Yosemite Valley

Had a couple climbs and then a long downhill into the valley.

After about 5 miles we got to zero snow cover and it was amazing. AH and I were in the middle of a conversation when we crosse over the threshold so we almost didn't notice the dramatic increase in temperature and lack of frozen water under our feet. After a few more miles we saw more and more people with ever bend in the trail.

There were huge groups by the time we got to the trailhead. People everywhere. So many people. It was making me a bit anxious. On top of that, AH and I decided it was a good idea to not eat our normal breakfasts because we knew we would be in the valley soon with restaurants and a grocery store so I was really hungry and that led to a pretty grouchy Isabel. And it was really hot.

After getting into the valley we had a little bit of trouble figuring out where we could set up camp for the evening without having to had made reservations months beforehand. We finally found the backpackers camp ground (after mistaking a different area for it) and pitched our tents(again). A guy who was also camping there talked to us for a little and told us that the laundry was currently not available which meant I would have to walk around smelling like sweaty dirty mess I was for the next couple days. 

We located the grocery store and I loaded up on the essentials, strawberries, cucumbers, hummus, Oreos, granola and hazelnut milk. While I munched on those items, AH finished off a half gallon of ice cream and we both contacted our respective fams to let them know we were alive. Sometime after I got my foods and the last Oreo I realized that my face was completely covered in a pretty thick layer of dirt. I tried my best to wash it off in the pretty well trafficked restroom without getting too many side glances from the day hikers that didn't have a speck of dust on them. After that I looked even weirder due to my glacier glasses tan which made me look like a raccoon... When I saw that I wanted my dirt makeup back. 

AH and I stayed outside the grocery store until it was pretty dark. When we started walking back to our tents we realized we didn't have our headlamps with us. So, trying to remember where we camped and get there in the pitch black was our evening adventure.