I gues it's been teo or three years since I went camping in Yosemite National Park, in central California. I'm not the kind of person who likes going places or doing anything. I'd rather stay at home and read, watch tv, go on the Internet. But if I'm invited to go somewhere, most of the time I'll go, just because otherwise I'd be a rather reclusive person.

So anyway, my friend Dave invited me to go camping at Yosemite with his wife Julie, Dave's brother Steve and Steve's wife Holly. Naturally I said yes, little knowing just how hard it would be.

The first thing was to buy camping gear. Dave and I went to a surplus store and I got some army stuff. MREs, flashlight, field kit, cool stuff, some of which I still have. Let me say now that army MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) are quite good. I borrowed a backpack from my parents and I was going to share a tent with someone.

Saturday we drive to Yosemite, a three and a half hour trip. Once we get there we take some time to get our gear collected and set. Then we set off on the trail towards a camp site, from which we'll go to see Halfdome.

I get tired really quick, for I was and still am way out of shape. Also, it was steadily uphill, and the only thing worse than hiking uphill is hiking downhill. I'll tell you now that the human body has an easier time going uphill than going downhill. It's just the way the muscles work.

A few hours and miles later we reach some waterfalls. Quite a beautiful sight and I wish I had a camera at the time. And an even better view of the valley once we got to the top of the waterfall. Dave and Steve took a swim as we took a break.

We continued on a few more miles to the campsite. From the campsite it was I think four miles to Halfdome, making it about twelve miles from our cars to Halfdome. We set up camp and ate dinner. It was pretty dark by then. We had a campfire going. Quaint.

Sleeping was a bad experience. I slept in a tent with Steve and Holly, being afraid to move around since I didn't want to make too much noise. The ground was hard, the air was cold. So I was glad to see the next morning, although I hadn't gotten too much sleep.

We then hiked to Halfdome. Then you take this rope ladder up a sheer cliff 40-50 feet to the top. Lots of people climbing up and down, everybody's roped to someone else. Literally a continuous line. At the top it's again breathtaking. I'm afraid of heights and yet I had this urge to take a running start and jump off.

We climb back down and start the long hike back. I'm really tired by now and the trip is quite agonizing. My muscles are protesting every step of the way. About halfway back I decide to just walk quickly, since it's going to be painful whether I walk slowly or quickly.

I make a good pace, Dave keeping up with me. Until the pain becomes too much and I slow down to a crawl again. We're only a couple of miles out and I have serious doubts that I can make it. Dave helps by taking my pack. It's getting dark so I carry a flashlight.

Somehow I make it. We eat a pizza at the tourist area and then head home. I'm too tired to drive so I go with Dave and Julie while Steve and Holly take my car. It's been a fun trip but at the time I told Dave not to ask me to do anything like this for at least six months. All in all, a great experience when I think back on it.