Hiking Yosemite: When Someday Becomes a Memory

I had been looking forward to Clouds Rest for almost two years.

That’s plenty of time to imagine a view.

Plenty of time to think about the climb, the distance, and what it might feel like to finally stand on top.

Last time in Hiking Yosemite, I wrote about that excitement. The hike was still ahead of me, and honestly, thinking about it was already part of the fun.

Now that I’ve been there, I can answer the obvious question.

Yes. It was worth the wait.

But when I think about the trip, my mind doesn’t go straight to the summit every time.

Sometimes it goes to dinner.

We hiked out to Sunrise Lakes, went fishing, and cooked steak beside the water. Then we enjoyed our meal and spent some time relaxing.

I realize a steak dinner might not be the first thing you expect in a story about Clouds Rest.

But it deserves a little credit.

That night in the wilderness was something I had been looking forward to, too. We had somewhere exciting to go in the morning, and somewhere pretty wonderful to enjoy right then.

I like that combination.

The next morning, we headed toward Clouds Rest. It was a nice hike, and once the summit came into view, the excitement grew.

There it was.

After all that time thinking about doing this hike, I was actually approaching the place I had pictured.

There’s a ridge you walk along to reach the summit. Some people might find it intimidating. I had wondered about it myself, but it wasn’t as bad as I had expected.

That was how it felt to me. Everyone has their own comfort level with a stretch like that.

And then I was on top.

Looking down toward Half Dome and across Yosemite Valley was amazing. It was the kind of view that brings you right back to a familiar Yosemite word.

Wow.

But Half Dome held my attention for another reason.

Almost exactly two years ago, I was standing on Half Dome.

Two weeks ago, I was on North Dome.

And now, here I was on Clouds Rest.

And I could see them both from the top of this summit.

Apparently, I’ve been finding different places to admire the same neighborhood.

I thought that was pretty neat.

And standing there, looking at both of those places, I felt grateful.

Grateful that I’d been able to make those hikes.

Grateful to be enjoying this one.

Three summits, three different experiences, and a pretty good reminder of how fortunate I am to spend time out here.

Somewhere over there, a friend was climbing Half Dome that same day.

Maybe he was on top right then.

Maybe, while I was enjoying my view, he was enjoying his.

I didn’t know whether our timing matched, but I liked thinking that it might. Two friends, two summits, and possibly the same moment to appreciate where we were.

That part hadn’t been in all my imagining before the trip.

I had thought about the distance and elevation gain. I had looked forward to the wilderness overnight and the view from the top.

But I hadn’t known exactly what would make the summit feel personal.

It turned out to be looking toward places I had already experienced, remembering how long I had wanted to get here, and wondering whether a friend was sharing the moment from across the way.

If you’ve followed this series, you know I like a hike with a reward.

Give me a waterfall, a beautiful lake, a great view, or the satisfaction of doing something I’ve wanted to accomplish, and you’ll probably have my attention.

Clouds Rest certainly delivered.

And now, when I think about it, I have something more to work with than anticipation.

I have a lakeside dinner.

I have that first look at the summit ahead.

And I have Half Dome and North Dome in the distance, each holding a memory of its own.

I still enjoy having a hike to look forward to.

But it feels pretty good to finally be able to say, “I remember when we did that.”

Trail Truth

A hike can spend a long time on your list.

When you finally get there, leave a little room for the moments you couldn’t have planned.

They might become your favorite part of the story.

And remember, the trail doesn’t end here.

So until next time, get outside, take the scenic route, and make a few memories. After all, that’s what the best adventures are really about. We’ll see you in the next edition of Hiking Yosemite.