End of the Road Trip...

We are home for a week or so after a wonderful whirlwind tour of Yosemite and beyond. We are moving this week, ugh, then off to the Czech to watch Danny and Petra tie the knot (yeah!). Once again, I have no time, so here are photos with minimal explanations.


We took S on her first backpacking trip in the Sierras. We had lofty goals of off-trail canyons and rarely seen lakes, but 4 miles on trail was plenty. Here S is napping on the side of the trail. What a sweetie.


M and S asleep in the tent.


Our campsite. Notice the massive moraine rising out of the lake behind us.




Showing S the pretty flowers.


Poor thing doesn't even know what a plumber's crack is...



When my folks came out, we hiked the famous Cables Route up Half Dome. Here mom and I are at the bottom of the cables. It was pretty nuts! The cables go up a very steep and very slick section of rock and I was SUPER impressed by the myriad out-of-shape looking tourists that made the 16 mile trip.


Summit shot with the valley in the background.

Mom and I on the way to Half Dome via the Mist Trail. It is appropriately named, as Vernal Falls leaves one soaked on the hike. Glorious at the end of a hot day!!

Too cute.

More Pics

Papa teaching S how to climb.

S got a bath on the shore of Tenaya Lake. We put water in a black dromedary bag in the morning, set it in the sun for the day, then filled water bottles with it to pour over her.



We took S to the beach of June Lake. It was pretty windy and the water was cold, so she wasn't really into swimming. She did have fun laying in her little tent thing, though.



The girl loves playing in the dirt.


She loves being naked even more. Here, she and Mike are playing at our camp site near Clark Canyon.


Walking with Papa puts her to sleep.


Mike and I have started self-belaying while climbing just the two of us. Mike either rope solos or we belay eachother to put the line up while Selah sleeps. Then, we take turns self-belaying with the Cinch (you could also use a Traxion or GriGri or other autolocking device). The remaining rack is clove hitched to the bottom of the line to add weight--it makes the rope feed itself easily through the Cinch. This way, one of us can be playing with Selah while the other climbs. One of the many ways we've adapted to life with a baby!

Finally some photos!

We have been playing hard in Yosemite and Tuolumne (the northern part of YNP) and have had no internet or cell service in quite a while. I'm not gonna lie, I kinda like being disconnected.

Mike and I have learned a ton about traveling with a baby and every day we talk about what we could put into a book or on a new website. We thought we might call it "The Dirtbag Baby" or something like that. It would be all about how to keep your baby and your self happy while roadtripping and trying to climb, bike, run, etc. This has definitely been the best summer roadtrip of our relationship thus far.

Here are some photos and a little info. More to follow....

Mike climbed the Salathe, a route on El Cap, when my parents came out.

My parents came for a week and we taught them all about how to scam the system in the Valley (there is a 7 day camping limit and you have to be creative to stay longer). Now my dad thinks he's a felon and has thought of all kinds of new ways to break the law since he's already done so.

We took S up her first Tuolumne dome, Lembert Dome.

Mike took Dad climbing a couple times. Here Dad is on Cathedral Peak, a 6 pitch 5.6. Dad was so proud of himself! They had a great time.

The Ergo puts S to sleep almost instantly. Here we are hiking out from Cathedral.

S and I atop Pothole Dome, aka FlipFlop Dome. Tuolomne Meadows is a world away from Yosemite Valley. There are many fewer people, the air is cool and crisp, there are no Nazi park rangers, the camping is easy and you don't have to be in line at 5am to get a site. We love it. Why go to the Valley? 3500 foot tall granite walls.

Mom and babe.
I managed to get two 20 mile trail runs in last week, thanks to Mike being a pro Dad. Sarah joined me for the second one and I felt awesome. It is GREAT to be back at it.