Yosemite

Another great day on this trip! Dad pulled us out of San Francisco around 7:00am and the girls got ready for the horseback ride through Yosemite Park and up to Vernal Falls. Mom took over driving in the park with the elevation increase and hairpin turns. The views were stunning! We arrived at Yosemite Stables in our best horse riding clothes. We had a 4 hour your and it was just us and two guides, Taylor and Ashley. Kevin rode Henry the awesome mule, Mom rode her main mule Isaac, Kayla had the beautiful white Uno, Callen had to slow and steady Buzzard and Colbie fell head over heals for a special mule named Jethro. We watched our safety video, saddled up and started on our ride. We rode through the hundreds of tent campers that seem to be in any available spot that would hold a tent, over bridges and near streams. Right when it was getting boring it got a little scary. We now appreciated our sure fitted mules as they were slipping on the rocks and jumping down the steep steps and taking the switchbacks up 1500 ft at their own pace. Not gonna lie, it was a little scary. We arrived at the top and realized the falls was another 700' up or so. Although we were carried up on mules, our legs were a little stiff and behinds a little sore. We set out to climb to the top of the falls. Daddy, Kayla and Callen went higher but Colbie could only make it about halfway so she and mom stayed back. They were steep, rocky stairs on the edge of the cliff so I didn't push her! We came back down, filled our water bottles and returned to our mule friends. We went back down the same way and it was just as scary. Mine headed off the cliff at one point and slipped and got spooked at another time but other than that it was fairly uneventful. The girls loved it, especially Colbie who cried and kissed Jethro goodbye when it was time to leave. After our ride, we stopped in the village for some pizza and saw a quick walk to Lower Yosemite Falls. We were supposed to drive 11 hours to the Grand Canyon but at 4:30 we know that wasn't happening so we vowed to quickly walk to the falls. When we reached Yosemite Falls there were giant rocks and boulders covering the base like they had been tossed there. Callen of course saw it as an awesome climbing opportunity. Off she went. Just one more mom until she was a small dot against the falls and rocks. Of course Colbie followed Callen, Kayla followed Colbie and I made Kevin follow all three. I hung back a bit to hold phones and take pictures. I still ended up climbing half way or so only falling in the freezing water once. We finally got them off the rocks and realized we were in trouble as it was now getting dark and we were still in Yosemite. Mom drove us out of the park and dad drove a bit after that. Mom took the night shift and we finally stopped at 3:00am and slept at a Loves truck stop. Good times.












































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Location:I-40 W,Flagstaff,United States