Day 1 and 2

From here to there with 15 people
By Allison Jones
atj21@txstate.edu

Miles traveled: 1,657
Time: 28 hours
Work produced: 1 Instagram post, 10 Instagram stories and 65 photos
Best snack: Nature valley granola bars

A day full of travel can be exciting, eventful and even a little confusing. Now try traveling with a group of 15.

Our day started bright and early when our flight left from Austin at 6:25am. After a connection in Phoenix, our group landed in Fresno right around 9am. Our professors, Dale and Jessica, left to grab our rental cars and from there we headed out of Fresno. 15 people, one van and one S.U.V. were finding their way to Yosemite!

We began our drive to Yosemite on a crowded California freeway, and quickly entered the steep mountains filled with curvy roads and quick turns. Luckily - no one got sick. After an hour and a half in the car, we stopped in a town called Mariposa for lunch. This wasn't just any city with small-town charm. This little mountain town came equip with great food, gas stations and incredible views. This was exactly what we needed to see before heading deeper into the Sierra Nevadas.

Once we finished lunch, it took another hour and a half to get to the Yosemite Valley - our home for the next five days. We parked our cars and all got out to take in the beauty of what we were looking at. It was silent. Sheer silence. With only the noise of fellow visitors and the sounds of nature, we started to take in the fact that we were officially in Yosemite.

The first view of Yosemite
Photo by Allison Jones

When you're in the valley, everywhere you look is a new sight to see. Whether you choose to look up, down or side-to-side, you'll be in awe of what is around you. Personally, it amazed me to see the beauty of Half Dome. No photographs will ever do it justice - you have to see this incredible sight in person. At night, while the sun is starting to set, Half Dome reflects all of the light that is shined onto it. It changes almost minute by minute at this point, from shades of yellow and gold to orange and pink. And lucky for us, we're staying in Half Dome village throughout the trip. So we have the best seat in the park.

As we continue to watch Half Dome's surface change in light each day and night, we get eager to begin our challenges for the next day. Here's to day 3!