So as many of you know, I ventured north to Yosemite National Park this last week for some much needed outdoorsy, shower-less stink action.  I had never been there but have always wanted to go.  Now that I live in LA, it’s a short 4 hour jaunt to the park’s entrance, then another 45 min. breathtaking mountain ride to the park’s main hub, Yosemite Valley.  It was here that we set up camp in the North Pines camping area.  Yosemite National Park pretty much ruined my life by revealing what could be the most spectacular place on earth…WITH PICTURES (click any to enlarge)!

So upon arrival, we set up camp with my trusty tent and started exploring our surroundings.  Within walking distance is Curry Village which has a grocery store, a pizza restaurant (which came in handy after our 16 mile Half Dome excursion!), a bar, and showers (which we never bothered to use).  We also got to behold some of the insane wonderment that is Yosemite Valley.

No words, no videos, and no stories can convey how majestic Yosemite National Park truly is.  It is simply impossible to replicate it’s beauty in any medium other than first hand witness.  The pictures I’ve included below try to show the sheer enormity of the park’s features, but fail to do so on so many levels.  If you ever get the chance to visit the park, do so. No question.

As far as our adventures are concerned, on day 2 we hiked the Upper Yosemite Falls trail (a 7.6 mile round trip hike with a 2600 foot elevation gain — that’s like climbing the stairs of two empire state buildings together) which allowed us to acclimate to the Valley’s minimum 4000 foot elevation.

On day 3 we awoke in the early hours to attack the park’s most challenging hike, Half Dome.  Now this hike has been on my bucket list for years.  It’s the challenge of a 16 mile round trip hike; the 4800 foot elevation gain; sheer cliffs; and a 40˚ cable-climb straight up the granite cliffs to the dome’s apex.  Let’s just say that by the point we approached the hike’s last 400 meters, dizziness, vertigo, and hundreds of fellow hikers scrambling for trail space were such a factor, we had to turn around and descend as carefully as possible.  The Dome remains on my bucket list and I will conquer it.

Please. Visit Yosemite. Enjoy it’s majesty, grandeur and insane showcase of nature’s most beautiful work. In the meantime, enjoy some pics.