September 8, 2016
Day 22
9 miles / 269.8 total
Steps: 30,142
Half Dome Village
Days without shower 0
Most likely the worst nights sleep out here. I tossed and turned. I was too hot, too cold, thought I heard animals, or people constantly. After looking at the time about a dozen more times I figured it was ok to get up. I let the air out of my sleeping pad and got up. Got my bear can that looked untouched and started to heat some water for coffee. The water looked a little sketchy and people here are not very careful about where they pee/poo or leave toilet paper. It's super annoying. I did tell some girl yesterday to pack out her toilet paper and she looked at me like I was crazy. I think there needs to be better education.
So I filtered water with my squeeze and also boiled it...I feel like Luke would be proud because he always double filtered. I made my coffee, got a breakfast bar, and went to sit closer to Dylan, Julie (his sister), and Audrey. We talked for a while as they got packed up and ready to head up half dome. I was excited for them and glad I wasn't doing it today!
I was excited to be done and get to the village for a shower. After I finished my breakfast, I said bye and good luck and headed to pack up my stuff. I left about 8:30 and started to head down. I saw the group of 5 from half dome yesterday that were starting the JMT (they camped at Little Yosemite Valley), I wished them luck. There were a TON of day hikers. A couple people asked me how it was... Like I knew what IT was. Of course at times I was just a smart ass and said Whitney was amazing and good luck. Other times I said clouds rest was amazing because I knew the majority of the people were headed to half dome. It was my entertainment for the day and fun. At one point it seemed like a couple people asked me how long I’d been out here so I figured they could smell me. Most who asked or overheard me saying where I came from congratulated me and wished me a safe trip home.
The downhill was pretty crazy and I was ready to be DONE! There were SO many people and it was a bit overwhelming. I was able to check in on Jess and see where she was and catch up on a few texts as I started to get service. It was the last couple miles of switchbacks where I was excited to see a water fountain and bathroom with a little privacy! At the bottom I took a picture and celebrated again. It was pretty anti climatic. I then headed to half dome village - previously called curry village and checked in. My room was ready and I was able to get everything I needed. I headed to the bar and got a cider and a salad! It was really good to eat salad again! I was able to send a couple texts and then was ready for a shower. I didn't even go to the room first. I went to the store and bought a shirt and then straight to the shower. In the showers they have shampoo and soap and provide a towel. I likely took too long and was thankful for the mom who gave her little girl and me conditioner. Thank you so much! My hair needed that! Some people are so very giving at the perfect time!
The "trail" provides. Haha
I slowly got dressed in my dirty shorts, dirty bra, and camp sandals. I brushed my teeth and checked myself out in the mirror. I may not have actually lost any weight but I think I look a little more toned and damn my legs are dark! I have some really funky tan lines going on. I put on my clean/new JMT shirt, loaded up my pack and headed out to find my cabin. It was crammed with 3 twin beds and a double. Not much special to it but there was a bed and everything I needed. It would work great. I opened the little canvas Windows and propped the door open. I went through my bag trying to organize all my dirty clothes and making sure to get all my food out of my bag and into the bear box. I grabbed a couple snacks and decided to head to the store to get a drink. On the walk to the store, I finally ate a Snickers I had been carrying for over 6 days - it was really delicious. I left a little note on the outside of the cabin door, in case I missed Jess or Dylan or they showed up early. At the store, I got a little bear magnet since I actually saw a bear in Yosemite and a small boxed wine. I sat at the lounge in one of the rocking chairs and started to catch up on the social media life, texts, and emails. I got a message from Dylan so I was able to estimate what time they would be done and had a little more time to kill. I just sat there in the chair watching people as I ate a bag of goldfish... Thank you so much to the family on top of half dome for them! Then I slowly headed back to the room. Propped open the door and sat on the stairs because even being inside the tent is a little much. Jess walks up shortly after!!! It was great to see her! I helped her get another load of stuff from her car which included a cooler of goodies and bananas for me!! We made sure all food and smelly stuff out of the car. We got back to the room and I finished my wine as she had a drink. We opened the chips and salsa and I told her about my trip! We sat there for about 30 minutes and Dylan walked up! I have him a hug and said congratulations. The girls looked tired and were ready for a shower. Thankfully I had shampoo/conditioner and lots of other goodies in my bag I had Jess bring for me so I let them use it as well. Once we were all clean (Dylan took longer than the girls) we headed to get pizza! It was good and we sat around and talked for a long time. It was a great way to end the trip. The bed was pretty hard but it was nice just to have a real bed, sheets, and a pillow! Pretty sure we were all asleep before 10. About midnight there is a bang on a door which at first I thought was ours saying park ranger. I was like crap did we not close the bear box? Then another knock and I realized it was on a cabin next to us. Apparently they left food and a cooler in their car and the Ranger was able to find them because of the parking pass. They escorted them out to fix their mistake and wrote them a ticket. There is a sign every 5 feet...I am not sure how they could be so dumb or maybe they were just being lazy. Again – what is with people being SO lazy and not taking care of our land? I just do not get it. I fell back asleep pretty quickly but tossed and turned a lot. It's going to take some adjusting to get back to the different noises and people.
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