I didn’t feel up to a 2,700 ascent but Columbia Rock at 1,000 feet would satisfy honour as being a proper challenge that would reward me with some good views. At the start of the trail I met three Australians, Lynsey, Michael and Nic who were also contemplating what level of challenge to set themselves. We met several times at various points along the 60 zig-zags that made up the first part of the climb. At the first viewpoint I carried on as I believed that Sam had told me that the foot of the falls would be visible and it wasn’t.
By the time I realised my mistake Columbia Rock was far behind and my new friends encouraged me to carry on to the top of the falls. I suspect that I became their project at that point but they certainly helped to get me up there and what a view it was!
Having got that far it seemed pointless to not attempt the final mile up to Yosemite Point and so that’s what happened even though I lost the path at one point and had to scramble up some pretty steep granite to find it again. Going down I had the company of an American couple who were going at pretty much the same speed so eventually I returned to the valley floor tired but elated, having walked a total of about 12 miles with a vertical ascent of about 3,000 feet over 9.2 of the miles.
Back at camp everyone else was happy, all having achieved what they set out to do and we set off to spend the accumulated food kitty savings on pizza for our last meal. Later I walked back into Curry Village and met my Australian co-climbers and enjoyed a chat for another hour.
No comments:
Post a Comment