Tag: hiking

Mount Tamalpais: Breathe and Be

If not for the longer days or lighter breeze, I love summer days because it simply makes me feel most like myself. You forego the extra clothing and pare away the accessories, and maybe even do without any makeup. It’s the literal shedding of letting yourself just breathe and be.

On this summer day of July, we went on a hike at Mount Tamalpais and did a mellow 7mile – Matt Davis trail through a forest and redwoods while blue skies bathed us in light.  The trail was a good mix of terrain and elevation gain, with many water crossings and sweeping views of coastal line.

As I age I’ve become increasingly aware of taking full responsibility of the energy I bring – to wherever I go and whoever I meet. Your perception of self affects your vibe and dictates your interactions with others.

So take care of yourself first.

Find more grace in the pockets of your heart – drink your morning coffee, go for a walk (as I call it, a walking mediation), write down the thoughts that run wild in your mind. I aspire you to make peace with the part of yourself you’ve been at war with, forgive the version of you who didn’t know better back then.

Tying you closer than most,

Y.

Yosemite Valley: The Spring Playground

If you haven’t noticed, I have a thing for national parks. Specifically, I’m most comfortable in workout gear and the only slightest idea as to my exact location at any given point in time. I find comfort in falling off the grid and abiding a different clock than the outside world. And Yosemite gave me an exact experience where the charm hasn’t been overshadowed by the deluge of modernity. It is something that I’ve always longed for.

Glacier Point
Bridalveil Fall
Mirror Lake
Mirror Lake

We didn’t leave Irvine until 9:30 p.m. on Friday due to the little detour to Summer Land (aka the school music festival that for once with a decent lineup). After a four and a half hour drive singing our heart out to Eason Chan (the ultimate roadtrip song obvi), We arrived in Oakhurst, the small town where our Airbnb was located. Hidden in a valley, it was an exquisite gabled cabin with a triangular roof. Standing on the balcony, you could hear the silvery sound of the running creek and the water splashing the rocks. Outside the cabin, you would find a million stars shining bright in the sky. It’s like the wish would really come true if you made one… ya feel:)

Yosemite was such a resilient playground where we were welcomed with idyllic views and vigorous energy. The scenic drive into the park was only a small taste as to what you’ll witness once in the valley. The trails varied from staircases to flat fields dipping below the waterfalls. The streams were in full force raging with water from melting snow. We maneuvered across the creeks with the least amount of water-to-pants contact.. but only to get drenched in the mist flowing off the falls. Here I included a list of the spots that my friends and I went to during our time at the park:

  • Glacier Point
  • Lower Yosemite Falls
  • Bridalveil Fall
  • Mirror Lake

Although we were only able to visit a few spots due to the heavy traffic and the limited amount of time, we had zero issues filling our day. When you hate something there are millions of words to describe it, but when you’re happy, that’s it – you’re just happy.

 

Stay adventurous,

Yolie