Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 2008-03-13 18:07.
Thanks a lot for the helpful reply and thoughtful advice. I became quite obsessed with hiking Half Dome for the first time last year, and it rained the weekend we went to Yosemite. (It was in September, and it was the only storm to come through for a month before and a month after.) I had seen the reports the week previous, and literally was reading NWS reports every hour or 2 for the entire week. It took a toll on my mentally and physically (not to mention a strain on my personal relationships) being fixated on making this hike. I don't know why I was like this, and we managed to make the hike (only after driving to Sonora the night before, getting to bed at 11 and waking up at 5:30 the next morning). Thankfully the weather was OK the day we went (it started raining that evening), but I don't know if I would have had the wisdom to turn around, even had it started raining.
I guess the point of this story is to relate to your advice. I always have to have the willingness to turn around if the situation is not one I am comfortable with. It didn't hurt me at Half Dome (although I did get sick for a couple of days afterward...probably from the stress of the week), but it can if I don't think clearly about the dangers presented on any hike. I'm not sure in the future I would have had the willingness to turn around or say "not today", but reading your advice and story helps me see perspective. The mountain will always be there, so I may as well challenge it at my skill level, and when it is safe to do so, for me.
Thank you!
Thanks a lot for the helpful reply and thoughtful advice. I became quite obsessed with hiking Half Dome for the first time last year, and it rained the weekend we went to Yosemite. (It was in September, and it was the only storm to come through for a month before and a month after.) I had seen the reports the week previous, and literally was reading NWS reports every hour or 2 for the entire week. It took a toll on my mentally and physically (not to mention a strain on my personal relationships) being fixated on making this hike. I don't know why I was like this, and we managed to make the hike (only after driving to Sonora the night before, getting to bed at 11 and waking up at 5:30 the next morning). Thankfully the weather was OK the day we went (it started raining that evening), but I don't know if I would have had the wisdom to turn around, even had it started raining.
I guess the point of this story is to relate to your advice. I always have to have the willingness to turn around if the situation is not one I am comfortable with. It didn't hurt me at Half Dome (although I did get sick for a couple of days afterward...probably from the stress of the week), but it can if I don't think clearly about the dangers presented on any hike. I'm not sure in the future I would have had the willingness to turn around or say "not today", but reading your advice and story helps me see perspective. The mountain will always be there, so I may as well challenge it at my skill level, and when it is safe to do so, for me.
Regards,
Charles