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Caption: Yosemite Falls
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Caption: I'm in Yosemite again. This is my forth visit and my third time backpacking (here). In this book I record my backpacking trips with notes and sketches. However, today I started using another sketchbook to record more detailed drawings and watercolors. Alas my pack gets heavier.
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Caption: My hands are mildly cold & shaky as I write. There is a howling wind outside. I made a somewhat foolish campsite choice as a sacrifice for good wake views and pictures, in no particular order.
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Caption: There is a tree and rock next to me but other than that I'm exposed to the currents coming from within the Valley. So tonight I have staked both the tent and fly down + added rocks to each point as well as the four insides of the tent.
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Caption: I arrived in Yosemite around 1130 pm after work. I went straight to Upper Pines in hopes of meeting up with a friend. To my surprise it was packed out and to late to locate said friend. It is fine to arrive late now that I'm well aquatinted with Yos.
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Caption: I tried Camp Curry lot, maxed out and them went to Camp Four, also maxed out. I wondered out loud to the dude waiting for the restroom "any idea why it's so packed?" "Nope, thought the cold would scare people away". I opted to sleep in my car.
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Caption: I set my alarm for 6AM to get out before anyone noticed. I had 3 hours to kill before the permit office opened. I went to the foggy El Cap meadows and snapped some pics, went to the Village store lot and packed my gear, and bought a book about an artist who made quite a few watercolors and woodblocks of Yosemite in the 20's
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Caption: I got my permit, recited my knowledge of what items go in the bear canister and heeded the warnings of bad weather and possible snow. Took nice breaks on the 3.5 miles, 3000 foot elevation gain hike up to Upper Yosemite Falls.
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Caption: I took time to eat, draw, rest. I got to the top of the Falls and looked further towards Yosemite Point and thought it would make an epic camp spot.
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Caption: I grabbed some water from the river and hiked the extra mile to find a place away from the trail. I set up the tent and started another drawing before dinner.
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Caption: I moved dinner locations due to wind and enjoyed some Tsampa soup with gouda cheese and Tapatio. I drew some more and hiked further to get a good view of Half Dome during sunset.
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Caption: It was spectacular, unlike any I had previously seen here. I liberally snapped photos on my phone as my battery warned me it was low. No worries, I brought a solar charger!
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Caption: When I got back to the tent I made the discovery that I had all but one of the chords needed to charge, damn! 12% for the next few days it is. I hope to trail run the 10 or so miles round trip to El Cap summit tomorrow or maybe to North Dome. I guess I will have to rely on my sketches this trip to do the documentation.
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Caption: Sketches from the trail on the way to El Cap.
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Caption: Quick sketch of a cairn on the summit
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Caption: All words were excerpts from my tiny notebook I take on backpacking trips.