We arrived in Yosemite Valley shortly after noon and spent the afternoon walking with our fully loaded backpacks. We wanted to begin adjusting to the weight we would carry for almost a month. It was our first real taste of what life would feel like in less than 24 hours.
Our first stop was the Wilderness Center to collect our permits. The ranger’s orientation was both informative and encouraging. We left with a mixture of confidence and anticipation—ready, nervous, excited, and perhaps a little anxious.
After months of planning, preparation, and training, the journey was finally about to begin.
With permits in hand, we explored the valley, enjoyed lunch, and attended a fascinating presentation about climbing El Capitan. Hearing someone describe the commitment, skill, and perseverance required to climb one of the world’s most famous granite walls only heightened our excitement for the adventure ahead.
When the presentation ended, we headed to the cafeteria for supper—only to discover that the electricity was out throughout the building. No food service was available.
It was our first reminder that flexibility and ingenuity are essential parts of any wilderness adventure.
Rather than allowing the disappointment to derail our evening, we adjusted our plans. We walked to the Backpackers Campground, set up camp, and enjoyed our first trail meal: a surprisingly delicious freeze-dried Pumpkin Chicken Chili. That first supper reassured us that we might actually look forward to our evening meals on the trail.
As we settled into camp alongside about a dozen other backpackers, the campground buzzed with excitement. It also buzzed with plenty of noise. The crowded setting made for a restless night’s sleep, but it hardly mattered.
As I drifted in and out of sleep, my heart was filled with gratitude. After months of preparation, planning, training, and anticipation, the waiting was finally over.
Tomorrow, we would step onto the John Muir Trail.
Meeting Kendall
On the bus from Mammoth Lakes into Yosemite Valley, Lynlee and I sat next to a young woman named Kendall. She had just completed the John Muir Trail.
We spent much of the ride asking questions and listening to her stories. She graciously shared her experiences, answered our questions, and helped calm some of our uncertainties. Before we arrived, Lynlee had an opportunity to encourage her, tell her about Christ, and pray with her.
Meeting Kendall only increased our excitement. It felt as though we were receiving the baton from someone who had just finished the race we were about to begin.
The El Capitan Presentation
The ranger who spoke about climbing El Capitan was incredibly inspiring. One statement in particular stayed with us:
The climb isn’t what makes the experience so special, memorable, or important. It’s the climb with the people you choose to adventure with.
Those words resonated deeply with both of us. As we prepared to begin our journey, we quietly committed ourselves to making these weeks together something we would treasure for the rest of our lives.
If all our work, preparation, planning, effort, and time did not deepen our relationship with one another and with the Lord, we would miss the real adventure.
Looking back, I believe the Lord used that moment to remind us that the greatest gift of this adventure would not simply be the trail itself. It would be sharing it together.
Our First Trail Angels
As we walked toward the Backpackers Campground, we stopped to ask a couple camping nearby whether we were headed in the right direction. They gladly confirmed our route and carefully explained every turn we needed to make.
Then, without hesitation, they offered each of us an ice-cold Coke.
It was such a simple act of kindness. Yet, knowing the simplicity of the days ahead and the scarcity of little comforts on the trail, that Coke felt almost symbolic—a final taste of everyday life before stepping into the rhythms of life as thru-hikers.
It was also our first encounter with the people hikers affectionately call trail angels.
Looking back, their unexpected kindness felt like another reminder that the Lord was already going before us, providing encouragement exactly when we needed it. This would prove true again and again as He made a way for every step of our journey.
