The Panorama Trail, Yosemite National Park

It Was The Best Experience!!

Hey there everyone! I am back from the trail and I have to say -- OH MY GOD!! It was an incredible experience! It was gorgeous, wonderful, and awe-inspiring event! We left from BWI airport early in the morning on June 17th we ended up in the Fresno airport in California. It was about a 2 hour ride from there to Tenaya Lodge where we were staying. The lodge is about 4000+ feet above sea level. So it was a bit difficult to breathe, especially when you were climbing uphill. But it is no matter, it was a small price to pay for the opportunity to be in such a beautiful and stunning place.

While I was there I got meet folks from the other TNT chapters who were there to hike. There were about 136 of us all together there hiking for the cause. There were folks from Washington State, Illinois, Georgia, Tennessee, California (of course), and other states. While at the inspiration dinner I also got to know the members of Panorama 3, my group. They matched us up pretty well as we were all the sweepers of our individual teams :-)

On June 19th at 5:00 am (PST) I was in the lobby of Tenaya Lodge waiting for my guide and my team. We loaded up into the shuttle buses for a 1.5 hour ride up to Glacier Point and the Panorama trailhead. It was a beautiful and clear day! We started our hike with a sighting of a mother bear and her two cubs!! Then we began our adventure on the trail. The name of the trail is definitely well earned; since there was beautiful scenery everywhere you looked. We did hike rather slowly, but I think it was in part because of the high elevation and in part because we were taking tons of pictures! So the good news was that I was not always at the end of the group! In fact there were a few times where I was actually walking up at front near the guide :-)

The biggest challenge for me was the hike down the Mist Trail. Although I definitely had a hard time hiking up the hill/mountainside in the beginning, going down the Mist Trail tested my meddle. So the Mist trail goes down the side of Vernal Falls, the last falls on our trail. It is a series of stairs (I swear 100+ easily) cut into the side of the mountain. Now lest you say, 'why would you worry about going down stairs?' let me explain. Stairs in the hiking sense usually mean that they were cut for people 5'9" and above. So for short people like me, stepping down is more like climbing down. Also, there were no railings. Oh and, its called Mist Trail because it gets all the mist/water spray coming off the Vernal falls. So the steps are wet and slippery :-( And because it is from snow run-off, it is cold! And its more like rain, not just mist! Oh and let's add in people, including little kids, running up and down and pushing and all that. So yup, I was a bit out of my element! But our guide Jeff was AWESOME!! He helped me and Leslie get down those stairs and even enjoy it! After that, the last mile was a cake walk :-) AND guess what?! NO BLISTERS!!! YAY TEAM!!

Now I am a hiking alumni and I would definitely, DEFINITELY recommend it to anyone AND I would love to do it again!
RAISING MONEY FOR THE CURE!!

Even though the event is over, I am still under the fundraising minimum and am still collecting donations! It is imperative that we find a cure for blood-related cancers and your donations can help LLS achieve that goal! Please take the time and donate today: http://pages.teamintraining.org/md/Yosemit110/WinForOthers. I must have all donations by June 30th!

Thanks a lot for your help and look for a posting that points you to all my Yosemite pictures coming soon!

The Final Team Hike of the Season

Today we actually had our final hike of the season. We went to the McKeldin Area of Patapsco Valley State Park for a 3 mile 'fun hike' that was appropriate for the family. We walked along the river and got to see a small waterfall. We took a break at the base of the fall and let the kids play in the water. Afterward we hiked back up to our pavillion where we had our fun family picnic!

Before the picnic got into full swing Karen, our TNT coordinator made sure we had our packets for Thursday's trip. We got our itenerary for the weekend, event day t-shirts, luggage tags, and special hike T-shirts. She collected additional information from us; emergency contacts, insurance info, etc.

We got the 411 on the situation in Yosemite! It appears that there is still snow on some of the trails -- YIKES!! Apparently they have not yet put in the cables for those folks that would be hiking up Half Dome. That is supposed to happen on the 15th hopefully. That's not my hike, but I'm still concerned. Karen told me that I should pack my yaks to put over my boots to give me more traction in the ice and snow. Good grief -- I thought my snow hiking days were over :-( The coaches reminded us to dress in layers because it would be different temperatures at different elevations, etc.

Then our coaches provided the turkey hotdogs and hamburgers and we brought the sides. There was a delicious citrus cheese ball, watermelon chunks, fresh mushroom salad (my offering), hummus and chips, pasta salad, brownies, cookies, and ice cold lemonade and iced tea. It was a great opportunity to hang out with my fellow team mates and their families. We were also surprised by a visit from our honored team mate Sophie. She is getting ready to go to 1st grade next year and is a bundle of energy. This morning she and her family came out to picnic with us after her ballet lesson! And she showed us what she had learned in her Irish dancing class! She is going to be performing with her troop next year. Watching her with her little sister and Coach Greg's little girls made it clear who we are helping when we do our events. I was so happy to see that what we do helps LLS make a difference in her life AND her family's lives as well.

We ended our event by presenting our coaches with goodie bags to show our appreciation for all they had done for us! I cannot believe that I hiked about 60 miles during this entire training season and that some folks had hiked 80+ miles. I am sad that the season is over, I think I have caught the 'hiking bug'. I am nervous and excited about the Panorama Trail Hike next Saturday -- I can't believe its only a week away!

STILL FUNDRAISING!

After meeting Sophie today, I want to keep the fundraising going in hopes of making the minimum. There is still time to donate on the website: http://pages.teamintraining.org/md/Yosemit110/WinForOthers. Please give as generously as you can. I am also working with a friend to host a Mary Kay fundraiser. You can go to her website: www.marykay.com/thuff7 and make a purchase from now until June 30th. It is as easy as that. There are even $10 items on the site and stuff for men as well. So you can kill 2 birds with one stone -- get your makeup, facial cleansers or other items that you NEED and have a part of the proceeds go to LLS.

The Orange Trail Experience!

My last official hike of the season will be affectionately known as the Orange Trail Experience! Once again our group was split up into two teams -- one team that is doing the 13+ mile hikes in Yosemite and one team that is doing the 9 mile hikes. Well, it turned out that my other team mate opted out of Saturday's hike so she could recuperate a bit so once again I was hiking with just my coach, Coach Kate!

So Coach Kate and I met at Sugarloaf Mountain for a 8 - 9 mile hike. In deference to my misbehaving ankle, she came up with a course with a lot of options. I definitely wanted to get the 900 ft climb in and as much elevation work as I could. So we started with a hike that would give us at least 5 miles and elevation that could be expanded as my ankle would allow.

We set out on the blue trail and hiked that and then up to the summit on the red trail -- gorgeous views, but as it was hot and humid (a typical MD spring/summer day) it was a bit slow going but we did it! Then she asked how I was feeling; well the ankle was doing OK since we were babying it a bit. So I said 'Let's add on some more mileage!' cause I'm gung ho like that :-) So she decided to take a short cut, the Orange Trail, that she had never taken before. Well now, the Orange trail is a short cut cause it goes almost freakin' straight down!!! YIKES!! I mean she was apologizing to me all the way!! I was a bit freaked out, not by the height, but by the fact that, if I fell, I have a lot for gravity to work on (if you know what I mean :-P) so there would be no stopping Ty's rapid and rather painful descent! We got about 1/2 way down and it was looking worse. Kate stopped and said we could go back up and come down the long way. But I was like -- I can't go up this thing, so we gotta keep going down! So down we went! There was one small section where she and I both kinda slid down (me more than her) but I MADE IT!!! I was so proud of myself --and my ankle! At the beginning of the season I think I would have just sat down and cried! But now I was able to make it down -- slowly, but I made it!

After that we followed the white trail and did some more climbs. We got to a point where we could have cut off, but once again I decided we should soldier ahead and get in that last 400 - 500 foot climb out to our cars. I'm telling you guys, endorphins are better than crack for making you think you can do things! (and its also free!!) :-) I also think that the knowledge of a port-a-pot at the parking lot instead of 'finding a tree' was also a powerful motivator! I was tired, but I made it! Coach Kate declared me ready for Panorama Trail!!! Thank You Maryland Hike Coaches!!

Even better, I came home and didn't need to nap! I showered, made some phone calls, and went about the rest of my day! I finally have the endurance to deal with the hike!

So now the event is in about 2 weeks! But I am still far short of my goal! I am urging you all to make a contribution today! There is still time and the Leukemian and Lymphoma Society and I really need your support!