"It never rains in Yosemite" P. McNerney 09/02

Well it is 4:30 PM and I don't feel like rowing my bike back to camp after work. It has been very hot here (95-105) and the humidity has been up. So, that means that storms form over the high country to the east in the hot afternoon. Well, the sometimes make it back west to the valley. We had a fair little storm on Tuesday afternoon, but it wasn't at all a washout.

Well that has all changed. It has been pouring hear for the last hour and a half. So, I am assuming that our tent is not too dry and everything will be mud. We are fine, because we are sleeping in the Teardrop, but it is still a pain. And I was promised so long ago that it never rains. (This is my fourth trip and I have seen more than four storms.)

Well we left the solutide of the valley yesterday and went to Oakhurst for shopping and dinner. It is the first town south of the park. I haven't seen a traffic light since June 27th. It was amazing. We got groceries, and then we went to an Indian run casino for the buffet dinner. It was a challenge, but I got my $13.99 worth of food. And tonight two of our co-workers are buying Pizza for everyone for dinner. Not a bad stretch.

Yesterday, Paula went climbing about 600' up on the wall near Yosemite falls. She and I did her first 3 lead climbs this week on lower slabs. All were 1 pitch high (150' or less). She found a climbing partner that is somewhat more experienced than her. So for their first route they are doing an easy route but it is 3 pitchs and it is about a 200' scramble to get up to the start. So it was an impressive height when you combine the climb to the start and then the 3 pitchs to climb. I will let her explain more later.

Well I don't want to get wet, but I don't want to miss Pizza. There are priorities in life, even in Yosemite.

R.J.