While others felt they had enough of hiking during this trip, Chloe and I couldn’t pass the opportunity to see more. So it was me, Chloe, Marc and our leader Zoë who continued through forest to the base of Lembert Dome, to a huge mound of polished granite rising 800 feet above Tuolumne Meadows. It was definitely one of the hardest and scariest I’ve ever climbed to get to the top. Not to mention, I was fearful for Chloe as the slope was really steep and it was very windy but she did so much better than me. I was the one who was lagging behind and slowing everyone down. 

The view from the top was impressive from a distance, but from the top, the endless views were well worth the effort!

What a cool moment this was! The rest of the group who stayed by the river spotted us  from all the way bottom, so we did a little victory dance.

Coming down was even more scary!

Today we are spending the day hiking in the Sierra Nevada high country. After breakfast we shuttle to Tuolumne Meadows, the largest subalpine meadow in the Sierra Nevada. Sitting at 8,600 feet, it was created by a glacier more than 2,000 feet thick and
21?2 miles long!

We crossed two forks of the Tuolumne River, whose rushing waters wind through the meadow, past granite domes, alpine lakes and deep canyons, and into the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir.

Our Tour family picture.

And picture with our fabulous leaders. We’ll miss you guys so much! They’ve been so wonderfully catering to our every needs with big smiles and such enthusiasm making our trip such an awesome experience.  It’s been so convent and luxurious to be cared by them, it’ll be a difficult transition to get used to our normal life without them. You guys rock!

We went for a quick swim at the pool before dinner

Then we had dinner on the upper deck overlooking the pool. 

Taking a leisurely break before dinner time.

At the end of our hike, there was a picnic waiting for us by the water.

We dipped our feet in this icy cold water to cool off our tired feet.

So while we were doing our walk through the valley, kids went off to do rock climbing with our leader.

We I saw Shane, I gasped! He’s hanging on REAL ROCKS!!!

SO COOL!!!!

Chloe’s turn!

We missed seeing them climbing UP the rocks because our hike through the Valley but so glad we got to catch them climbing down!!! WOW. This gotta be one of the coolest experience for them and for us as parents. Rock on!

I’ll really miss these wonderful breakfast buffets every morning…

Our walk this morning is guided by a naturalist through the Yosemite valley.

Our home for the night: The Majestic Yosemite hotel. Its name says it all.  Built in the 1920″s with stunning views and exceptional architecture. The Majestic Yosemite Hotel was specifically designed to highlight its natural surroundings, featuring Yosemite Falls, Half Dome and Glacier Point.

Dinner at the Majestic Yosemite Hotel Dining Room

Kids went out to town with our leaders for dinner while the adults enjoyed fine dining.

Exploring the hotel:

Great Lounge

Solarium room: letting in the bright mountain sunshine

The biggest fireplace I’ve seen.

Winter Club Room

Mural room

Breathtaking sunset. My camera couldn’t capture it but the colors looked exactly like Mac OS X screensaver of Half dome…

Kids came back from dinner and they were having a blast running around on the lawn.

Can you see the kids?

Lovely to see these kids forming a new friendship. 

Hiding behind the bush?

Another 1.4 miles to Glacier Point, the highest point in the park.

Breathtaking and majestic! Amazing panoramic view of with a commanding view of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and Yosemite’s high country from up here. 

We made it to the top!