throwin' bows by ellen

So, I've had to sit through so many warnings about how active the bears are here in Yosemite, that I think I'm going to pass the favor on to you good people. There have been 55 bear "incidents" in the park this year. 5 months, 55 "incidents"... thats like 11 a month! We're here for 3-ish days. So I'm thinking we have a (11/30)*3 percent chance of getting "incidented" by a bear!!! Man, to be one of the lucky few. As long as I'm also one of the lucky few for whom "incident" could be replaced by "friendly high five and round of kum-bah-yah" instead of "bloody mauling and devouring".
You already heard from Holly how our frustrating morning went (quit scratching your head and see the last post if that sentence confused you). I spent the afternoon hiking 3 miles (and 1000 feet of altitude) on Mist Trail. Let me tell you, whoever named the trail was a smart man indeed. When you get right up to the foot of the falls, the experience is about like getting super-soakered while watching a National Geographic special. I got really wet. My camera got really wet. I eventually broke out the scuba casing for my little camera, but my big one survived long enough to capture the huge rainbows (yes, thats plural) created by the spray. At the top of the falls was a nice view of the late-afternoon sun on the walls surrounding the valley. I hunkered down with my bag of raisins and stuck my feet in the cold water. It was a great day.
Tomorrow's plans are in the works - there's too much to do, as usual, so the longer hikes are kinda out of the question. I'm sure we'll write again tomorrow to tell you about the day. For now, its back to the campsite with us. Holly's sleeping with the bear spray under her pillow. Lets hope her trigger finger doesn't wake up before she does.

I'll leave you with this quote I came across today by John Muir (google him if you don't know who that is. shame, shame.)
"... rocky strength and permanence combined with beauty of plants frail and fine... water descending in thunder, and the same water gliding through meadows and groves in gentlest beauty"
He's talking about the park. And he's right. But it makes me think of God.
~Ellen