In 1980 two friends and I took a cross country trip. One of our stops was Yosemite. We were mesmerized when we entered the park and saw Half Dome, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls and the sequoias among other sights. We were not able to camp in the park but we did set up camp just outside on the Merced River. We were there for four days and we had a new experience every day. One was the hike to Yosemite Falls. It was a great hike and we had lunch at the top. One of my favorite photos from that trip is of my friend Margo and myself on the trail. It is a fantastic photo and I have it displayed in a place of prominence in my home. After that hike we got back to our campsite and we were so hot and sweaty we stripped our clothes off and jumped in the river. Oh my gosh! It was so cold and we came out of the water so fast. Unfortunately two people were standing there and they were quite stunned by our appearance. It was so funny. Another day we met a guy who was working at Yosemite and he took us on a hike that few folks other than those who worked there knew about. We went to a spot that had a little waterfall and a little pool at the bottom that we cooled off in. Several weeks later when we were in Boulder we ran into that guy. We called him Nature Boy. We thoroughly enjoyed our time in the park and in 2019 Margo and I went back out west with the intent to go to Yosemite and take the Yosemite Falls hike and get our picture taken in the same spot. Unfortunately it rained cats and dogs when we were to be there and we did not get to take the hike. Maybe someday. I have since been to Yosemite just two other times. That trip is why I give to the Yosemite Conservancy.
Cathy Allgood Murphy, Donor