Yosemite

First signs of wildlife- Cows grazing in the dim morning light outside our bus window.

Jada & Jenna enjoy the train ride while consuming mass quantities of junk food. Oh yeah, and working on their homework!

Mr. Chew looking excited on the outside. Inside thinking: You mean the kids are coming too?!

First hike of the trip to Yosemite Village. A few kids amazed after seeing snow for the first time.

Snowball fight under the watchful eyes of the granite mountains.

Aidan forgot to bring his water bottle on the first hike but, as luck would have it, Yosemite Falls was nearby!

Day 1:

5:35 am at Amtrak station on Valentines Day. Zombie students tried desperately to imagine themselves still in the warmth of their beds.
   As they squinted their eyes against the harsh fluorescent lights of the station's ancient chandeliers, they waited in anticipation for the call..."ALL ABOARD!!"
   Students came to life once they boarded the train and tore into their junk food stash; the last junk food they would enjoy for FOUR whole days.
   From train to charter bus. We wound our way up 5000 feet to the yosemite valley fighting motion sickness until we became dumbfounded by the majestic waterfalls and towering granite outside our windows.
   We arrived at the snow-laden Curry Village and dropped off our luggage so that we could have a quick lunch and start hiking! We all needed to throw on extra layers and hiking boots as we "weren't in Sacramento anymore!"
   Students crunched and slid over the snow and ice as we made our way down the trail to Yosemite Village. The day was crisp and cold, but a clear blue sky welcomed us as we drew closer to the famous Yosemite Falls. Just as we were about to reach the base of the waterfall, we realized we needed to turn back so that we could move into our cabins. However, we couldn’t resist the temptation when passing a meadow covered with undisturbed snow cover...that's right...Snowball Fight!!!
   Couldnt help but notice that it looked as if the face of HalfDome were smiling as it watched us pelt each other mercilessly with our ice weapons. We burned lots of calories and logged 2 miles for our first hike.
   Our accommodations were even better than we were told, as we were given hard-sided cabins instead of the, much colder and cramped, tent cabins. WooHoo! We unpacked and got settled just in time for dinner and although the students were hungry, they had no idea what awaited them...
   Curry Village has a wonderful dining hall with vaulted ceilings and a huge fireplace as you walk in. The all-you-can-eat buffet has plenty of options for even the pickiest eater. The students ate voraciously in the restaurant-like atmosphere and replenished their energy for the Night Hike to come. At 6:45 we began our nighttime adventure under a waning moon and millions of stars (stars you can't see in Sacramento due to light pollution). We went to the site of the former Bear Dump where tourists used to pull out folding chairs and watch the local black bears fight over the leftovers from the Curry Village buffet. The students learned why this form of entertainment was suspended and agreed that wildlife should not be taught to rely on humans for food.   We played several games designed to mimic the senses of the nocturnal animals and played tag under the moonlight.
   It was a very long first day and we were all exhausted and ready for bed. Everyone quickly washed their faces and brushed their teeth, and lights were out, literally and figuratively, by 9:30.
   It seemed appropriate that most of our group had a similar sentiment as their heads hit their pillows. We are in LOVE with Yosemite. Happy Valentine's!

Ms. Long & Mr. Chew