Daniel's Blog: Sonoma Academy Backpacking Trip in Yosemite

To mark the end of the first quarter of the school year, a group of nine Sonoma Academy students and four faculty/staff (Kiska, Kerry, Sam, and Dan) decided to break away from the classroom and everyday urban life to head to the mountains for much needed recreation (i.e. re creation). The intrepid group of 13 drove into Yosemite Valley where they spent the night before embarking on a 3-day backpacking trip beginning in Tuolumne Meadows and ending in Yosemite Valley. Although the first day’s section from Cathedral Lakes Trailhead to the Sunrise Lakes was around 12 miles it felt more like 100, given that we were rapidly thrust into the high altitude, a light dusting of snow, and noteworthy elevation changes. We arrived at our first night of camp on the trail just as the sun was setting, the wind was blowing, and the temperature was dropping. Needless to say tents were put up rapidly and our evening dinner and check-in was brief so that everyone could retreat to their sleeping bags. The second day was physically and figuratively the high point of the trip since the group summited Clouds Rest - a spine of granite that once on top of, at nearly 10,000 ft, gives you a 360º view that includes Half Dome, Yosemite Valley, Mount Cark, other nearby Sierra Nevada wonders. Derek Huynh 20’ said, “The hike was extremely hard but after getting up there and seeing the beautiful sights, it was all worth it.” We then descended to Little Yosemite Valley where we spent our last night, before finally hiking the six miles down to the valley floor where our vans awaited us. The group arrived home on Saturday night very sore, after hiking a total of 27 miles, but with ear-to-ear smiles.

Enjoy the pictures!