Adventurous Chick Vacation in Yosemite Park !

Yosemite is full of adventurous opportunities for some serious chick bonding as you and your g-friends can choose from a wide variety of overnight hikes, day hikes as well as scenic self-tour drives. Yosemite has one of the tallest waterfalls in the United States at 2, 425 feet. If you are looking for an adventure with your g-friends you'll want to complete the full day 17 mile round-trip Half Dome hike which I will explain later.

Planning one of these vacations is a fun, bonding experience in itself. Why not shop for your hiking supplies together? It is fun trying on new comfy hiking shoes and socks, efficient hiking backpacks, emergency supplies, food and water supplies, hiking clothes and rain gear. Share bargain opportunities with each other along the way.

This memorable trip will offer physical and mental challenges. There will be opportunities to experience mind blowing scenery, personal successes and camaraderie among friends. Yosemite has something to offer everyone. There are spectacular opportunities to star gaze, grab some beers at a bar, listen to live music, stay in a rustic cabin with an unbelievably cute porch (Evergreen Lodge), pitch a tent or if you like it more upscale you can stay in the more expensive hotels and dine at upscale restaurants in Yosemite Valley. Did I mention the added opportunity to meet more friends or laid back hiker type guys that have your adventurous personality? If you plan on camping make sure you reserve your campsite a year or more in advance and look up what campsites/hikes require permits. There are some camps set far off into the back country. The cute cabin I stayed in at Evergreen Lodge is outside Yosemite Valley by about 30 minutes. I was able to reserve it with only 2 months advance, but you may not be so lucky.

The drive just to get to Yosemite park is an adventure in itself as you drive up a winding road on the edge of huge cliffs. We passed several old trucks and campers that were overheating due to the climb to the top.

I recommend reserving one day for the famous full day hike called, Half Dome. This hike is famous for its physical demands, incredible panoramic views of Yosemite and the famous steel cables that are used for the final ascent. You and your g-friends will need to be physically fit for this challenge. The hike is 17 miles round-trip with a 4,800 foot elevation change. Half Dome is 8,842 feet. The hike will take 10 - 12 hours and can be completed in one day. This incredible hike will be full of wildlife, pristine water, cascading powerful waterfalls, views of snow capped mountains and forests. Here is an opportunity to encourage you and your g-friends to be fit and healthy in preparation for this exciting hike. You and your g-friends can swap healthy energizing recipes, post training logs on-line validating your success of working out or even better train together. Here is some concrete motivation for completing that stair stepper workout or weight lifting to whip your hot body into stronger form. You don't want to be the one who complains that you are too tired to continue.

Encourage your g-friends to eat a high density breakfast and hit the trail by 7 a.m. to avoid the heat and possible crowds. The Half Dome hike begins with a strenuous ascent lasting about 6 hours until you reach the top. You'll want to begin your climb using the Nevada Falls trail and descend the mountain using the Mist trail. I'm very physically fit, but I know that had I hiked the Nevada Falls trail to the top of half dome I would have been wondering if I could complete the rest of the remaining 10 hours of hiking. You need pure concentration for each step on the steps as they are wet and steep.

After about 5 hours of strenuous hiking you'll come to a resting spot just below the final ascent of 440 feet of the vertical granite summit. It is a reward just to reach this point because you've completed the granite stairs on the sheer vertical cliffs without any handrails. It brings a whole new meaning to the stair stepper. It takes personal determination and support from others to complete this section of the hike.

You'll hear yourselves or others ponder how you'll ever make it down the mountain and you will need to begin to muster enough courage to complete the final 440 feet of the hike...trust me on this one. The steel cables and the hikers that look like little ants at the top are in clear view from here and so is the realization of the task ahead. While you and your friends encourage each other to complete this task you'll all enjoy talking with fellow hikers, hopefully eating high density calorie food ....perhaps chocolate?

Bring your own work gloves or pick up gloves at the bottom of the cables for this final ascent. Strong sturdy gloves are a must have for this hike. You'll be pulling your body weight up the mountain using the cables. You and your g-friends will have a memorable experience during this portion of the hike. You'll be sharing fears, strategy and greetings to other hikers as they descend past you. You will be grasping onto the same cable as the hikers coming down the mountain so you‘ll need to communicate to the hiker above you when it‘s safe to take the next step. You and your g-friends will experience the sheer excitement of the climb, see spectacular views, meet new people, grow closer and experience your own personal physical and possibly spiritual growth after completing the Half Dome hike.

The descent down Half Dome is just as physically demanding as the walk up. You'll be tired now and you must descend using the cables, walk down granite steps and wet rocks along waterfalls for hours. You and your friends will be enjoying all new scenery and more amazing views as you choose to descend Half Dome using a different trail than ascended on. You may find you and your friends dreaming up a rewarding replenishing meal when you finally reach the end. You'll have plenty of moments to relive as you recall this amazing trip.