yosemite

Yosemite National Park
Labor day 2002

Ann Naomi Kawhara is a pretty laid back woman but ever since I met her she has been insistant upon one thing; that we make the summit of half dome in the summer of 2002. We got our chance Labor Day weekend when we accompanied the Stanford University sponsored VIA program's annual trip to Yosemite. Ann used to to be very involved with the program and in the past had led groups of students visiting from Asia herself. This time she was free to spend all day Sunday fullfilling her dream and making me deliver on my promise

After arriving on Saturday afternoon, we checked into our cabin in Curry Village and got our gear together for the hike. Although we set the alarm for 5:00 AM we weren't ready to go until 7:00 AM. At first we thought the late start might hinder us but once we realized we could catch the first shuttle of the day to the trialhead (and shave a mile off the hike) we were pretty happy with ourselves.


*Half dome from Curry Village (doesn't look that bad from here huh?)*	*Naomi sorts the gear and makes sure I didn't forget anything*


*Roughing it.......a pre hike mocha at 7 AM*	*Looking up Yosemite valley just below the 1st bridge*


*"Hahaha...I'm kicking your ass!"*	*The view from the Vernal Falls Bridge*


*Just below Vernal trickle...I mean falls*	*Naomi greets hikers at Nevada Falls*


*Thank GOD for this pool at the top of Nevada falls*	*Making our way up....*


About a mile below the summit......grin	*Naomi and I strike a pose, just before it gets rough*


*Sorting the mice from the men....everyone pondering the push to the summit*


*Puttin' on the gloves*	*Naomi is ready to rock*


*Gut check: Starting the ascent*	*Naomi posing for the cover of "I kick ass" magazine*


*"Look Ma! No hands!"*	*Piece of cake! Only 9 miles back to the cabin*


*The reward: the view down the valley from the top*	*I got up the nards to take this pic down the face.*


*"We did it!"*


*Naomi is too beat to do her "touchdown" dance*	*One more look back up the saddle before heading down*


*Back at our savior pool we get to cool off*	*Naomi seemed to be amused by my hair...go figure*


*Even with almost no water flow Vernal Falls is still pretty awesome*


*"You can't drink it from the side!" (Naomi is quite unfamiliar with drinking beer)*


*A mallard swims through the reflection of half dome on the Merced river*