A Traveler's Journal

Yosemite Log
Camp Date: 05/02/2010

 The beginning has arrived. While entering Yosemite National Park, snow was evident on ground. I had concerns about the cold. Only night will give me answers.  Large area of park has burned into a barren wasteland of black stumps and death. No life reported.

Upon entering the Valley, check in occurred and set up in campground commenced. Wildlife report: One rather obese squirrel, many colorful birds, and no skeeters. This trip may be successful. Just waiting for additional voyagers to arrive before embarking on our next mission.

Yosemite Log
Camp Date: 05/03/2010
Day two in our voyage to seek out strange new worlds. Next mission is to explore the region known as Upper Yosemite Falls. 3.5 miles, strenuous. one way. I worry if my crew can survive such an arduous task. I know they will follow me into death if I ask, but I wonder, will it come to such extremes? Only one way to find out.

Captain Daniel I Johnston, First Officer Catherine M Shipman, Chief Engineer Jeff Colwell, and Lieutenant Alyn Nelson. 

The team headed out, prepared for the days mission. Water: check, snacks: check, ponchos: check, walkie talkie: no. Oh well. The day has progressed well and we have observed strange new life forms. However, most impressive was the thundering falls and the never ending switch backs.

View of Upper Yosemite Falls at Middle Cascade.  

After what seemed like days, but only hours in real time, our team has split. Chief Colwell and Lt. Nelson have fallen into enemy hands. We have no choice but to continue on in hopes of completing the mission. Only God can save them now. 

 View from Upper Yosemite Falls trail. Thats our ship in the background on the left. 

Yosemite Log:

Camp Date: 05-04-2010

Our crew has reassembled.  What I thought were enemy hands was merely a rest time. We utilized this day  to debrief our findings from the day prior and resume our investigation of the surrounding natural area.

We used what the natives call "bikes" to carry us around this strange yet beautiful valley.

 Capt Johnston and Lt Nelson discuss the findings.

Thus far we have discovered such wonders known as: Half Dome, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, Three Brothers, Bridalveil Falls, and something called a Black Bear.  Tomorrow our research shall take us to Mirror Lake and Snow Creek. Supposedly the most difficult hike in all of Yosemite Valley. I will be the judge of that.

Searching for Three Brothers.

 Yosemite Log
Camp Date: 05-05-2010

Day four may be the most difficult mission I have yet to embark on. Mirror Lake to Snow Creek. 12 miles round trip. Never have I hiked this long. May prove impossible.  

During complicated mission, seen many waterfalls, two avalanches, but none of the so-called Black Bears.  The trail endless. Up and up. No end in site. May yet be a death mission. We have turned crew back. Capt Johnston and I will continue on in hopes of new life forms. 

 Crazy high up the Snow Creek trail. Most challenging trail got NUTHIN on me! Ha! 

Mission complete. Success. Contact made with local lifeforms. Two runners. One male, one female. Apparently this planet is made of people who like to run up extremely steep trails. Odd creatures.

Yosemite Log

Camp Date: 05-06-2010

This will be my last entry. Mission is complete. Success. Discoveries made. This has been the most challenging and rewarding mission yet. Many new voyages will come. This will stay forever.

 Crew is released.  

See all photos here:

Yosemite Valley 2010

 

A Piece of Cake!!!

So my newest hobby, besides knitting, is cake decorating. I took a basic class that taught me some buttercream flowers and stuff. I thought that I don't really need a class to learn this stuff. That's what Youtube is for! So. I thought I would be really bold. I skipped gum paste, modeling chocolate, and royal icing decorating and went straight to fondant.

So I really had NO idea what I was doing. BUT, for my first time, with no lessons, I think I did pretty good. There is clearly room for improvement. But hey, its ALL homemade. well, that's not entirely true. The cake is from a box. But the baking part I already know how to do. Vegan cake is my specialty. But the decorating part was new for me and so all the icing: buttercream, royal, and fondant, is all made from scratch.

So here is my step by step progress.  NOTE: Nadia made the teddy bear! Her very first attempt ever and it looks awesome!

BAKING THE CAKES: STRAWBERRY WITH STRAWBERRY PIECES AND CONFETTI

 MAKING THE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING.  CUPCAKE TIER GETS CARAMEL BUTTERCREAM, AND STRAWBERRY TIER GETS VANILLA WITH FRESH CUT STRAWBERRY PIECES.

BOTTOM CUPCAKE TIER: CRUMB COATED!

MY FIRST HOMEMADE FONDANT, KNEADED AND READY TO BE ROLLED OUT.

CUPCAKE TIER COVERED IN FONDANT. IT WAS EASIER THAN I THOUGHT, BUT NEXT TIME, I WILL COLOR THE FONDANT. WHITE IS BORING!

 STACKED AND READY TO DECORATE!

STARS ARE READY! i ALSO MADE BEARS, AND RIBBON. 

 NADIA WORKS ON THE CAKE TOPPER! 

MAKING A BOW IS A LOT HARDER THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE!

BUT IT TURNED OUT PRETTY, BUT NOT GREAT. 

FINISHED BEAR!  I CALL HIM LOGAN BEAR. (COS THAT'S WHAT I CALL LOGAN)

FINISHED!  ITS FOR THE NEW BABY BOY, CALLUM!

ONE MORE.

THE END.

Hiking Mt. Tam

So after living in San Francisco for three years, we FINALLY decided to Hike Mt. Tamalpais. Which is right across the Golden Bridge in the Marin Headlands. We have always heard that the view is extraordinary, 360 degrees. So with Danny home for 5 days, which he really needed, we figured it would be a great practice hike for our big trip to Yosemite.

We drove to Pantol Ranger Station and got super lucky with the ONLY free parking spot left. It would be a 4 mile hike to the top, then 4 miles back, with a total elevation change of about 1500 feet.

on the hike up, Dan checks out the view.

Dan spotted a really big snake making its way across the trail. It was pretty big, at least 4.5 feet. It was moving really slow and sticking its tongue out. It was pretty cool.  We are not too sure what kind it was, but since there was no rattle attached we didn't feel it would attack us. But we kept a safe distance anyway.

The flowers were blooming everywhere and you could see new growth on the pine trees. Lots of birds and the weather was ideal. Sunny, but breezy, and not a cloud in the sky to obstruct our view!

When we reached to top of East Peak, we had some snacks and rested. There is a Fire Lookout at the very top. We could not go in, but you could walk around it and gets views from Napa to San Jose. (Danny swears he saw the hangers at Moffett Field) The elevation doesn't sound too high, but considering we basically started at 0, then it felt pretty impressive.

We tried to get some good pics but since we had to scrabble over large rocks, there wasnt really a path or anything at the top, we couldn't quite get a pic with us in it. Our backs were to the Fire Tower and we just perched on any somewhat flat surface. There were around 6 other people sitting by us, so I tried to find a shot with no-one else.

The view to the north, looking into Napa Valley. This was about 500 feet below the actual peak on the trail.

The view to the south. You can see San Francisco on the left side. The pic really doesn't do it justice. It was beautiful! I could have sat there for hours, but we stayed around 20 mins. We knew it was getting late and had 4 miles to go to get back. In fact, the first 2 miles we pretty much jogged.  By the 6th mile, I was tired and my legs were feeling stiff. Danny did not bring a sweater and he was cold! He forgets that its not Maui, this is San Francisco!  Always bring a sweater, even if its sunny.

We got back to the trail head around 6pm. It took us about 4 hours, but we went to two visitor's centers and watched a freakin snake take its sweet time to get across the trail. Plus, we had snacks at the top. So really, we only hiked for 3 hours, and rested for 1 hour. (Danny kept track on his Cadio Trainer app on his DROID)

Total elevation change was just shy of 1500. It was a pretty easy hike. But at least I know my distance.  We are going to try to hike Upper Yosemite Falls in May. Its gonna be tough, but Im excited!

 At the end of hike, which breaks into a pretty meadow. Both tired and cold. Ready to go out for dinner!