Yosemite Springs Upon Us: Wednesday- Midway

Whew! We are tuckered out!

(Our internet is going in and out, so we'll try to post just a few pics.)

Today we started off with a Photography Walk where we learned how to use our cameras thanks to Gabe from the Ansel Adams Gallery. Gabe was pretty cool.... he led us on our tour of classic Adams locations and taught us how to use our histograms the way Adams designed.

It turned out that Gabe was more than just a photography teacher, he also showed us how to start a fire in the snow, how to climb a tree, and then he gave us a tour of the Yosemite Chapel. We all went inside and Mr. Tsvirinko, Richard and Jenny played the piano on the stage for all of us. It was really funny that everyone forgot the ending to their songs, but everyone played really beautiful and inspiring pieces. It was like a mini concert and more than we expected!

After our Photograventure, we spent some time at the Yosemite Resource Center and watched a beautiful film about the history of the Park. Did you know that it was the first national park? Thanks to Abraham Lincoln... and John Muir...

We made sandwiches for lunch back at Curry Village and then packed up to hike to Bridal Veil Falls and Mirror Lake. It was very satisfying to get so close to the thunderous, powerful waterfall.... and the 4 mile hike/walk to Mirror Lake was soooooo enjoyable. The snow is melting and we could feel warm breezes blowing through. We got a good view of Half Dome and were close enough to take pictures of the diving board.

It seemed like everyone had a really good time. While some complained about walking so much, Jeffery Portillo ran almost the entire way- he ran up ahead and then back again and up ahead.... he looked like Rocky Balboa running all over the place.

Tonight there is a championship Monopoly game going on in one cabin. Mr. Joki is teaching them negotiation and business skills.... and they are hanging on his every move.

Some of the girls are playing "Dress Up" behind curtains strewn across the cabins, and still others are putting their artistic abilities to use by sketching nature scenes.

We're having a really good time up here- and everyone is holding up. There have been no injuries and we are SO THANKFUL!

The only prayer request for good health is for Caroline who has a bit of a cough... but we are showering her with cough drops and Emergen-C and orange juice. Please pray that she feels 100% for tomorrow- we are going to hike Vernal Falls with an option to continue to Nevada Falls. This is a more rigorous hike and so far all the guys seem really committed to going the whole way.

CRITTER UPDATE:

Today we saw 2 types of birds that were really breathtaking: a woodpecker with an orange spot on its head, and a little black and white bird with a red neck.

Some of our students (names shall not be mentioned to protect the insane) woke up at 5:30 this morning in order to get a good, long shower before the day started. Since we were up at 'em so early, we had the "pleasure" of hearing an EXTREMELY LOUD bird shrieking as if was dying. It shrieked and shrieked- it really sounded like a pterodactyl swooping down to gobble up little campers...

What could the shrieking bird have been? What could possibly be up earlier than a rooster- its cries echoing through the Valley to terrify us in our toasty sleeping bags?

If you know, please comment! We are dying of curiosity!

the view from Mirror Lake: