Exploring Yosemite
by Nathaniel Bluedorn, Copyright April 25, 2005, all rights reserved. 332 views
We wake up early to drive to Hetch Hetchy valley. There is a small mix-up about the time we are supposed to meet. We all know what our watches say, but Mario’s watch decides to lie. We arrive an hour early - at least that’s what the Currado’s think - and we are too shy to suggest that the Currado’s seem to be taking their time. Eventually we work up the courage to suggest to Mario that there may be something wrong with his watch. We have a lot of fun teasing him about this later.
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| From 2005-04-25 Hetch Hetchy |
Mario’s Toyota with his little green camper.
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| From 2005-04-25 Hetch Hetchy |
We pose for a group photo before we head out.
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| From 2005-04-25 Hetch Hetchy |
After crossing the dam, we enter a tunnel. At the end of the tunnel we see a family of deer. They are very tame.
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| From 2005-04-25 Hetch Hetchy |
Heather sets the backpack holding Riley Colt down while we take a rest. The temperature is perfect. We had been warned about snow, rain and hail, but we decided this was just how California people describe sunny weather.
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| From 2005-04-25 Hetch Hetchy |
Johannah looks out on the lake.
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| From 2005-04-25 Hetch Hetchy |
We sit on a bridge looking at the waterfall above us. The spray from the waterfall blows past us and cools us off. I enjoy climbing around on the giant rocks.
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| From 2005-04-25 Hetch Hetchy |
I point to something on the other side of the lake.
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| From 2005-04-25 Hetch Hetchy |
Johannah tries to get a photo of the dam from the other side of the lake.
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| From 2005-04-25 Hetch Hetchy |
At our campsite Mario puts the rain fly over his tent. I had fun starting the fire. I’ve never started a fire in a National Forest before - it’s always been illegal until now. The ranger only allowed it now because of all the recent rain.
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| From 2005-04-25 Hetch Hetchy |
We have a good time using our new JetBoil stove and eating a hot meal. The freeze-dried packages taste good.
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| From 2005-04-25 Hetch Hetchy |
Riley Colt holds one of our cooking pots. Earlier in the day he had trouble keeping his breakfast down. Heather was very brave in dealing with this.
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| From 2005-04-26 Hetch Hetchy |
The next morning, Hans and I filter some water for our return trip. The water was so clear, it was hard to see how we were filtering anything out. It all looked the same.
I’m glad my sisters enjoyed this trip. This is their first camping trip, and we managed to make it challenging and enjoyable. Mario and Heather were very fun to talk to and we enjoyed their company - even when they have trouble knowing what time it is.
Comments
1 • Ralph • September 10, 2008 • 10:02 AM
Let’s go!
2 • Mandy M. • September 21, 2008 • 7:50 PM
Kelli, I’m assuming you wrote this? Just wanted you to know, at this point in my life, this is very encouraging to me. Thanks for sharing. It’s amazing how God can worth through a simple blog post.
3 • Johannah Stanford • September 24, 2008 • 3:00 PM
The quality of this video looked good to me, and it didn’t take hardly any time to download on our computer. Did you get more climbing equipment? 
4 • Kristen • October 04, 2008 • 3:39 PM
Sounds like tons of fun. 
Ryan took me rock climbing indoors for the first time a couple weeks ago and I loved it! (I’m his sister.)
Colorado looks and sounds like a very fun place.
5 • Mandy M. • October 04, 2008 • 5:49 PM
Great post Heidi! You sure are brave. I’m glad you had such a great time!
6 • Nate • October 13, 2008 • 5:23 PM
Thats awesome….
Sounds like something I would do. :p
7 • Heidi Reiman • October 20, 2008 • 4:47 PM
Hans, You poor thing. I’m sorry you couldn’t get a wi-fi connection. By the way what is a wi-fi?
Is it like wiffer cookies with fine milk?
8 • Kelli • October 29, 2008 • 8:03 AM
Oh sheesh, Nathaniel, you’re hilerious! That was really roughing it.
9 • Nathan Nasby • November 04, 2008 • 11:28 AM
If you want a really creepy expirience stay at the Imperial Hotel in London! Wow, we had blood on the walls and in the sheets in our room. The Window was broken, and I’m not even going to mention the shared bathrooms!!!!
10 • Anna • November 05, 2008 • 8:01 PM
Haha! Nathan, this is just the beginning… Soon you’ll be cool with using towels unwashed from the last occupant, sleeping on bedbug-ridden mattresses, and, well, haha!
11 • Heidi R. • November 17, 2008 • 10:00 AM
Great story.
12 • A • November 17, 2008 • 7:01 PM
I just watched this a few days ago (was looking up vids of Marrakesh and then followed the rabbit trail) and thought about you guys… Odd, but fitting, to see it here as well!
13 • Kristin C. • November 17, 2008 • 10:13 PM
Haha!!! That is hilarious!!! :-D
14 • Debbie • November 25, 2008 • 10:27 PM
I have a problem with getting cave crickets in my basement and hate them. I don’t think I want to be their friend. But neat story on your adventure. God Bless!
Debbie
15 • Laura • November 29, 2008 • 12:49 AM
Wow! :D
16 • Estin • November 30, 2008 • 8:58 PM
That’s crazy.
17 • Trish • December 04, 2008 • 12:11 PM
Um…Ew. That is SOOO disgusting.
18 • Kristen B. • December 07, 2008 • 6:52 PM
You are a great writer, Kelli.
19 • Heidi R. • December 09, 2008 • 11:45 PM
Thanks, so are you.
20 • Heidi R. • December 09, 2008 • 11:46 PM
Oh, and I love your pics.
21 • Quentin Cooper • December 18, 2008 • 7:58 AM
This seems to have been written by people who have caved only once in their life or read about it in an armchair. What about the main thing warm clothes (be it a wetsuit or neo-fleece). Gloves completely unimportant as I have caved without them for 20 years and never wished I’d brought them. What about a survey of the cave? Going with someone experienced? Leaving a CALL OUT? that not feature in your essentials? Incase people ahave an accident in a cave then nobody knows about it….come on guys….
22 • Blue (Royal) • May 06, 2009 • 11:07 PM
Nice film guys. The water side looked like fun. I love a good natural water slide. Good job with not making it look to rigged.
23 • Royal Magnell • May 06, 2009 • 11:57 PM
That was fun… now we run so the cops don’t catch us!
24 • Rachel • May 19, 2009 • 9:36 PM
Hey! Hoping you get this soon. Just wondered what kind of camera, flash, etc. was used for these pictures. Also how the cameras were kept dry and clay free. Thanks so much!
25 • Beau • August 04, 2009 • 12:16 AM
Enjoyed it. I am curious if this is the Wilder cave in Pelham, AL?
26 • Dannity Kane • February 27, 2010 • 2:06 AM
Give me a little of that and I’d feel like a king.
27 • Stephen Nasby • May 28, 2010 • 9:09 AM
Good job.
28 • Stephen Nasby • September 02, 2010 • 9:58 AM
That looked like quite an adventure, exciting. Swim looked very refreshing. Cool camera, you can even go underwater with it.
29 • Katie Carter • September 18, 2010 • 10:11 PM
It is in Grady County Georgia, between Pelham, and Cairo. It is owned my my aunt. It is very pretty, it is not open to the public because people can’t seem appreciate it without breaking pieces off, and spray painting.