Coleen and Suzanne are getting their bags ready for loading into my car. I did not ask their permission for this picture, which they then scolded me for.	View from a lookout point on the upper part of the Yosemite Valley. In this picture you can see all the way across the "granite bowl". It's very impressive to see all this treeless rock in one place.	A different view of the Granite Bowl, from the same vantage point.	At another place in Yosemite Park (upper valley), we saw this burned-out forest containing thousands of dead tree stems. I guess the fire happened in 1998 or 1999.
The very first evening our "advance party" camped at a small RV campground near the trailhead we were to meet the rest of the group the following day. When I got up in the morning, I took this picture of the tree near where my tent stood. Don't see many of these in Wisconsin! It was a nice little camping spot, AND it was free.	Finally we arrived at the trailhead on the following day (Saturday). Here we are all gathered together, ready to go (the trip leader, Conrad, is taking the picture). As you can see, we're well rested and eager for a little adventure. From left: Kathy Lee (assistant trip leader), Coleen Johnston, me, and Suzanne Gamble.	As we enter the trail, I posed for this picture indicating the National Forest boundary. The whole time we were there (3 days), we didn't see a single ranger or Forest Service employee. Apparently, this is the normal state, thanks to budget cuts in the Forest Service.	Our fearless leader Conrad ascends part of the River Trail on our way to Thousand Island Lakes during the first day hiking. This picture gives you a good idea of the size of pack we carried. The burden was about 35-40 lbs. for each person (estimated). But sometimes it felt like 80.
Approaching our campsite after the 10-mile "gentle climb" through the valley, we were greeting by an impressive backdrop of Mt. Davis behind Thousand Island Lake. This is where we made camp for the following 2 nights.	The following morning, Coleen took this picture of me standing next to the tent I borrowed (a 1-man tent from REI).	This picture of Mt. Davis on a clear, still morning turned out well.	The second day, we took a day hike around the area, and encountered this meadow stream coming down from a snowy pass, at approx. 10,000 feet. I started to feel the effects of the high elevation this day and was pretty short of breath.
Coleen walks ahead of me towards the end of our 2nd day. I was thirsty and tired. A quick swim in the cold lake refreshed us afterwards.	On the way back, along the "Pacific Crest Trail" (which apparently stretches the entire length of the Sierra Nevada), we were passed by these horses. I guess the Park Service rents out these "beasts of burden" to cash-paying tourists as a way of generating income. I, for one, don't like this constant horse traffic. It raises a lot of dust, they crap all over, and it tends to wear down the trails too much. When there's water and horses have been there, you get a big mudpuddle, instead of a walkable trail.	At another location, we passed a little meadow with a bunch of mountain flowers. This spring was very rainy out West, so I guess the flowers are more colorful than usual.	Finally, we arrive at the end of the trail on the 3rd day. Compare this picture to the previous one where we are about to enter the trail. Notice the difference in attitude? To their credit, the group members still managed a smile.