lots of new

Lots of new experiences lately!

A couple of nights ago I heard a rockfall! it was so loud I heard it and it woke me up even with my earplugs in. I think it knocked out a window in the Curry housing area, but other than that, nothing big happened.

Yesterday I hiked Upper Yosemite falls by myself! No one was available or off work, so I set off on an adventure after a big breakfast and a little hang time with my tent neighbor. Its a 6.8 mile trail round trip, but by the time it was all said and done, I think I hiked about 7 miles and it took about 5 hours! yikes! yes, and my legs are really sore today. The trip up there to the falls was okay, except on some parts there were huge sand pits and slippery rocks. That was no fun, especially the last half mile was totally uphill and you had to climb these big rocks in the path. It was kind of like climbing a mountain in the ocean. Once I got up there though, it was all worth it. I walked down this narrow staircase to a little guardrail and looked over. The falls tumbled down the rocks below me and disappeared in the distance. The sun reflected off the mist and made a rainbow. Periodically when it got really windy, the mist blew over to where I was standing and cooled me off. It was so beautiful and then it hit me that I was standing above the tallest waterfall in North America, and I hiked it myself!! ok, sorry I'm just really proud of my accomoplishments. I rested for awhile and then hiked down. Now that part was annoying. I expected to go faster down than I did coming up, but the rocks are so steep and slippery with sand that I had to take my time. It probably took the same amount of time going down than it did coming up. By the time I got down I was in a bad mood, out of water, sunburnt and incredibly dirty and sweaty... the rest of the night I just kind of sat around...but it was afun day!

I just want to say that I am amazed by how creative and individual people are here. The creativity is just explosive. I was talking to this girl in the kitchen the other night and she showed me some of her art. She drew it with a pen, but it looked like a computer graphic. It was so amazing and on top of that she was sewing her own clothes.
At the same time however, pain and hurt is so real here. Sometimes when I look at someone I can just feel it radiating off their face. Its so sad and I hurt for them. For some, its their last chance to prove themselves.

ahhh yosemite... well, have to go to work soon!