Yosemite National Park (Part 2) - Sight Seeing and Lost Arrow Spire

Josh and Kt enjoying the view 2,800 ft off the valley floor.

After backpacking with the family, Kt and I decided to stay an extra couple days.  We wandered around Yosemite checking out the amazing scenery.  We also got to stay at the Camp 4, a historic climbing camping ground.

Glacier Point

Half Dome in all its glory.

Washington Column

The next day, we still haven't recovered from the backpack trip.  We ended up sleeping in.  We also chose to go up the longer (but flatter) trail.  It didn't help that we added an extra mile on our trek by starting on the wrong trail head.  But off we went to try Lost Arrow Spire.

Yosemite Falls and Lost Arrow Spire

Smiling at the wrong trail head, little did we know...

We weren't so happy when we got back a hour later.

Much better.

Gorgeous.

Can you spot the black bear?

Hansom devil.  We stood on top of Half Dome just two days before.

Nasty weather coming.

The view from the top. About 2,800 ft off the ground.

Storm clouds behind us but the valley looked pretty.

Yosemite is known for afternoon storms.  After sitting at the top for over a hour watching the rain clouds come right at us, we finally decided to get to do the rappel and figure it out from there.

Josh on rappel.

Yosemite Valley

Working through a bit of tangle.

Finishing the change over onto the other rope.

Finally on the bottom.

At the bottom of the platform, we enjoyed a HUGE ledge to play around and have fun.  The view was absolutely fantastic.  The valley floor looked so small from where we were at.

Careful.

Hanging out on the edge.

No words can explain.

We didn't summit but it was still a fun day in the mountains.

Next time...

Josh enjoying the view.

It will be done.

On top of the world again.

We used hand ascenders to get back up the rope.  On the way up, I saw a frog that was hanging out on a dead vertical slab.  It looked like granite.  Kt spent an extra half hour on the rope looking for it.

Can we go home now?

"Hey Josh, have you seen that frog?" - Kt Allred

The Nose on El Cap, known as "the best rock climb in the world."  Someday.

This is what Yosemite does to you after 5 days...

At the end of the day, we didn't climb but it was still a lot of fun.  We got to stand on top of Yosemite Falls, do an awesome rappel and hang out 2,800 ft off the ground.  Next time we won't start on the wrong trail head, get up late or wait so long to start a rappel.  Lost Arrow...till we meet again.