From Trail to Trouble: The Day I Got Lost in Yosemite

 

 

 

 

It all happened 20 years ago when I went to Yosemite National Park for the first time. What was supposed to be a fun vacation turned into 16 hours of suck. Within the first 24 hours of arriving, I as a high schooler, got lost in Yosemite. Here’s my story.

 

From Trail to Trouble: The Day I Got Lost in Yosemite

 

It Was My First Trip To Yosemite

 

I was about 15 or 16 years old when I first visited Yosemite National Park, but it wasn’t my first time camping. I was a teenager at the time and the family decided to go on a two night camping trip. My parents, siblings + spouses, cousins, and family friend were all going. We were staying in backpackers campground which is located behind North Pines Campground. I didn’t really know that at the time. Also, bringing a large group into backpackers is kind of embarrassing because of all the large tents and supplies. The people typically staying here travel light.

 

The first night there, the family friend brought up the hike to Half-Dome. I didn’t know anything about this place, but it seemed fun. Eventually my two teenage cousins and myself agree to go on the hike first thing in the morning. Again, the three teenagers didn’t know squat. We didn’t have the experience or the correct gear to tackle this hike and looking back… we shouldn’t have been allowed to go. But, to be fair, the family friend (we’ll call him Gary) had done this hike a handful of times and knew the area well so I never thought I would get lost in Yosemite.

 

 

 

Time to Go

 

The next morning we got up early to get going on a 16 mile roundtrip hike towards half-dome. I’m pretty sure three of us only had sneakers, which isn’t great. My backpack was a Jansport from school and I grabbed a few bottles of water and snacks, as did the others. We made our way to the foot bridge at the bottom of Vernal Falls and from there, we took the John Muir trail up. Gary probably decided on this route since the Mist Trail can be slippery and we didn’t have the footwear for it.

 

If memory serves me right, we were having a good time making our way past the top of Vernal falls towards Nevada Falls in pretty good time. The Half Dome hike is a tough hike and I even remember sliding in the dirt on the switchbacks because of my old sneakers, but we were young and adventurous. We eventually made it to Nevada Falls and had a break. From the top of Nevada Falls, we continued onward to our final destination.

 

 

 

 

Nope..

 

So the four of us get near the base and Gary starts to explain the hike up half-dome. I am terrified of heights and when he starts explaining the details of the climb up I said, “No thanks” and backed out of it. My male cousin’s legs started cramping and he also decided to bow out of it. This left Gary and my younger female cousin and they made the decision to continue on. Gary asked me and my cousin to carefully hike back to the top of Nevada Falls and wait there.

 

My cousin and I started walking back but with the leg cramps, he was moving a little slower. I would keep pace with him, but he was getting frustrated. Me being young, I got upset because I felt like he was taking his frustration out on me. I started walking ahead a bit and would wait for him. This continued on for awhile. It got to a point where I would wait and I didn’t see him anymore so I took it as he didn’t want anything to do with me. Remember, we haven’t been here before and we’re teenagers. So I decided I would just go alone and wait at Nevada Falls. I think I may have had a little bit of water, a snack, and a bottle to a filter water in my bag. This was the early 2000’s and I didn’t have a phone or a watch so I had no clue what time it was.

 

 

 

Predicament: Getting Lost in Yosemite

 

Some time has passed and my cousin has not shown up. I’m also out of water so I start fumbling with the water filter; I figure it out and I keep waiting. Time is passing and the sun is setting. I contemplated going back to look for my cousin, but was worried they regrouped without me and kept going thinking maybe I left. Or what if I went back and we missed each other because they were expecting me to be there. I waited a little bit longer and it was now dusk. I’m freaking out thinking they didn’t see me and maybe thought I went ahead. I’m a shy person, even now, but I built up the courage to ask a group of strangers if I could go back down with them. The group of maybe 3-4 guys said yes and they let me follow them back into Yosemite Valley.

 

Honestly, the hike back down is a blur of a memory. I just remember it being dark and I didn’t have a flashlight or headlamp. One of the guys asked if I had eaten anything and I told him it has been hours. He handed me a bottle of water and a protein bar and I was so thankful. I followed these guys back down in the dark and through the mist trail. I don’t remember how long it took or too many details, but I remember making it back to the trail head.

 

 

 

Thataway?

 

The guys that got me back down into the valley asked me if I knew how to get back. I responded, “I think I know the way back..” With only the light from the moon to really light my path, I thought I could figure it out. So I made the choice to follow the Merced River, which was a choice. I think the only reason I made that decision was because I had seen it in a movie or show where people were lost in the woods and they followed a river back to civilization.

 

So instead of making my way towards the campgrounds or Curry Village, I dang near went the opposite way. I walked on the road towards Mirror Lake for awhile and realized I really don’t know where the heck I am. Luckily, there was a bus stop and I sat there and waited for the bus to pull up. The bus driver opened his doors and I told him, “I’m super freaking lost. Can you call a ranger to come get me?”

 

So I waited, and I’m not sure how long, but long enough for another bus to arrive. I repeated myself to this bus driver and she called for someone on her radio. Within a short time a park employee showed up in a pickup truck and asked me if I knew what campsite I was staying at. Nah, I’m an ignorant teenager, I have no clue. The park employee had to drive me to every campground and through every loop. It’s late and I’m sure this dude is annoyed with me.

 

 

 

I Made It!

 

The employee and I get to North Pines campground. Standing outside is my sister’s husband and his friend Gary. They were standing in front of the trail that takes you to backpackers campground.  I told the employee, “There’s my brother-in-law!” My brother-in-law and his friend were packed up to go look for me in the dark. I hopped out of that truck and I was met with immediate relief and anger from the group. My family was happy that I made it back safe. I’m sure Gary was relieved, but I don’t think I had ever been scolded in that fashion, ever. Gary went off.

 

To be fair, as an adult now I understand the worry and guilt he was feeling. None of the choices I made were to make anyone feel worried. Just a scared kid in a beautiful, but very dangerous place. I explained to the group what happened and they understood. I felt bad and guilty and I had the only water filter and I made everyone worry. It was an awkward next day and I kept away from everyone, but I also wasn’t being spoken to. 20 years later, we look back at the time I got lost in Yosemite NPS and kinda laugh about it. I’m proud of myself because I figured it out at such a young age (and without technology). Yosemite has since become one of my favorite places to visit.

 

For more information on Yosemite, check out these websites –

• Yosemite NPS
• Yosemite-Madera

 

For activities in Yosemite, check out these posts –

• Yosemite Steam Trains
• Southern Yosemite Travel Guide

 

Thanks for reading my traumatic story about how I got lost in Yosemite, lol. If you have been in a sketch situation I would be interested in reading your story!