Aaaaahhhh

We did our 'big walk' (or 'hike' as they  prefer) today - cheated on the first bit and got the bus up the mountain to Glacier Point. Then took the Panoramic Trail -  about 8.5 miles mostly downhill. We were lucky that it was a cloudy start so the temperature was very pleasant to begin with, instead of 'helpmaboab I'm going to melt'. Apart from being up there with amazing views of Half Dome, we also passed over 3 waterfalls. This was the top of the first one, a couple of miles in, and the cool water was wonderful on our hot feet. We did the same at the second waterfall, but it was too dangerous at the third. About 3 miles from the end there was a choice of the John Muir trail (slightly longer, but a gentle, more gradual descent), or the marginally shorter Mist Trail route (I'd read was a steep, stepped descent, a bit harder on the knees). Ms H choose the Mist option!! 2.7 miles of mostly steep stone steps (beginning with a scary set of steps straight down the cliff side (very glad of the handrail there). The last mile was as it was getting dark, through the woods, scaring ourselves about bears - apparently 300-500 in Yosemite but we only saw a scavenging racoon, a variety of squirrel/gopher/chipmunks and several deer, one of which leapt out and did a spectacular swerve around a man just in front of us.


I think this was my favourite ever walk - for amazing scenery, minimal uphill, foot-soothing rivers, great weather and Ms H enjoyed it too (which is always a bonus;).  I'd love to do it again, though next time would try the other route for the last 3 miles, and book the bus a few days earlier so we'd get the earliest one and not worry about meeting bears in the dark!