I tried to find actual measurements of how long the Mist Trail is, or its actual elevation gain... but I couldn't. All those numbers seem to be built into the the entire length for the Vernal Falls or Nevada Falls trail.
But the trail does consist of about 700 granite steps of all sorts of sizes and shapes with a elevation incline of 600 feet.
Shannon captured some video from the Vernal Falls Bridge. You can see the strong flow!
The minute I started to feel the mist on my skin I halted. Time to prep! I took out my bright yellow rain jacket, binder clips and plastic bags with rubber bands!
Bright yellow rain coat over me and my large bag. Clipped 2 binger clips on the top of my hat to keep my head covered. Then I clipped 1 binder clip to my back so I wouldn't blow away.
Then I wrapped 1 plastic back around my ankle and secured each with a rubber band to make make-shift gators. I didn't want the mist and water to get into my boots.
At this point, we got separated from Mike, Becky and Travis. Shannon and Brian stayed behind me gearing up with rain gear. The memories of my cold flesh from the last time I did this hike solidified my decision to suit up.
This part is kinda hard on my knees. I'm grateful I had poles this time. I'm grateful for the rain protection. But the truth is, we still got wet. The spray of the waterfall was still really strong. Perhaps the same amount of flowing water from the last time. Why that is significant is because this time, it was 3 months later when the flow of this snow fed waterfall usually is almost a trickle.
Again, Shannon captured a piece of the hike up the mist trail. Brian's back place center stage next to the Merced.
Shannon also captured a few photos of Brian and I!
Slowly but surely, we made it up the the top of Vernal Falls.
