Glacier Point 2011!!

March 11 was a big day for us. It marked the end of my third quarter of nursing school and Charlie's return from Santa Fe Springs, CA. Charlie was down in LA for a week installing the Martin Scrubber, a machine he has been designing for the last six months and recently filed a patent for in his name. We decided to celebrate with a Spanish themed Dinner Club followed by our much awaited trip to Glacier Point in Yosemite!

Chorizo cooked in red wine, garlic, thyme, and chives

Caramelized onions with sherry wine vinegar, blue cheese, and almond slices. Homemade roasted peppers with olives in a honey lemon vinaigrette. Paella with mussels and shrimp. Chickpeas cooked with bacon, garlic, and spinach. Baguette, olives, sangria, salad and delectable arroz con leche. Delicious.

The best company

Charming Cooks
Saturday, post dinner club food coma, Greg, Chrissy, Charlie and I piled in the car and drove out to Yosemite. You could feel the beginnings of spring with melting snow and birds chirping, and we were happy to find the roads far less treacherous than we left them in early January.

Charlie on Generator Crack
We stopped at the Generator Crack, a 5.10c off width crack, for Charlie to do some climbing.
El Capitan
After a few bruises and a close puking call, Charlie conquered the crack and we headed out to Bridal Veil Falls for a short stroll.

Bridal Veil Falls
We spent the night at Yosemite View Lodge lounging in a hot tub by the Merced River, eating pizza at the hotel bar, and indulging in angel food cake and strawberries while relaxing in bed. All rested up we headed out early Sunday morning to begin our 10.5 mile cross country trek out to glacier point.

Determined to make it!
The route out to the cabin consisted of a gradual uphill climb followed by a few miles of flat terrain and a final series of downward slopes leading down to the cabin.

Snowy lunch at the half way point
The weather forecast threatened rain, but we gladly accepted the snow that accompanied our lunch break.

Almost there!
Right before we snapped this photo, a lump of snow broke free and cascaded down Half Dome, reminding us just how steep that climb to the top had been almost three years ago now.

The Nichols, Becca, and Half Dome

Becca at the point
Once we reached the hut we warmed up by the wood burning stove, sipped on some hot chocolate, and used the lovely composting toilet. The restroom became known as the "hamsters cage" as each toilet use called for one scoop of sawdust. After a little respite, we snow-shoed out to experience the breathtaking views of Glacier Point.

Panoramic view from the point
The view was unbelievable. In one glimpse we could take in Nevada, Vernal, and Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, North Dome, Little Yosemite, and the Ahwahnee Hotel. The air was still and the only audible sound was that of rushing waterfalls.

Adventurous Charlie and less adventurous Becca hanging onto the snow covered side rail

Glacier Point Hut

We spent the evening with 18 fellow skiers at the Glacier Point Hut. The hut is a crowded snack stand and visitor center during the summer filled with tour bus goers and hikers. In the winter it becomes a majestic hideaway for skiers like ourselves. Bernie, our host, spends Thursday through Monday at the hut greeting guests and making sure everyone is well fed. He graciously kept us munching through the evening and surprised us all with a few bottles of Cabernet and cake! We spent the evening by the fire mingling with fellow travelers and resting up for the next day's trip. Sleeping in pint sized bunk beds the group fell asleep amongst communal snores.

Nichols' and Becca ready to roll
After a hardy breakfast, we headed out ready to face a long day of skiing and driving back to San Francisco.

Last view of Glacier Point Hut
While Greg, Chrissy and I hit the trail, Charlie wisely hung back to take some photographs as the sun began to shine in the valley

Some of our new found friends with Half Dome

Breathtaking Panorama of the Valley
Having stayed back for about half an hour to capture these morning moments, Charlie speed skated to catch up to me. Although the Nichols beat us back to the trail head by about an hour, we still had plenty of time to make it back to SF before bedtime.Clark Mountain Range
My favorite memory of our trip was skiing around a downhill corner on our way back and being greeted with this view of the Clark Mountain Range lit up in the sun. I felt honored to be amongst such beauty. The entire trip, although physical, was filled with many memorable gems.

Signing out on this 21 mile cross country ski adventure feeling grateful for our memories and awesome friends.