A dramatic display of lightning illuminates the sky at Yosemite National Park. The peak time for thunderstorms in the central Sierra is mid-June to early July.
Above our camp, a lightning bolt harpooned the rim of Yosemite Valley. Like the flash of a strobe, it lit up the night sky and the north wall. Moments later, thunder cracked above us that sounded like the Earth was splitting apart, then boomed and reverberated across the canyon walls. You could feel it down to your toes. The mountain air tinged with burning ozone, a smell you never forget. The downpour that followed was so intense that it looked like raindrops the size of silver dollars were bouncing off the water pooling around us, as we huddled under our makeshift tarp, roped to the trees.
A personal memory from a docent: "Years ago, my brother and I back-packed into the Desolation Wilderness Area near Echo Summit. We went with his 2 sons accompanying us. At the end of 15 miles into the wilderness, we suggested setting up our camp near a pretty little lake nestled among the pines all around. But, the boys drove us on by saying that we could go some more. So, after 10 miles more, we finally stopped near the top of the tree line, before the landscape becomes nearly 100% granite boulders. Then, an afternoon thunderstorm struck with sudden fury and we quickly stretched a tarp across a rope tied between 2 trees. We secured the corners down to the ground forming a perfect A-frame tent with a canvas as the floor. It then became our task to dig those effective Boy Scout trenches all around the rectangle. The water draining down the hill found the path around our shelter and passed us by, leaving us dry enough until the storm subsided, which was shortly afterward. As we drove home the next day, the boys shouted, 'We conquered that wilderness'. "
The above photo nicely illustrates the path to the top of the Half Dome which has become an overly popular hike for young people. My brother and I were lucky enough to do it on a day when only about 9 people went to the top. Top of the dome is reached by hiking past Vernal Falls at bottom, then hiking past Nevada Falls which is on the right. Then, the trail leads behind the two granite knolls in the center and you hike left toward the bottom of Half Dome. Slightly around the bottom of the Dome on the other side is found the base of the Dome with its famed cable-ladder to take you to the top, where the cables are no longer needed to walk upright. An adventure not to be forgotten.
No comments:
Post a Comment