- Expedition: Jun 5-10, 2005
- Harbor City Boys and Girls Club
- Yosemite National Park: Glacier Point to Half Dome to Yosemite Valley
Challenging but rewarding hikes, stunning vista views, inspiring teamwork and lots of laughter were the highlights of WildLink Expedition VII. Twelve students and our longtime WildLink coordinator from the Harbor City Boys and Girls Club joined us for a beautiful week of water falls and wild animal sightings.
The aptly named Panorama Trail didn't let us down, and showed us the best views Yosemite had to offer. The spring runoff swelled the creeks and river and showed the waterfalls off to their best advantage, and deer seemed always to be circling the perimeter of our different camps.
The group followed up on the water testing we conducted in Harbor City at Machado Lake by testing the Merced River near our camp in Little Yosemite Valley. We discovered that the dissolved oxygen content was very high, and nitrates low. Good news for this very special watershed! We also spent some time with bear expert Alex from the National Park Service, and learned about the Wilderness Preservation System. We enjoyed nightly dinner discussions answering big questions like "What do you most value in your life?" and "What's your most embarrassing moment ever?" and there was no shortage of laughter around our camp- and candle-fire. We also completed a beautiful hike up the shoulder of Half Dome, where a cloud descended and wrapped us up in mystery for a while, and where we found snow to play in.
Thank you, Expedition VII, for reminding me that if you can think it, you can do it, even if it looks and is difficult; to always reach for the stars; to never stop trying to learn about the people around us, and the amazing stories they all have to share; for laughter, laughter, laughter; and for inspiring me to do my best, every day, every hour, every minute.
And a special thank you to our gifted Expedition Photographer, Francisco, who is responsible for most of the beautiful pictures you'll find in these expedition pages.
