Guatmala

New trip, new blog. I am going to Guatemala the day after tomorrow, to meet my sister and have adventures.

I will write about my recent trip to Yosemite, my other trip this Summer, in this first post. I don't have any pictures since I forgot my camera but hopefully that won't be the case in Guatemala. You can just image search the names I mention.

I took the Amtrak to Merced. Its wierd going through the central valley. Extensive continuous monoculture is really the only way to describe it. And some kids got arrested on the train as we were getting off. So then I was in Merced, waiting for Kevin ( my Irish friend from Santa Cruz), hoping that he would in fact arrive as I couldn't call him. He miraculously showed up only 20 minutes after me, off a ride from a bounty hunter from Fresno. We got to see downtown Merced, which was actually kind of nice. It was the first time that I have shown up in a new town in this country with a big backpack totally clueless, asking where stuff is, not knowing where I would spend the night etc. As we were a waiting for the bus into Yosemite a guy told us to stay at this day use area by the Merced river. We camped out and got the next bus into the valley.
Then we hitchhiked to Tuolumne meadows. It was the first time I hitchhiked since one time in highschool when I had to walk all the way home. After almost immediately getting picked up we made it to a spot where a large RV broken down and taking up almost the whole turnout. After uselessly sticking our thumbs out for a while it was clear that nobody would pick us up there. So we walked to the next turn out, which was also really small. We were there for a long time. Alot of cars would slow down upon seeing us, as if thinking about it, and then speed up and pass us. Finally a guy stopped and took us to a better pull out, where almost immediately two girls picked us up. They pulled up and asked,
"you aren't going to murdur us, are you?"
They took us almost the whole way (I didn't realize how far this drive was!) So we made it to Tuolumne meadows at around 2 and started hiking, in pretty good spirits. We made it about 4 miles when we came across a ranger. He asked to see our "wilderness permits". Of course we didn't have any. A very awkward moment passed as he explained that they are required and that we would have to go back and get them. He seriously made us go all the way back, and said that we could just camp at Tuolumne meadows backpacker camp and start the next day. Of course by the time we got back the camp was closed, and there was no option but to camp illegally (the whole ordeal was totally absurd, but what really got me is that by enforcing one rule he made us break another, as well as totally fucking with our plans).
Anyway the next day we made the 15 mile hike to Merced lake high sierra camp, where my friend Michael works. Definately one of the most beautiful hikes of my life. Absolutely idyllic scenery. Glacier carved mountains, green meadows with sparkling streams meandering through them... awe inspring to say the least.
So then we spent a few days at Michaels camp. We fnished the better part of a 1.75 liter bottle of whiskey Kevin hiked up and took baths in the camp's big kitchen sinks. We also hiked to another lake and fished, almost every cast got a bite from small fish called brookies (first time I ever caught a fish).
Then I had a 13 mile hike back down to the valley. The first 10 miles or so were fine. Then there were two epic waterfalls, which involved steep descents, basically just stone steps, and it was totally crowded as seeing the waterfalls is a popular day hike. It was pretty strenuous but rewarding.
Good times.