Yosemite, California
Not many people can pin point the best day of their life. Some people can tell you the best thing that’s happened to them, a promotion, or a birthday, but not the actual best day of their life. Without the shadow of a doubt, the best day of my life was April 24, 2023. My best friend Elizabeth and I hiked in Yosemite National Park. Of course, I know the park is famous for a reason, and it’s supposed to be one of the most beautiful places in the United States, but this was beyond anything I’ve ever seen before. This was beyond my wildest imagination and I’d give almost anything to feel again the fresh joy, excitement, and accomplishment this day gave me.
We drove up the night before, from Los Angeles to Yosemite, staying at a hotel about an hour outside the park. I knew exactly which hike we were set to do the next day but I had no idea what was in store for us. The morning was freezing cold. I wore a long sleeved shirt, with a sweatshirt, and my puffer coat and I was still shivering. That quickly faded as the flat road turned into a steep incline. This hike was set to be at least 12 miles long and a few thousand feet of elevation, probably the most challenging one I had attempted yet. The morning dew turned into a cool morning and we met some other hikers along the route. One came back to us and asked if we had snow spikes on our shoes which we didn’t. He said the ice was so thick that the route became basically impassible just a little further up, but we decided to keep going anyway. It was touch and go and we definitely both fell a few times. The thick ice didn’t last, however and we soon were greeted with a hot sun and lots of powerful running water.
We came to the bridge across the Emerald pools and decided to take a small break to walk around for a little bit. We saw the most amazing overlook with a powerful waterfall and a vibrant rainbow. After the few months my girl had, it was so refreshing to see the light come back to her eyes. Honestly this was probably my favorite part of the day. Seeing my best friend happier than I’d seen her in a long time made my heart so full, it’s almost impossible to describe the feeling.
We kept going up then, we got to the second falls. This part of the hike was particularly grueling with the hot sun above us and no shade around us. Getting to the top though.. seeing the signs for Half Dome.. the feeling is unmatched. One day I would love to back and hike Half Dome. Maybe with Elizabeth if she’s down for it. We didn’t do it then because honestly, I don’t think I was up for it physically, but we also didn’t have permits for it. So after a long lunch break at the top, we headed back down. I slipped many times due to my lack of spikes. I don’t think we would’ve made it without our poles.
A man asked me if I had sunscreen, and I said I didn’t. He said it wasn’t for him, it was for me. I wore two french braids, and apparently my scalp was burning so badly that strangers were noticing. Note to self, always bring a hat and sunscreen, even if there’s snow on the ground.
What’s crazy is that I can barely remember what we talked about the whole time. I just remember being so happy to be so deep in nature. Seeing Half Dome for the first time in person, watching other people have soul fueling days as well. Everything was just where it should be. I think the perfect word to describe the day is blissful. The hike itself was physically taxing, but the surrounding bliss made the day just flawless.
When we got back to the hairpins, we saw people gathering at a distance, there was a bobcat sighting. He was quite small, but it was very grounding to see wildlife. It’s one of my favorite parts of hiking, but also one of the scariest. I like seeing deer and snakes, but I don’t think I’d like to run into a bear. Knowing my luck though, it’s probably only a matter of time.
When we got back to the car our feet were just about falling off. We were trying to rehydrate ourselves the best we could, while looking up places to get take out back to the hotel. I couldn’t believe I had even brought my puffer coat, considering it was at least 70 degrees out and we were so hot. The drive back to the hotel was brutal, we were both so exhausted, but we talked ourselves out of falling asleep at the wheel. We talked on and on about nothing and I remember pulling into the parking lot of the hotel feeling so grateful, not only for the most amazing day, but for the most amazing friend <3
