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Although the central valley\u2019s chaparral is an ecological wonderland, something about the coniferous forests and mountains has always called to me.\u00a0 From the moment I got my job offer here in El Dorado Hills, all I thought was YOSEMITE<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Ahhh Yosemite, a mecca of towering granite, incomparable waterfalls, beautiful vistas, and lush alpine meadows.<\/p>\n I\u2019d read John Muir and drooled over enough Ansel Adams photographs to know the central valley by heart. Finally, at long last, it was my turn.<\/p>\n Despite my enthusiasm, the weeks ticked slowly by, and I hadn’t made it yet. What stood in my way? Flashbacks of my trip to Yellowstone in July quickly come to mind\u2014in all its crowded, hot, and sticky glory.<\/p>\n However, the season\u2019s \u00a0first snow– while backpacking at Lake Tahoe no less\u2014gave me just the kick in the butt I needed. \u00a0With uncontrollable excitement (and veiled uncertainty), I packed the car and embarked on my maiden voyage.<\/p>\n For all my anticipation and high expectations, Yosemite did not disappoint. It\u2019s a place whose beauty I cannot articulate.<\/p>\n The days flew by, but moments lingered with a satisfying deliciousness.\u00a0I visited the giant sequoias, snapped hundreds of photos, patiently explained that being from Ohio\u00a0doesn’t\u00a0make me a buckeye fan, and looked for bears around every bend.<\/p>\n Rarely have I had the opportunity to travel to such a beautiful place alone and enjoy its splendor on my own schedule.\u00a0 I reveled in it all.<\/p>\n I\u2019ll admit that sometimes I question my judgment– just a little bit<\/em>.\u00a0When did hiking for miles straight uphill with a fifty pound pack alone become my idea of fun?<\/p>\n Don\u2019t you get lonely and sore and bored?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Aren\u2019t you worried about the bears?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n What happens if you get hurt?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wouldn\u2019t you much rather sleep in a bed, drink beer, and eat fresh eggs for breakfast?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n These thoughts drifted through my mind as I hiked–challenging the very core of my being that brought me here. Yet somewhere between the moon shadows, breathtaking vistas, and thundering waterfalls, they fell silent– leaving only a feeling of utter peace in their wake.<\/p>\n Over and out.<\/p>\n Sophia Weinmann, El Dorado Hills, CA<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Although the central valley\u2019s chaparral is an ecological wonderland, something about the coniferous forests and mountains has always called to me.\u00a0 From the moment I got my job offer here in El Dorado Hills, all I thought was YOSEMITE. Ahhh … Continue reading ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/dev-clm-blog.pantheonsite.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/DSC_0807-199x300.jpg\")
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