Rock Climbing Adventure in Yosemite

My most recent trip to Yosemite blew any expectations and hopes I had away. Half dome with the cables down again was awesome, but getting to climb in a location so legendary in the climbing world the American rating system was invented there, was as EPIC as you could imagine. Granite paradise. Friends flew in from WA and drove up from UT to meet to climb half dome. We stayed in Curry Village the first 2 nights. Then, everyone left but 2 of my girlfriends and I, and we switched to “Camp 4” for the last 2 nights for a real camping experience under the stars in our own gear, surrounded by climbing community, and walking distance to the locations of our next couple days of adventures and activities. We set and climbed several routes near camp ranging from 5.7 to 5.9 (which in Yosemite is harder due to polished granite and mostly crack climbing), met and watched several groups begin their ascent at the dawn wall (so inspiring), and hiked Yosemite Falls. We had a black bear encounter while belaying and climbing, befriended climbers over shared campfires and incredible conversations with people who had just gotten off the wall and share in the energy, emotions, celebration and overall vibe of their monumental achievement of scaling the most impressive wall in the world. We all left that girls weekend feeling anew, inspired, high vibe, and so reenergized. I’ve been into climbing for a few years now, and this trip sparked a borderline obsession with it and since has me reading “the Push,” watching Dawn Wall for the first time, and hitting the climbing gym regularly. Whatever the reason you go to Yosemite, you’ll be sure to leave enchanted, invigorated and inspired by its beauty, majesty, and endless possibilities for adventure. Places to stay: Curry Village Camp 4 (lottery permit) - climbing paradise Yosemite Valley Lodge Awahnee Hotel Best Viewpoints: Glacier Point Taft Point Half Dome El Capitan Meadow Three Brothers Olmstead point El Portal Best Hikes Half Dome Yosemite Falls Trail Lower Yosemite Falls Trail Mist Trail to Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall Taft Point