A Small Plank

It was our last morning in Yosemite, and even though we knew it was far too late to sight a bear, I was still curious about why that trail leading to Vernal Falls was so darned crowded. I posed this question to our new friend, “Do you have any idea why there were so many hikers headed out this morning on the trail to Vernal Falls?”

He explained that the trail leading to Vernal Falls, was one of many other destinations, namely, the trailhead hike to Half Dome. He added that hikers need a permit to make that trek, and said that it took about 8-10 hours round trip. My “aha” light bulb went off.  His explanation was satisfying to hear. I thanked him and queried about how he came to live here in the Yosemite Valley. He offered up more information from that question than I had expected. He said that he came to Yosemite to live, leaving Chicago many years ago. But it was the way he disclosed his age that charmed me the most. “I’m 3 quarters and 4 pennies,” he said with a devilish grin.

As he got up from the patio table to go back to work, I felt like I had made a new friend – one that I would truly want to meet up with again. We waved to him from the beginning of the trail he had so expertly pointed out to us, and we walked into the forest, thankful for the shade, the good company, and the brisk valley air. We meandered on a dirt path through a parking lot, past the North Pines Campground (which was fairly empty), and along a paved footpath that we weren’t allowed to use when we were on the bikes. There were towering Sequoia’s on both sides with occasional openings that allowed us to view the granite rock formations on our left.  

Our conversation, like our hike, was simple and uncomplicated. But at one point I had to stop and point out what looked like a foot long plank attached to the side of a massive column embedded in the rock. It was nestled in an opening to the left of shortest tree we could see. Brad pulled out his binoculars to get a better look, “I think it’s a rock climber,” he mumbled handing them to me. I looked closely at the “plank.” It WAS a rock climber! Upon closer inspection with the binoculars, it looked like he was standing or kneeling on a red hammock that was attached on the opposite side of a towering rock column. I handed the binoculars back to Brad, who noticed another climber above him, while I snapped a photo of the gutsy duo.

Washington Column, Yosemite Valley

Close-up of the Rock Climbers