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Solo in the Wilderness

4.2.03

Each weekend Yosemite gets more and more visitors as the weather gets nicer and last weekend was no exception. With a Yosemite Association’s annual Members get-together, the Valley was packed so I headed for the high country, solo.

I went on a two night backpacking excursion on the north rim of the valley, and it was a great chance to clear my mind. There is no escape quite like the wilderness, and being alone made it that much more special. I did have a few hairy creek crossings over Wildcat and Cascade Creeks, but other than that my trip was nothing but enjoyable. It was nice to get away from it all and not see another human for a few days.

After setting my base camp near Cascade Creek, I hiked about 6 miles up to Ribbon Meadow, which is adjacent to the top of El Capitan. I was post-holing through snow that was at times 6 feet deep while I was hot wearing shorts and a tank top. The 70 degree weather and cloudless day made for spectacular vistas of the snow-capped mountains. Not a bad way to spend a weekend, next time I’ll have to remember my camera!

Jocelyn