The Mist Trail

More Yosemite...we spent our only full day at the park walking the famous Mist Trail. It was a highlight of the trip. Here we go...

Checking out the Merced River on the way to the trail head.

Checking out the falls in the distance.

We weren't quite prepared for the "mist" part of the trail which is a 100 ft climb up slippery stone steps while getting soaked by mist from adjacent Vernal Falls. Kieran was particularly unhappy with us, having surprised him with two of his least favorite things...wind and a cold shower. He recovered after a snack and warm wrap on the side of the trail while we chatted with other chilly hikers on their way past us. In hindsight we should have suspected something was up when we passed wet, garbage bag-clad groups of Japanese hikers on their way back to the trail head. Oh well, we've been forgiven and now it is one of Kieran's proudest moments of back country hardship.

Warmer, drier, and mostly recovered, back on the trail above the mist.

First glimpse back down the valley.

Our lunch mates at the picnic area at the top of Vernal Falls. Persistent little buggers.

We had some company to this point but from here on up we had the views mostly to ourselves.

On to Nevada Falls.

What a beautiful day! We couldn't have had better weather, the best weather day of the trip.

4,000 ft up is the top of Nevada Falls, a beautiful and tranquil spot with a spectacular view of some of the most famous peaks in the country.

Looking over the edge of Nevada Falls.

Whoaaaaa!!!!

Half Dome.

What a view! Liberty Cap with Half Dome in the background.

Too bad Kieran slept most of the way down and missed this. He was a champ, sitting in his backpack for 7+ hours that day.

Yosemite Falls from a meadow in the valley. The second half of our trip continues on the next page...

Yosemite to Santa Cruz

One last look at Yosemite valley.

Kieran summited Half Dome during a quick stop on the way out of the park, with some assistance from his climbing partner.

Back at the Sequoia grove...where's Kieran?

Beautiful

After a long drive through golden hills and agricultural land we made it to Santa Cruz. Kieran was ready for the long-promised beach.

We spent a morning at a gorgeous spot north of town, apparently also popular with the nude bathing/nude jogging scene. Maybe they all are down here. Kieran didn't seem to notice but be had to be careful where we pointed the camera.

Great climbing!

We finally made it to the house where the big reunion was being held. A reunion bike ride ended up in more than a couple of bruises and scrapes and limping ex-Frisbee players the next day.

It was definitely a boy's weekend. Kieran had a blast!

Gotta love it.

The weekend ended with a day at the Banana Slug ultimate Frisbee home field. I'm going to throw these pics up and hope that Max will fill in some text. The team obviously hasn't lost the bond that they had back in college.

Santa Cruz to Fairbanks

Kieran made a friend of his own during the 20 year memorial game. Future Banana Slugs?

Did somebody say banana?

The love circle. This lasted awhile.

Kieran's new hero...at least for the rest of the afternoon.

Round and round...Kieran was working the brakes. OMG...THE BEST!

"That was the most fun I've ever had on a bike...EVER"

It was a great reunion but it was time to go.

Back home and back to his own bike. Harvesting the horsetails in the yard. The work is never done.

Hanging out with reindeer

Max went to an end of season ski club fundraiser and won an invitation for an up close visit with reindeer at a small reindeer ranch across the valley from us. They had several adult reindeer and two brand new babies just a week or so old.

When they say up close, they mean it. No fences between you and the animals here! The babies were still learning to eat lichen and the kids were delighted to offer them fistfuls of it, most of which fell to the ground for the bigger animals to clean up.

The adults were bigger than we expected, especially next to the little kids. We had to be a little careful with the moms - particularly the one with the antler - who would do their best to stay between us and the babies, but this nice girl named Olive didn't have a baby and was gentle as could be.

Lola and Charlie came too.

The tiniest baby named Rufus was definitely Kieran's favorite.

Jasper was the most subordinate member of the group and the only adult male. Max gave him a good scratch during a rare moment when he wasn't being chased away by the ladies.

Kieran even took Jasper for a walk before we said goodbye and drove home to warm up with some hot chocolate. Thanks to Running Reindeer Farm for offering such an intimate and relaxed visit with their reindeer.