We have arrived at the valley and scored a wilderness permit. We park the car near Curry Village, as directed, before hopping on the shuttle to the trailhead. During the ride, the bus driver calls out the stops along the way. But it seems like she left one stop out, and duplicated another- we're not sure. This leads to a silly discussion on the topic of set theory, much to the chagrin of the other nearby passengers. 

This shot looks up toward Glacier Point, which was the initial ascent for our last backpacking trip to Yosemite a few years back.

In a pointless attempt to demonstrate that we're still in the prime of our youth, the initial ascent this time is up and over Yosemite Falls, pictured here. Except for one nasty section of deep sand about halfway up, it does seem to be marginally easier. The trail winds its way along the granite cliffside, and for the most part remains removed from the falls themselves. Just past the sand pit mentioned earlier, the trail descends again for some time. I guess the guys who made the trail thought that a 3,000 foot climb wasn't enough, and this was their way of adding another 500 feet. I think Tom would have gotten along well with those guys. Gee... do you think Tom might be one of those idiots reincarnated?

We finally make it to the top of the falls, and forgo the scenic overlook in favor of getting in a few more miles before sunset. We're heading north along Yosemite Creek, the source of the water toppling over the falls. We stop around 6 o'clock, just short of Yosemite Creek Campground, a rather primitive but interesting campground located a short distance from Route 120. Not a bad beginning- an 8 mile hike with a 3,500 foot gain in elevation. Can you say... STUDS?

Day 2 sees us hiking right through Yosemite Creek Campground, and then across Highway 120, before reentering the wilderness. For the next several miles, the scenery consists mostly of Jeffrey and lodgepole pine forest. I don't know why, but our trail guides always point this fact out, like Jeffrey and logepole pine are supposed to be exciting or something. The group becomes separated at this point, with Tom way out front and close to Canada already, Barry with a somewhat more sane pace, and BerrisBob going at about the same pace he and Phil typically take. Some habits die hard. Eventually we exit the forest at this little meadow, just before crossing over the pass in the upper left hand portion of the picture. Notice how I was able to include some Jeffrey and lodgepole pine in this shot!

The top of the pass affords a wonderful overview of the 'Ten Lakes' region.Oddly, there are only seven lakes that make up 'Ten Lakes'. Even more odd is the numbering scheme that is used to denote the individual lakes: 1, 3, 4, 8, 5, 9, 7. I suspect this area was named by the same people who made the Yosemite Falls trail.

Having picked out a campsite along the shore of Lake #2 (I think), the boys begin to set up camp. After a long hike in the hot sun, we are low on water, and I suggest to Tom and Barry that we need to restock on the precious fluid. Unfortunately, they misunderstand, as can be seen in this photo, where Tom holds a water bottle while Barry prepares to relieve himself in it! I catch the miscue on film, and shout out new instructions just in time to avoid a distasteful disaster. You gotta keep your eye on 'em all the time.

With camp set up and water finally properly obtained, I take the opportunity to indulge in a quick dip in the lake. The water along the shore is quite shallow, requiring wading out a dozen or so yards through a deep muck. But despite the muck and the very cold water, it is well worth it. 

It's still early, so we take a bit of a break before starting dinner. Tonight's dinner for me: spaghetti in a bag. It's really quite tasty, much to my surprise. Backpacking food has come a long way in the last few years. 

As twilight falls, we enjoy the luxury of a campfire- albeit a small one, as firewood is scarce along this heavily used lake. 

Day 3 begins with an immediate ascent out of the Ten Lakes region, back in the direction from which we came. We see the opportunity to make a small detour to a small lake on the map. We're not expecting much, but after hiking for a few miles along a small mosquito infested stream, we arrive at the stunningly beautiful Lukens Lake, pictured here (I'm afraid this shot doesn't do the lake justice). 

Here Tom pumps some water, while one of the 'locals' supervises. Perhaps the deer had heard rumors of the water gathering snafu yesterday, and wanted to see if they were true.

Leaving lovely Lukens Lake leeward le lead louth...  excuse me, my tongue fell asleep there... we head south again through our friends the Jeffrey and lodgepole pines. 

I don't know if this tree is a Jeffrey or a lodgepole, but one thing I do know is that's some crusty shit growing on it. 

We end day 3 by scoring a perfect campsite along Yosemite Creek about 1/2 mile upstream from the top of Yosemite falls. After hiking 16 miles today, Barry and BerrisBob are glad to be setting up camp. Tom, being Tom, makes a pathetic plea to continue along the remaining 5 miles to the valley floor, 3,000 feet below, using flashlights as needed to illuminate the treacherous steps of the Yosemite Falls Trail. Needless to say, the plea falls on deaf ears. Instead, I take the opportunity to photograph the surrounding beauty. 

Day 4- We're up early and on the trail. We quickly make it to the Yosemite Falls overlook, which we passed up on day 1. Tom poses near the edge in this photo, with today's original destination, Half Dome, partly visible in the distance. But Half Dome will have to wait for a future trip. By pure coincidence, Half Dome has a little half dome in the form of a lens flare right in front of it. How apropos. 

Just behind Tom in the previous picture, is a stepped path that leads down to a better overlook of the top of the falls. This shot is taken from that overlook, with the camera held out at arm's length in a attempt to get an unobstructed view of the bottom of the falls, 2,000 feet below. It looks like I need longer arms. 

We're headed back down the Yosemite Falls trail, cursing every big bone-jarring step. Tom, as usual, is out of sight in front of the pack. Barry and BerrisBob, each sporting some form of lower extremity malady, play a painful game of sorts of leap-frog all the way down. 

At about the halfway point, we're treated to this nice vista of the valley floor, framed by Glacier Point on the right and Half Dome in the background. Notice the fingers of haze hovering over the valley floor. Despite almost half the valley floor campsites having been wiped out over the last two winters, pollution from campfires and automobiles leaves its mark here. 

We make the valley floor around 11am, and take the shuttle back to the car. After 4 days of packing, we're packing a considerable amount of stench. Lucky for the other passengers, there is no glass in the windows on the shuttle.