Black Mountain through Rhus ridge - a walk in the clouds

There were many hiking trips over the last two months that did not get even a mention in the blog. One such hike was to go to Black mountain through Rhus ridge. We had made two prior attempts to do this, but parking at Rhus ridge is limited to 8 or 9 spots. So if you go even at 6AM to start, you might end up parking a mile and a half out and walk. There is no parking nearby on the main road either. 

This one time we found parking and made it. This pretty much covers every appoach to Black Mountain. 

We had a great time on this hike, especially since there was no visibility for the last part of the hike. The clouds rolled in and we were walking in the clouds for an hour with water condensing on us. As usual we did have chai in the clouds!

This hike stayed with me because of the views that were so different.. Same black mountain.. but different!

Then we got conned by a sign that said "historic windmill".. being a sucker for "historic", I encouraged the group to go see it even if added a mile to our hike. It was a letdown to see this sign after walking half a mile.

This is a public service announcement. There is NO WINDMILL to see.. however, the hike back up to the trail is a good cardio workout. The grass field also gives you a great contrast and nice pictures..

At one point we were sure it was going to start raining and we were not prepared for rain on a hike! Ended up being a good decision to keep going.. we were wet from the condensed water but by the time we made it down, it was okay. 

This hike was a familiar route with a new weather condition. Loved it. Nature has a way to make things interesting!

This hike was in June. We will try this route again in winter for a different experience!

Black Mountain never disappoints.

A change in perspective

Post Half dome, things seem to be different. Mentally.. those jitters of making it through 3-4 hour hikes in local parks seem to be gone. Granted it is the first and only data point, but it counts for something. 

It is rare for me to walk alone with San. Today we decided to just go and enjoy some together time and went to Wunderlich's Bear Gulch and Meadow trails. I was really not sure of being able to walk with the pace of a group and stress myself out. The last three miles of the half dome trip were still on my mind. After coming out of yoga class yesterday, thought my hamstrings were not up to it, but surprise surprise!! We did 7 miles in 2 hours 10 minutes including a Chai break and a few photo breaks. The photo setup times were a longer than usual. We were doing a steady pace and went up 1400+ feet and came down. Was able to walk as usual after the first 15 minutes..something loosened up somewhere and things turned out okay!

We got to see the sun rise over the bay area on what was a beautiful morning!

Not a bad start to a long weekend!

Here are some more pictures..

This place is just beautiful.. the sunlight streaming through the trees was like watching a dance!

Wasn't sure of the first one.. so took another one. Running from an iPhone placed delicately over a tree stump with a few other twigs to create a makeshift tripod has its challenges.. 

Went and got this trail special UV protect long sleeve hoodie from REI after a friend got it on the Half dome hike. It is very convenient and light and it is also thermal wear. Only thing is I should have worn my BYSJ shirt on the outside instead of on the inside. My usual T-shirt was soaked! 

That was an accidental click with the selfie being in portrait mode. It blurred the background, but turned out to be an interesting photo..so keeping it!

By the time the sun comes up the grass fields start looking like lava beds!

While making tea at 5:15 AM to get ready might not be appealing, drinking it after reaching the top of the trail, definitely makes up for it!

and finally a photo of me up inside a hollow tree..

This park is lovely and you get parking if you go early enough. Let's hope the rest of the long weekend goes smoothly!

I am starting to like walking alone with San as she is taking better photos every day! This is a good sign, given we will be empty nesters next year. 

Half Dome hiking experience

This weekend we finally made it to the top of Half dome. This was not the usual weekend hike. It was an experience. Something that will stay with me for a long time. Three years ago, would have thought this impossible.. thanks to COVID, the regular walks that turned to short hikes, the short hikes that turned to longer and longer hikes.. we eventually made it to this point! This is all thanks to the ladies who push their hubbies in our hiking group. 

We had the permit months ahead. We all had our ups and downs and last minute setbacks, but somehow things came to place for the most part and we made it. There were intense planning sessions, zoom calls, training hikes (Mission peak twice back to back, El sombroso in half a day, Black mountain with extra load etc.), but none actually close to the real deal. 

San always told me that she was not sure if I would make it to the top of Half dome.. but "if you make it past the sub dome, you will make it to the top". Heights was not an issue for me or almost rapelling down. The slow and steady climb for hours was the challenge. 

To top things off, the one day we left the kid alone at home, she got sick and we had to drive back as fast as we could.. after hiking for 15 hours, drove back 4 hours straight. Not sure if my legs are sending back signals to the rest of the body anymore.. they have gone on strike after the events of yesterday!

Usually this blog starts with pictures.. but this time, starting with a video of the entire hike.. stitched together from 10 second clips recorded at around every mile.. 

and now for pictures..

We got a glimpse of the golden face of Half dome as the sun set across it the previous evening. We were going to the top of this thing the next day! That realization was something in itself... we checked out the parking situation at the closest lot to the trailhead and decided it would be best to park there and start. Otherwise it would have added another two miles to our trip. The plan was to leave the Curry Village lodgings at 4AM, start hiking by 4:15. 

we were on plan!

The first two hours were difficult because it was very smoky. The air quality was bad at the lower altitudes. We just kept going. That is mars you see in the picture through the haze! It was a new moon day and before this early light, it was pretty dark.

As the sun came up, we were treated to amazing views and colors. We were already above Nevada falls by sunrise. 

Then the mosquitos came.. in numbers! They preferred me for some reason. Having learned that lesson from the Clouds rest hike, this time I was ready to turn into the mosquitos bride with a net around my face. 

You see the first light strike the half dome and realize how amazing, creation is! 

it is something !!

Took a lot of panos, but nothing topped this one from the golden hour!

Shortly after this we managed to take a wrong turn and instead of hitting Nevada falls, we ended up walking towards Illilouette falls! Luckily we realized we were on the wrong path and turned back. that added another 30 minutes to our effort.. but we laughed it off and kept going.

She keeps smiling like that, I can go hiking hour after hour.. and if you have a bunch of giggling ladies who lift up the groups mood, any hike is easier... (note .. I just said easier.. not easy!). The next two hours were a blur. Nothing eventful, no amazing views.. we were going to Yosemite village and it was a slow and steady climb. the group was slowly losing steam visibly, but we kept going.

Then we were at the start of the sub dome to show the ranger our permits and ID's. Every day only 300 folks are allowed up on the cables to go to the top. We did some rough calculations to see what percent of folks make it to the top of the sub dome, then make it to the top of the cables. If 2/3 reach, that is 200 people a day and the cables are open for a 100 days ? That is 20,000 people a year. They have an average of two fatalities on the last part or so we were told. We just didn't want to be part of that statistic. Tied up the shoes, took some electrolytes and off we went!

The sub dome is indeed the hardest part of this hike. It is a steep climb on rocks with a high risk of slips and falls. The camera never came out during this part. Was just reciting mantras (yes, that works) and kept going one step at a time. There are no photos of me clambering up.. here is my friend walking up the last part..

Correction.. two of my friends sent pictures of me on the subdome.. so here it is.. we go up this and then come down and up the horn sticking up on the top right!

Making it to the top of sub dome! For once the person who is considered the photographer in the group did not take enough photos but the rest of the gang did! Again, it is great to go with friends!

There is no trail anymore.. it is just a test of will power at this point. Once you climb up sub dome, you climb down a bit to reach the cables.

The cable section tests your fear of heights. Need gloves (preferably Gorilla gloves), but I just used the regular costco winter gloves. Many folks made it up and realized they didn't have gloves and were asking folks if they could borrow?!

You are going up a 60 plus degree slope with wire cables and a bunch of 2x4's on the floor every 8 feet to stop yourself. At one point there is no 2x4's and you have to rapell down a 20 foot stretch. Luckily for us there was not a big crowd here. Still there were two folks who held us up. A lady who went halfway up and got scared and just clung on to a pole and refused to move and a guy whose backpack ripped open halfway and hurtled water and gatorade bottles on the people below. A water bottle missed me by a few inches as it came down. You see the power of gravity as a water bottle hurtles so fast from above!

It is a good idea to leave backpacks below (however one of our friend's backpack got chewed on by squirrels as they tried to get the food inside! So there is no easy way out. Best to go with backpacks where the zippers don't give. Let's just say we got lucky!

Once there at the top, there is a flat open space and a ledge... this ledge is a photo op dream.. folks on the flat side can take pictures of the people on the ledge. So I gave the camera to San and went to the ledge. She started screaming.. everyone on the top probably thought I was on some kind of suicide mission. In any case, did take some pictures. I started trying a standing bow and there was a mini tremor from San's screaming from the other side a good 200 meters away. So backed off and came back to try yoga poses in the flat side of half dome. 

There was an actual conversation with a guy on the cables as we passed each other.. he asks me "what is a 60 day challenge?" and I explained it to him, while hanging on for dear life! Told him that is hard, but this is like doing a 60 day challenge in 15 days!  Of the twenty or so folks who were at the top with us, everyone was impressed with the yoga effort.. a bunch of folks even asked me if I taught yoga! I was in splits hearing that.. pun intended!

There was more screaming after that toe stand and I just had to come down..

Here are the highlight pictures..

that picture on the ledge was something!

then we started the long walk down. We had a good break to wait for water to filter for all of us. Almost all of us ran out of the 2.5 to 3 liters of water per person. I got an allergic reaction to something and my hands broke out in rashes as well as my inner thighs got all bloody thanks to allergies and sweaty wet clothes. Should have worn dri-fit clothes instead of cotton pants. That is a lesson for the future! 

We decided to walk on the mist trail for the last leg and see Nevada and Vernal falls on the way down. While it was a mile shorter, it was a lot harder coming down slippery steps. Next time (when there is one), we will come back on the JMT (John Muir Trail), the same way we went up. Longer is sometimes better!

Even with less water Vernal falls never ceases to amaze me!

We got back to the parking lot, knew that we had to rush back to a sick kid and didn't take a break. Just kept driving non-stop for 4 hours. San ate something and fed me while I was driving.. all the while trying to talk to the little one to make sure she was okay and had our neighbor come in and help. 

Made it before midnight. It is one thing to walk a few thousand feet for a few hours.. another thing to do it hour after hour for 15 hours. This graph tells it all..this is the most I have walked in a day since this health app showed up on the iPhone.. maybe the most in my life!

Now after that and 4 hours of non stop driving on windy roads in Yosemite and route 152, my legs are in bad shape. Have to rest, take it easy on the legs and recover for a few days!

All said and done.. this is something that I thought would be impossible in this lifetime. Thanks to all the yoga, the encouragement and support of the hiking group and the push from San, was able to make it. 

Fortunately, I am already recovering nicely and so is the little one. 

If you decide on going to half dome, no matter your age, do your research, plan well, get the right gear, train properly, go with the right group and you will enjoy the experience!

What next? We will wait for a few weeks and then ask ourselves the question!

Mt. El Sombroso

I am taking a brief detour from the Banff posts to cover a local hike we did today. This is supposed to be one of the toughest hikes in the local bay area. 

The Kennedy trail to Mount El Sombroso, a series of hills that come in waves. It is very different from a go up and come down formula.. you keep going up and down for the last 3 miles.. so that makes it 6 miles of up and down on a ~14 mile hike. 

We left early enough but had to park across and walk. We were up in the clouds and fog fairly early but slowed down steadily over the next two hours. The views were amazing in spite of the sun because we were above the clouds for the most part. 

there were no benches on this trail...not much shade either!

Two photos from this vista point that made my day.. (thanks to the two ladies who clicked these!)

As usual, we had chai at the top..

You can see Mt. Umunhum in the background. we were thinking that if it wasnt for the building on the top of that, this would be the tallest point in the range. we felt we were looking down on that mountain at one point!

The landscapes were amazing.. till the sun came out.. then there was a bluish tinge on everything.. maybe the fire in Yosemite is causing this?

you can see downtown San Jose under the cloud cover!

A video of the hike.. 

As a prep hike for Yosemite, this one comes close.. definitely more challenging than Mission peak! 

Strongly recommend this hike, if you can leave early enough and avoid the sun beating down on you relentlessly.. take enough water. We underestimated how much water we needed today and slowed down the last few miles because of that!

The trail is slippery in the gravel areas and pretty steep at places. They call it a tough hike for a reason!

All is well that ends well. I am tired but have a sense of accomplishment! Hope this trend continues...

Hiking to a summit in Banff

The previous post in this series is here..

Right before entering Banff on the return bus journey from the Glacier, our driver/guide mentions that there is still a few hours for sunset and points to teh local mountain..

"there is a trail from the trail head parking lot that takes you straight to the top of tunnel mountain. it is the highest point in Banff on this side of the river" it is a 4 mile hike and you can do it in a little over 2 hours if you are healthy! it is all a bunch of switch backs that pretty much goes straight up!" 

We googled it and found that this was like going up the last part of Rhus ridge. . after a long day, it was a toss.. but it was only 6:30PM and so we (nay, she..) decided that we will try to summit Tunnel mountain and be back down by 8:30 and have a late dinner before heading back to the hotel. 

The agreement was "no pictures till we reach the summit. That way we can go to the top while we still have energy. On the way back there can be pictures!" . Our entire hiking is group is aware of how I feel about going up without stops. This was the one part of the trip that I did not like signing up for.. hiking alone with San, where she gets all demanding and starts to insult my lack of pace etc.. I like my 20 second standing Shavasanas after every 10 minutes of hiking. This was one straight up hike with no gaps. Kept my mouth shut and kept going as fast as I could. Eventually we made it to the top and were lucky to find a dad and his toddler up there. We got pictures (so did he) and we made the walk back down.. this time I was allowed to take a few pictures. 

This worked out well because the sun was in our face at 6:30 and had gone down by the time we walked back. So the photos came out better than they would have two hours earlier. 

Another one of San's great clicks on this trip.. It is strange for me to hand my camera to her now to take pictures instead of trying to find someone in the crowd who knows how to handle a camera. All good.. (lateaa vandhaalum latestaa vandhirukkaa)

How Banff looks from the top of Tunnel Mountain summit!

We made it back in an hour and 45 minutes and were at the Indian Curry house for a nice hot masala Chai and a delicous dinner! 

We were on our way out and checking out the souvenir shops when it started pouring. We ran to our car and realized there was a parking ticket on the car! we should have used a pickup from our hotel in the morning. 

The road signs in Banff are very bad. I wanted to contest the ticket as there was no sign in the place I parked, but they don't have a way to contest. Apparently the town of Banff is starting to try and improve their parking ticket revenue in recent months. It was not this bad pre COVID per some other tourists and locals we talked to. 

We were happy after all the nature and adventure for the day.. so we just folded the ticket and planned to deal with it later and moved on! 

Here is a tip. Just park in a paid parking lot in the four blocks that comprise Banff downtown.. you are better off that way. 

Here is another tip. Hike tunnel mountain to the summit right around sunset. You get beautiful views on the way back of the entire Banff town and surrounding hills. 

Ending this post with a picture of us.. face showing this time.. from the nice red chairs almost at the summit.. Banff has these two matching red chairs in a lot of highlight places. Loved them!

Finally finished blogs of day 2!  Day 3 had a lot more stops. We had hiked 12 miles on day 2 and we did 16+ on day 3. We hiked a toal of 38 miles between Friday night 8PM to Monday 11AM.The bar keeps going up as we travel these days.

Day 3 posts, starting tomorrow.