            tree cut out for the trail. ref SDS 15 XC4M                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
051107 -  ..
051108 - Somehow, I dragged myself to the last rest area before the final climb                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
051109 - to the top of Half Dome.  We waited here for about 30 minutes so I                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
051110 - could rest.  Then got up and took a few steps, but legs cramped                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
051111 - severely again.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
051113 -  ..
051114 - Ross encouraged continuing, saying the ascent to the top of Half Dome                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
051115 - with cables is just over the rise of switchbacks.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
051117 -  ..
051118 - We rested another 10 minutes to recover.  Then tried to go on, but my                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
051119 - legs cramped again.  I suggested that Ross go ahead and I will catch                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
051120 - up.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
051122 -  ..
051123 - He indicated again that the cables to the top of Half Dome are just                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
051124 - over the rise.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
051126 -  ..
051127 - Noticed this "rise" seems very steep, winding and narrow with                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
051128 - continual switchhbacks like climbing a stair without handrails.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
051129 - Traffic is very busy with people going up and people coming down from                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
051130 - the top of Half Dome.  It looks precarious for people to pass without                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
051131 - anything to grasp for maintaining balance.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
051133 -  ..
051134 - I waited for another 10 or 15 minutes then tried going up again.  My                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
051135 - legs cramped up again, so I decided this was as far as they were going                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
051136 - to carry me.  I was disappointed to get so near the top, but was also                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
051137 - worried about being able to walk back in the dark, which seemed like                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
051138 - it would be necessary if I continued forward at the current pace.  I                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
051139 - didn't want to do that, so I headed back down.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
051140 -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
051141 -            [On 120130 1515 Reuters reporting Yosemite planning to                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
051142 -            restrict hiking Half Dome beginning in 2013. ref SDS 7 PC5G                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
051144 -             ..
051145 -            [On 130918 0620 started Half Dome hike at 0800 with nobody                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
051146 -            else at trailhead, vastly different from crowded conditions                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
051147 -            20 years earlier, reflects new park policy limiting Half                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
051148 -            Dome hikes to only 400 people each day. ref SDS 8 ON5G                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
051150 -  ..
051151 - I didn't have any water and we had little to eat on the trail.  The                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
051152 - food mix that Ross put together didn't taste good, so I didn't eat                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
051153 - much of it.  Obviously going downhill went better than going uphill,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
051154 - except it is much harder on the knees.  When I got to the water                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
051155 - stream, there were a lot of people again, so I did not stop.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
051156 - Basically, just kept going like a zombie.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
051158 -  ..
051159 - Continued without stopping down the long switchbacks, through Little                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
051160 - Yosemite Valley, past the Ranger Station at Nevada Falls.  Took John                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
051161 - Muir Trail back to Vernal Falls.  The hike down Vernal Falls was                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
051162 - especially difficult because it is so steep, and of course I was very                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
051163 - tired.  Very relieved to finally reach the rest stop where I could get                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
051164 - some water.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
051165 -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
051166 -            [On 130918 0620 20 years later, improvements to Vernal                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
051167 -            Falls "Mist" trail now has 6 water fountains at the Foot                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
051168 -            Bridge. ref SDS 9 BM3T                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
051170 -  ..
051171 - There is a single spigot.  Water spurts well, actually very high when                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
051172 - the handle is turned fully on, so it's not difficult to drink.  There                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
051173 - were a lot of other hikers sitting around to rest after descending                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
051174 - from Vernal Falls.  A few were going up.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
051176 -  ..
051177 - Rested for about 10 minutes, then made the final trek back to the                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
051178 - beginning of the trail.  My mouth was extremely dry.  There is a                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
051179 - vending stand to buy drinks, food and ice cream at this location, but                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
051180 - I had left my wallet in Ross' car in the parking lot, and he had the                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
051181 - key, so I could not buy anything.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
051183 -  ..
051184 - Walked to the shuttle station and had a long wait.  It was very                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
051185 - crowded from others coming back down the trail.  All the bench seating                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
051186 - was taken, so I could not lay down.  My entire body ached at this                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
051187 - point.  Finally, the bus came.  When we got back to the area near the                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
051188 - House Keeping camp site, the driver announced we could get off and                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
051189 - walk across the field and a bridge to get there, rather than wait for                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
051190 - the bus to make the circle route to the regular bus stop for House                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
051191 - Keeping.  I went ahead and got off the bus here and walked over to the                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
051192 - camp site.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
051194 -  ..
051195 - My first assignment was to have more to drink to relieve the dryness                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
051196 - in my mouth.  Since I didn't have any money, I could not get ice at                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
051197 - the store, so I took some cokes to the river to make them cold.  This                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
051198 - did not work very well.  I took my boots off and walked in the river,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
051199 - but the rocks on the river bottom hurt my feet too much.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
051201 -  ..
051202 - Several hours after I got back to camp, it was nearly dark, so was                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
051203 - worried about Ross, and wondering who to call if he didn't return.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
051205 -  ..
051206 - Thankfully, Ross finally showed up.  He made it to the top and was                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
051207 - excited telling about the amazing views and the satisfaction                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
051208 - accomplishing this goal.  Fortunately he seemed to be in excellent                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
051209 - shape, at least compared to me.  We went to the store and I bought                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
051210 - more things for dinner.  Seemed like I never stopped drinking fluids                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
051211 - this evening.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
051213 -  ..
051214 - Ross fixed steaks and some vegetables.  We had a fire, and finally                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
051215 - brought the mattresses out and slept on the ground at least until the                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
051216 - fire went out, so we could see the stars.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
051217 -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
051218 -            [On 130919 0630 after hiking Half Dome again, we had steak                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
051219 -            dinner to continue Ross' tradition to celebrate.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
051220 -            ref SDS 12 PC5H                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
051222 -             ..
051223 -            [On 131024 2223 letter to Ross notified continued tradition                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
051224 -            having steak dinner celebrating hike to Half Dome.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
051225 -            ref SDS 13 Q060                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
051227 -  ..
051228 - Looking up at the stars is an exhilarating experience, like the first                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
051229 - time Ross brought Millie and me to Yosemite to climb Yosemite Falls,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
051230 - and we slept outside under the stars.  On that trip, the next morning                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
051231 - the Ranger found Ross still asleep and pointed to a sign saying "No                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
051232 - Camping."  We "dodged a bullet" that time.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
051233 -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
051234 -            [On 950915 1230 next year went to Yosemite and one of the                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
051235 -            best parts is seeing all those stars. ref SDS 4 3T9H                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
051237 -             ..
051238 -            [On 140916 0722 this trip there was no full moon, and                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
051239 -            actually no moon; the sky was incredibly filled with stars                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
051240 -            and they were very bright, ref SDS 14 I27O, as remembered                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
051241 -            from 20 years earlier on 950915 1230. ref SDS 4 3T9H                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
051242 -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
051243 -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
051244 -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
051245 -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
051246 -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
051247 -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
051248 -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
051249 -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
0513 -