Well, I'm working on the Hike page and  the Photo page but they're not done yet.
I haven't even started the video, yet.
Sorry about that but soon.
In the meantime here's two more pictures to amuse you.

PLUS, oh so much more!

OK, let me get this out of the way first...
Doug didn't show up.
I couldn't reach him for two whole days before leaving.
​Phone calls, texts, nothing.

<SIGH>
It happens.
So I was on my own.

The plan was to hike in to camp on Friday.
Do Half Dome or Clouds Rest on Saturday.
Do the other one on Sunday.
Come home on Monday.

"Plans never meet first contact with the enemy."
(*Sun Tsu.)

1- Doug doesn't show up, and
2- Clouds Rest is covered with 2' of snow.

OK.
What's left?

So I hike in to Little Yosemite Valley with a 50-lb backpack.
(Yeah, yeah, I've got the pics if you insist.)
It takes me all day!
I set up camp and next day do like people tell me - I take a "Day of Rest".
(You mean sit around here in the wilderness and do "nothing" all day?
I like that idea!

So, on Saturday morning, my Day of Rest, I just wander around within a quarter mile of camp and rest.
I'm about 1/4 mile from camp from, on the main trail when I stumble across a mama bear and her cub.
They notice me but don't seem threatened.
I'm about 50 yards away, so I figure I'll get some pics!
I'm not going any closer!
That's why I've got zoom, right?

Then, on Saturday afternoon I went looking for someone to use Doug's permit.
I ran across this one cool woman, Jan.
It's her ninth try!
She's been up here 8 times before and always quit at the cables, so we agree to go together. 

Saturday we start out.
This is the reason for camping here:
-No weight - Hydration pack and lunch only.
-Very early start - we were at the cables by 7:30 am.

Along the way we were also looking for anyone to share permits with, since I had one and she had three.
We found one buddy, and the three of us went for it.
(I'm sorry. I forget his name right now. If you're out there, contact me and say hi.)

I warned everybody I was the slowest of the group, don't wait for me.
But they did,,, how sweet.

As you come up this one rise you suddenly see the sub-dome and Half Dome ahead of you.
The sub-dome has all these little ant-like people doing switchbacks up it and the Half Dome rises above that!
It's gigantic.

(I measured 45 - 50 degree angles on the sub-dome.
​I didn't even try on Half Dome itself.)

​This would be a BIG hike, waaayyy back there at the beginning of the trail.
Out here it's stupendous.

We got to the cables about 7:30 am.
It was awesome!
They appear to go straight up the side of a cliff.
And, it gets steeper as you go higher.

There was only about 15 people there when we got there, and only about 4 of them on the cables, (see pic.)
It makes the cables real fast... unless you're the slow guy, like me.

Here's the catch to make it work for you.
Go one-board at a time!
Just 10' or so.
And stay there until the next board is ready for you.
That's all.

I recorded my trip up the cables.
Unfortunately, it took me 29 minutes to do that last 600' so I know you don't want to watch the uncut version.
​I'll update in a couple of weeks when the video is ready.

Anyway, you're not too old or decrepit unless you have injuries or medical reasons.
You might need a friend to help with your load.
But, go do Half Dome if you can.
Before it IS too late.

​Jou Baur

*​Video soon, with links and tips to do your hike.

We're supposed to be doing packs tonight, but of course, Doug is nowhere to be seen.
That's the way it always is with him, though.
But what more can you expect out of a homeless guy who can't deal with ANY responsibility?
At least he still goes hiking and makes it.
Unlike all my other friends, who always end up saying,
"Uggg. I don't mind walking flatland with you, but don't call me for any more of these uphill hikes, Jou."

So I quit calling them.
What else can I do?

Two years ago when we went, Doug didn't make it up the dome.
He made it up the sub-dome, but the cables were too much for him.
He did have bald shoes, so I didn't push him, but I'd have gone even if I had to do that last bit barefoot.

Well, tomorrow night we leave.
We leave about 3 am.
It's about a 3-1/2 hour drive and we can't pick up our permits until 8 am so we stop and get breakfast along the way.
That way we get there between 7 - 7:30 and only have a little while to wait.

Last week they didn't put up the cables!
There was too much snow.
If the cables aren't up, it's more like mountain climbing instead of hiking, so for me that means, no Half Dome.
But just today I saw where they got them up.

So, Friday morning at 3 am we head out. 
Friday go in to camp and relax. 
Saturday do Half Dome and Sunday do Clouds Rest.
Monday come out and drive home.
Tuesday sleep in and go to work on Wednesday.

I am wondering if I will make to both mountains, though.
I haven't been exercising like I should and I'll be 64 this summer.
In fact, I consider this as my 64th birthday hike, even though my birthdays in a couple of months.

However, there is a shortcut I'm considering.
Instead of camping at Little Yosemite Valley in the backpackers camp, maybe we should camp right between the bases ofthe two mountains we want to do.

Below is a picture from Half Dome facing Clouds Rest.
If you go down to the base of Half Dome and curve a U-turn back to the right about 4 miles, you'll be in Little Yosemite Valley.
Instead, I'm thinking of finding a campsite in the area you're looking at right there between these two mountains.
​Then, one morning walk a mile and do Half Dome, the next morning walk a mile and do Clouds Rest.
​The hikes will still be a good bit more than a mile, but they won't be such a lot more as if we stayed in the camp.

Well, it's a thought.
We'll figure it out for sure when the time comes.

G'night for now.
Jou Baur

Well, it's finally almost time for my Half Dome trip.
We're going in June 2nd and doing Half Dome June 3rd.
I sure hope the cables are up by then, but it's been a record winter.
They were going to put them up this weekend but there's still too much snow.

On my last trip two years ago I don't have any footage of my actual ascent up the cables.
That's because I kept both hands on the cables.
Sliding off of Half Dome wasn't on my itinerary.
This year I have my 2 GoPro's with both a head mount and a chest mount so I should get some great footage of my climb.
I also have my Panasonic and selfie stick, but I'm not sure about taking my hands off of the cables to use it.
Oh well, we'll see.

I never saw a weird left turn like this before.
Most times the concrete island separates different directions of traffic.
Not so here.
It actually separates two lanes of the same direction of traffic and puts two different directions together.
​Weird.

I drove up to Yosemite Saturday.
I wanted to see the waterfalls while they're roaring and man were they roaring!
There's only one road open into Yosemite right now; Hwy 140.
The others are closed due to mud or rock slides
I didn't do any hiking, though.
I tried to take Doug, but he was nowhere to be found, so I just relaxed.

All the trails were icy according the the rangers when I called, so I just cruised around the valley and had fun.
I picnicked in the meadow looking over at Yosemite falls, and then kicked back and had a nap.
I got lots of good pics and then headed home.
Except my car wouldn't start.
The starter finally died.
I tried for an hour and finally borrowed someone's phone and called AAA for a tow home.

I've been noticing it going, but it usually starts after a try or two.
I took it in a few weeks ago to have it fixed, but of course it wouldn't repeat itself for the mechanic so he wasn't sure that it was the starter.

I always used to tease my friends claiming that if my car broke down in Yosemite I'd just call AAA and bring it home with me.
After all, that's why I'm a Premier member.
Well, it's not a joke anymore.
180 miles at $10 per mile, it would have cost me about $1,800 if I had to pay.
I pay $120 per year.
That's about the next 15 years worth of dues.

The tow truck was there within a half hour and towed me to El Portal, (just outside Yosemite,) where another truck was already waiting for me. He gave me a receipt for the $75 the tow would have cost that far and went back into the park.
The second truck then towed me all the way back to the bay area.

So, I had a great day, got some great pics and even got home safely.
How ya going to beat that?
​
​
​

Yosemite Valley from Tunnel View, just before sunrise.
This famous view has it all, El Capitan, Clouds Rest, Half Dome, Sentinel Dome, and Bridalveil Falls.
​-77

Bridalveil Falls
-81

Half Dome 
-938

Yosemite Falls 
-5010

Yosemite Falls was roped off due to ice.
-146

Kicking back relaxing and enjoying the view.
-2435

El Capitan
There are no climbers on El Capitan that I can find.
-2731

Half Dome is calling and I must go
Last stop on the way out.
​That's Bridalveil Falls filling my coffee cup.
I even broke down and bought me a new coffee cup.
-1647

Homeward bound
Speaking of "Broke Down."
Thanks God for AAA Premier.
​-3633

I think we should have a Bucket List EVERY year.
For 2017 here are a few of the items on mine.

Waterfalls: 
Yosemite Falls, Feather Falls, Bridalveil Falls, Berry Creek Falls, and the Mist Trail are all on my list. 

Half Dome!:
I'll nail this and the Mist Trail both when we do Half Dome in early June.
We're going in June 2nd and coming out the 5th.
We intend to do Half Dome and Clouds Rest both, ESPECIALLY since last year Doug couldn't make it.
He had just gotten out of the hospital and I wasn't having him injure himself worse by overexerting himself.

Sit on the edge of Half Dome with my feet hanging off of the cliff:​
This one's a little scary but I must.
I've already told Doug he's doing this too!
I explained to him that I'm not listening to him gripe how he failed like he does now every time I even mention Half Dome.
And if climbers can sit on a Porta-Ledge with their feet hanging off at 1,000', why can't we?

Hetch Hetchy:
I'm not sure about this one but I've heard it's almost as beautiful as Yosemite itself so I want to see it one of these times. Maybe  this year, maybe next.
We'll see.

SNOW: 
I want to drive up and see the snow since there should be so much of it.
I've never snowshoed or snow skied so I want to try them out.
I think maybe a mile or two is enough since I'm not used to them and they take different muscles than just hiking. 
The problem is that I drive a Toyota Corolla and I don't have chains, so this has to be just right.
But... it's ON the Bucket List.
​
I'll add more when I get the chance, but this is a good start for the year.
That's 4 big hikes, one very big hike, and a possibility of more in Hetch Hetchy.
That's not even counting all the little hikes I intend to do.

What a year!
Hope to see you out there.

Jou Baur
​

Well,l I took a couple lazy days, but even so I got more done between my last post and now.
I haven't counted them but I'll bet I'm up to 105 pages, at least.
I've got some really cool new pages up, and more to come!

​You like Bacon?
I've got "Bakin' Bacon".

Speaking of Bacon, I've got my cornbread muffin pages started.
How about Honey-Bacon Cornbread Muffins?
You ever eat those?

WAIT!
What if that's not enough and I decide to add cheese?
Or how about Maple instead of Honey?
How do they compare?

Tell me...
How do do you think these would compare? 

Honey-Bacon Cornbread Muffins with Cheddar Cheese,
vs.
​Maple-Bacon Cornbread Muffins, with Pepper-Jack Cheese?


I had to know so I made them both at the same time to find out!
Wouldn't you like to know?
Pic's and recipes will soon be up for these.


And I've got so many other pages!
​
Just since the first of the year I've posted 29 new pages and new material on 5 more!
Check out the Cars that I've smogged!
I limited this to mostly the Ferrari's, Maserati's, Lamborghini's, and other exotics.

I've got Pinnacles High Peaks up, and the Asian Art Museum, Berry Creek Falls, (finally!) Clouds Rest, and even Flag Hill, (possibly the BEST "First Hike" around the area,) plus a whole lot more!
I've even got an idea for another style of pages.
​I want to do some teaching stuff, and computer security.
Computer Security is always important!

Now, how ya gonna beat that?
Stick around for the show.
​
Jou Baur

The other day I counted 97 pages, but that's wrong!
I counted wrong because of the way I've got them organized.
I accidentally counted all the Superhero pages twice, (plus a couple of others,) so I probably only had about 90 pages.
However, I've got 98 pages now, so I'm good.
​Only two more to break 100.

Even 90 pages is awesome!
Do you have any idea just how much work is involved in making one page?
Not counting the hike itself and taking the photos, you then have to sort through hundreds, (or more!) photos to figure out which ones you'll use.
Then you have to sort through them several more times to make sure you have enough diversity, and not too many that are alike.
Then you finally start posting them, (each photo can take a minute to load,) and writing blurbs to go with them.

So, all-in-all, it's a real lot of work and a real lot of time.
However, once you're done you've got something to be proud of, something possibly even harder than the hike itself.
Definitly something longer lasting than the hike.

If you like what you see, spread it around.
Thanks, muchly,
Jou Baur

These are not all recent.
Some of these pages have been here for years, but I've posted 20 pages just since the first of the year!
Some of those pages are very long!
My Tomales Point pictures page is quite long, for instance.
WAY more than 20 pictures!
It is actually one of the longest pages of all, but what a page!

You ever seen a White Thistle, for example?
I've got several pictures of this rare example.
They only grow, (that I'm aware of,) out on the Tomales Point hike.
I think that it only grows there because of the salt air, the water, or the ground.
If you take one home and plant it in regular ground, it turns green, just like the ones you're used to.
This is NOT a one-off!
There are a lot of them there although I've never seen any anywhere else.

I also love the webbing.
That's NOT spider webs!
The plant produces that.
Our guess is that that is for water.
There is NO GROUND WATER out here.
Only fog, or salt spray.

Well, hope you enjoy yourself.
​Jou Baur​