“Yosemite Valley, to me, is always a sunrise, a glitter of green and golden wonder in a vast edifice of stone and space.” ― Ansel Adams The breathtaking Yosemite Valley captured in black and white *photo credit Asher Allanigue* It was a cold November morning. I was up at around 6am, a bundle of nervous energy and excitement. After a 2-hour drive thru the valley floor, we finally found ourselves at the base of the trail. It's called the 4-mile trail but that's sort of not true because the actual distance is 4.8 miles one way. Sure, I've hiked before, 1-2 hour hikes on weekends but nothing prepared me for the sheer exhaustion that I felt at the tail end of this hike. I walked a total of 9.6 miles that day (yes, we did a round trip because we thought we were bad-asses) and it was not an easy feat. The hike down became purely mental more than physical as I "willed" myself to go down when my legs felt like lead. Hold up, I'm getting way ahead of myself, let me back track a little and tell you what I did to prepare for my first major hike. This would apply to pretty much everyone who has not been on a trail before. Have you done your research? Where do you want to go? This is what you ask yourself first and foremost. There are a million hiking trails out there and it can be overwhelming as it is exciting. I knew I wanted go to Yosemite so a couple of months before the actual hike, I read up on all the Yosemite trails. I only researched the day trails since I also knew that I wasn’t going to camp overnight. I found the most comprehensive info on the National Park Services website - https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/valleyhikes.htm. What shape are you in? I am a firm believer that hiking can be for everyone, regardless of age or sex. But if you are a first time hiker, it is important to know that there are difficulty levels for each trail ranging from easy to strenuous. Being able to roughly gauge what “level” you're at, would be key to enjoying the hike. Easy hikes are generally short, from maybe half a mile to 2 miles max and for Yosemite, not much elevation. So they are achievable by pretty much anyone. Moderate hikes require a bit more stamina because of the length of the hike. If you enjoy long walks or do some form of exercise on a regular basis, then I believe that you will appreciate the moderate hikes more than the easy ones. Strenuous hikes are for the more serious hikers. These are the types of hikes that require a bit more “training” I should say, for lack of a better word. You need to be able to be in pretty good physical condition and have at least done a few shorter hikes to be able to do the strenuous level comfortably. What's in your backpack? Water, for me, is the most important element when you're packing a day pack. I can survive without eating for the day, but when I know that I’ll be walking long distances, I cannot be dehydrated. Your research will pretty much tell you if clean and potable water is available along the way. Please try not to drink water from any source because there is nothing worse than having stomach issues on your hike. Remember, bathrooms are pretty much non-existent on the trails. You also need to consider the weight of your pack. It’s better to pack light because after mile 3, you’ll wish you brought a lighter pack. A bag of nuts, a pack of jerky, a few protein bars (and of course water) are all you need. This is not the "must-have" list because one person might prefer a banana over a protein bar and that is entirely up to them. Not sure if bringing a box of doughnuts is a good idea but hey, you do you. I only had 4 protein bars and 2 packs of beef jerky (plus water) and 9 hours after, I was still doing good from a hunger standpoint. Are you dressed appropriately? Apart from researching the trail, you also need to check out weather conditions and make sure that you’re dressed appropriately. Since it was November and freezing, I needed to layer up. I had on a shirt (moisture-wicking), a fleece pullover and a lightweight windbreaker. I was also wearing hiking pants, a pair of good wool socks and broken in running shoes, emphasis on “broken in.” New shoes have not yet "conformed" to your feet and so they do not have any “give.” Blisters might be in the equation if you’re wearing new shoes on a long hike. So your old, trusty pair of running shoes are the way to go. Hiking boots are recommended especially for the steeper and more rugged terrain as they are primarily for ankle support and keeping your feet dry when you are going thru wet soil or mud. I did not have a pair of hiking boots at that time so I decided to wear my broken in running shoes and they worked perfectly fine. Hiking pants are also not a necessity but since they are made of quick drying fabric, they will keep you dry as the day progresses (oh yes you will sweat even when you’re hiking in November). If you do not have any hiking pants, any comfortable bottoms that you have in your closet is okay but I would stay away from denim jeans. Wool socks will keep your feet warm as wool is a great insulator and they also absorb moisture faster than regular cotton socks so you won’t have a problem with sweaty feet. Investing on a pair is not a bad idea because who wants sweaty and smelly feet? No one. Do I need a trekking pole? Yes and no. Easy and moderate hikes typically do not require trekking poles because again the distance and difficulty are not that high. However with strenuous hikes, they help a great deal. I do not own a pair so I improvised. I looked for a long branch (about waist height) that was light but sturdy enough to absorb some of my weight. MacGyver would have been proud! It surely made going up easier than just relying on my good ‘ol knees and legs. Trekking poles are not a necessity when you're a first time hiker but they are a good investment if you plan to do more hikes in the future. At the midway point, taking a breather and being mesmerized by the view (Yosemite Valley) The four mile trail was a beast for a first big hike. It required all my strength and willpower to finish the hike, because the exhaustion was real! Again, it was approximately 10 miles (7 hours of walking more or less) and the elevation made my lungs work a bit more. Oh, but the views, the views! Midway thru the trek, we had the privilege of seeing Yosemite Valley from a great vantage point. We were also awarded with spectacular views of El Capitan and Yosemite falls although the falls itself was a bit of a let down because there was no water. It was winter after all. I guess you need to hike during spring or summer to have the full Yosemite falls experience. Finally when we reached the summit, a little known rock formation called Half Dome was waiting for us. We soaked it all in and I would do another 9.8 miles just to see it again. I love hiking because hiking allows me to have a better sense of myself. I know that sounds too new age-y to some but walking those miles in one of the most serene and beautiful landscapes in the world afforded me with a sense of appreciation for what I have and where I am right now in my life's journey. Don't get me wrong, I'm a city gal and I like the city BUT the outdoors has captured my heart. My hope is that people would get out more, experience the world more. We have these vast open spaces waiting to be discovered and we can all do it, one step at a time. "Life is a journey, not a destination." - Hope The magnificent Half Dome (view from Glacier Point) *photo credit Asher Allanigue*
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