Half Dome

My family just left after a nice family dinner of soups. Bean...vegetable...chicken/rice...and chicken stew. As Rachel Ray says..."DEEE-lish!!" But...I hadn't taken a single picture.

I ventured into my man space...a den to some people. I have several paintings in there that Naturelover has created. A couple of Yosemite National Park, one from the Maroon Bells near Aspen, Co., an Indian maiden swimming in a waterfall, and a special little fox.

This painting is of Half Dome in Yosemite. About 15 years ago, my Dad and I climbed it. A tough and taxing hike. 6 hours up...4 hours down. A full day.

On the way up, we took the waterfall route called the Mist Trail...passing 2 good sized falls. At the first falls is my favorite warning sign. PLEASE DON'T GO IN THE WATER HERE! IF YOU GO OVER THESE FALLS...YOU WILL DIE! Straight, and to the point...but...every year...there are deaths.

At the second falls...we were taking a break, and watched in horror as our 2-liter water bottle slid off the rock, and wedged itself into a crevasse. The rest of the hike would be waterless.

At the base of the mountain...there was a big pile of old gloves. "What in tarnation are these for?" Come to find out...the last few hundred yards...you have to pull yourself up with a steel cable anchored in the rock...hence the gloves. The going was slow. While you were pulling yourself up...others were on their way down. So...at times you had to lean to the right, and hold on to dear life as they passed. EXHILARATING!! At the top...Dad wouldn't go near the edge...but I did. It was a dizzying view...but spectacular.

When we finally made it down...never has a drinking fountain looked so good. We were parched...but at least we were parched in Paradise. A lovely place.

Thanks to Shelley...I have a painting that always touches off a good memory. And...I think the fishermen holding it up like it, too. Why else would they be smiling?

P.S. Check out this link. It's about the end of the hike, and the cables that you have to use to go up. VERY DIZZYING. What were we thinking?