Brian Salomaki, seen at the top of a random hill adjacent to Olmstead Point with Gordon Koo.
Bodie, residence and workplace of Alyssa Schwartz, an old western town with a lot of Stanford history. Leland Stanford owned the mill in Bodie for thirteen years [I think], found no gold, and sold it. A year later, they found gold.
Derek, Brian, and Gordon wake up at 5:30 Sunday, leave for Yosemite by 6:00, and experience the sunrise at Mono Lake.
Derek and Brian contemplate the path to take up to Half Dome.
Brian, in an act of desperation, takes the shortest way down to Yosemite Valley.
Rock steps can be used in both dance and national parks. They can be difficult to descend.
Vernal Falls is a fun waterfall and blows mist on tourists as they lose their footing on the rocks they traverse.
Don't ask me. Something about water and trees and nature. The picture didn't come out as well as I hoped it would.
The Stanford Rock Climbing Triad: [from left to right] members Gordon Koo, Brian Salomaki, and Derek Gaw. Derek looks shorter than Gordon in this picture, which makes Gordon laugh in triumph, as Derek is actually much taller than him.
Three and a half hours of straight uphill walking constitutes my exercise for the next six weeks. This is the last time I see Derek Gaw for a long time. This is the last time I try to scramble my way up to an elevation of 8000+ ft. I also got to visit Bethany and Family, who were very courteous in letting us eat their food when we had only dirt and good humor to offer them. Corgi found something about my legs delicious. I can't blame him. My natural flavor is great! And now to sleep!