https://kristeobrien.com/blogmusingsofafatmom daily 0.75 2026-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/913d50a6-7aa2-41cb-a6f0-eab62fb86a13/General+FMOAM+Posts+%28Facebook+Post%29+%2817%29.png https://kristeobrien.com/blogmusingsofafatmom/the-magic-of-manners monthly 0.5 2026-03-26 https://kristeobrien.com/blogmusingsofafatmom/stillness-appreciation monthly 0.5 2025-04-02 https://kristeobrien.com/blogmusingsofafatmom/you-dont-know-what-you-dont-know monthly 0.5 2025-04-02 https://kristeobrien.com/blogmusingsofafatmom/conscious-consumption-and-not-of-the-food-kind monthly 0.5 2025-02-19 https://kristeobrien.com/blogmusingsofafatmom/death-cafe monthly 0.5 2025-02-02 https://kristeobrien.com/blogmusingsofafatmom/a-spring-fever-fizzle monthly 0.5 2026-03-29 https://kristeobrien.com/blogmusingsofafatmom/the-end-of-an-irish-era monthly 0.5 2026-03-29 https://kristeobrien.com/blogmusingsofafatmom/airport-angst monthly 0.5 2026-03-29 https://kristeobrien.com/blogmusingsofafatmom/religious-ping-pong monthly 0.5 2026-03-29 https://kristeobrien.com/blogmusingsofafatmom/blue-monday-merch monthly 0.5 2026-03-29 https://kristeobrien.com/blogmusingsofafatmom/worldly-possessions monthly 0.5 2026-03-29 https://kristeobrien.com/blogmusingsofafatmom/less-thinking-more-doing monthly 0.5 2026-03-29 https://kristeobrien.com/blogmusingsofafatmom/take-the-selfie monthly 0.5 2026-03-29 https://kristeobrien.com/blogmusingsofafatmom/sixteen-candles monthly 0.5 2026-03-29 https://kristeobrien.com/blogmusingsofafatmom/happy-wheels monthly 0.5 2026-03-29 https://kristeobrien.com/blogmusingsofafatmom/warming-up-to-winter monthly 0.5 2026-03-29 https://kristeobrien.com/blogmusingsofafatmom/joes-sweet-spot monthly 0.5 2026-03-29 https://kristeobrien.com/blogmusingsofafatmom/blog-post-title-one-l9tcl-8gj28 monthly 0.5 2026-03-29 https://kristeobrien.com/blogmusingsofafatmom/blog-post-title-three-gchc8-egldt monthly 0.5 2026-03-29 https://kristeobrien.com/blogmusingsofafatmom/blog-post-title-two-8h2xz monthly 0.5 2026-03-29 https://kristeobrien.com/blogmusingsofafatmom/blog-post-title-three-gchc8 monthly 0.5 2026-03-29 https://kristeobrien.com/blogmusingsofafatmom/blog-post-title-four-nllf8 monthly 0.5 2026-03-29 https://kristeobrien.com/blogmusingsofafatmom/blog-post-title-one-l9tcl monthly 0.5 2026-03-29 https://kristeobrien.com/home daily 0.75 2026-03-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/e242ae21-1546-4587-a9c3-75bad9215c90/Fat+Mom+on+a+Mountain-4-1-front.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/ec125b2d-8d1f-42ca-b210-83fc1e389111/P9965_FatMom_A.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/b350ee35-469b-42fc-a689-495896c4eb19/poles.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/04ed65e4-d9e1-40e9-85e8-c52c6c87b3f4/GOPR0126.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/1673622632182-YW0U29ED3AHCEE7ISZYI/unsplash-image-ZDNyhmgkZlQ.jpg https://kristeobrien.com/contact-me daily 0.75 2026-03-29 https://kristeobrien.com/yosemite daily 0.75 2026-03-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/b307bcf3-3f95-451f-ae33-a8f3c2716b6e/IMG_20190713_101622_047.jpg Yosemite This sight, the famous "Tunnel View" greeted me when I emerged out of the Wawona Tunnel along Highway 41. It was my first time seeing Half Dome in person. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/7c456c0a-19ae-4516-85cd-a6b222757a43/GOPR0139.JPG Yosemite I arrived at Half Dome Village, my stay for the first two nights in Yosemite, just before dark. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/17cdd21c-69a9-41a4-9bd5-9e6a14fa7711/20190712_054224.jpg Yosemite My cabin was the one in the middle. When I opened the front door and looked up, Half Dome could be seen right above me. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/915f17b1-c875-4ed3-a767-567b55411079/IMG_20190713_101622_103.jpg Yosemite My home for the first two nights in California. The bear box can be seen off to the side. Luckily I remembered to put my food in it at the last minute before bedtime. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/6d05b7fb-4a84-485d-934a-56520db0639f/20190711_211853.jpg Yosemite This lovely room decor in my cabin warned about Black Bears and the rodent Hantavirus in Yosemite. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/70a7df7c-4d08-40b3-a524-fc32269e03cc/20190713_074843.jpg Yosemite Reserving a heated tent cabin allowed me to have access to electrical outlets to charge my phone and goPro. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/01de680b-2b1a-4651-985f-1314925f3fab/20190712_183728_Pano.jpg Yosemite My walking route from Half Dome Village to Yosemite Village where I went to catch my tour bus. The views everywhere I looked in Yosemite took my breath away. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/e01659c6-cdd6-41d5-aca2-186164aace56/20190712_104454.jpg Yosemite Me at Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. I had never seen trees that big before, even after growing up in Maine and hiking in the White Mountains of NH. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/c49c21c7-2965-46cf-9ad9-54d1ba6f5fbd/GOPR0105.JPG Yosemite Impressive trees at Mariposa! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/49c11abf-1207-4791-9b8e-b7ea8a471c4a/GOPR0114.JPG Yosemite Big Trees Lodge where my tour bus stopped for lunch and a walk around the Pioneer Yosemite History Center. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/9dae8584-9c18-422d-a27b-80cdd4c2197f/20190714_100646.jpg Yosemite Our tour bus went to Glacier Point next. Here is the view of Yosemite Village from the lookout point. It was SO high! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/e0d5483f-2b73-45cd-af27-7f10c9e21ff5/GOPR0126.JPG Yosemite Glacier Point. Half Dome jets out of the Valley like it is commanding the sky. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/8eda2da8-8e36-47e2-996c-9fe0bb67a28c/20190712_143855.jpg Yosemite I was smiling, but inwardly freaking out about the height of the mountain behind me. It was awesome. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/5c017b00-93c7-449d-83be-8affa3e73828/GOPR0151.JPG Yosemite El Capitan. Absolutely stunning. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/2e4c759f-3a36-43e1-abb0-89fce0f81e7e/Snapchat-919140088.jpg Yosemite My funny SnapChat to my kids. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/d0981d50-82a6-43c3-991b-59fe7f216375/GOPR0205.JPG Yosemite No matter where you walk in Yosemite, these are the types of views you see. Mountains, trees, rushing water, fluffy clouds, vibrant blue sky. Amazing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/3165cf14-09ce-4c39-9562-488ab15ece21/GOPR0158.JPG Yosemite One of our REI Campsites. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/520ca256-80dc-44f8-acec-3921d598e4da/20190714_145424.jpg Yosemite We would stack up our bear boxes at the edge of camp. That way, if any bears came in and tampered with them, the noise of them falling down would wake us up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/5ec8b075-b0eb-4a9a-82e7-4a2ac3ca7751/20190714_145437.jpg Yosemite SkyPilot (a flower found in Yosemite) was the name of my individual bear box. Here it is, stacked on the tippy top. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/f7d44e35-1245-4786-9c10-d1bd7716fbcf/20190716_104159_Pano.jpg Yosemite Behind me is the back of Half Dome. I couldn't see the cables during our entire trek. I tried to squint to find them so I could see what was in store for me, but never caught a glimpse. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/611e720e-8999-49c6-91ce-05098854547c/20190715_081834.jpg Yosemite Hiking across a bridge to our last campsite before heading to the summit of Half Dome. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/9ac8d78b-0aaf-4654-af24-b66bfefb8807/GOPR0170.JPG Yosemite Another iconic Yosemite photo. The sky was a blue I'm not sure I've ever seen before - vibrant and crisp. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/27fe4007-426e-4294-8a78-bc5da7153525/GOPR0172.JPG Yosemite We camped next to the Illilouette River. It was a gorgeous site. Freezing cold glacier water, but crystal clear and delicious after we filtered it into our water bladders. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/514658c0-608c-4629-8589-c17e5595b2e0/IMG_20190714_164858.jpg Yosemite This little friend graced us with his presence and then urinated in the river while staring at us. It was quite funny. I remember being grateful that my water bottle had already been filtered and filled before he arrived. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/3c154268-e4f6-4e9f-9b9d-342caa3b7514/20190715_121854.jpg Yosemite I was too chicken to dip in the freezing cold river, but brave enough to dunk my head briefly. Very refreshing after 2 long days of hot hiking. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/12992b64-e3a7-4b13-b774-81208f94bcd2/20190715_112403_HDR.jpg Yosemite Our last campsite before Half Dome. I was elated to find out there were bathrooms! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/d19a5ad7-a509-4f00-a8a2-b452f42b370c/20190715_112357_HDR.jpg Yosemite Plenty of room for all of our tents at this site. It was busy; filled with other hikers and families. One of our trip leaders woke early the next morning and filmed a black bear at the site next to ours. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/0d0e9445-51d3-4a36-b358-8658e4852e7b/20190715_080703.jpg Yosemite Half Dome behind me. When we hiked, it was almost always visible - taunting me and keeping it's cables hidden from view. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/9a06f7c9-e623-410f-84c1-fc732b5d9ae9/20190715_160724+%281%29.jpg Yosemite There are so many panoramic and iconic photos to be taken at Yosemite. Every turn was gorgeous, every view was spectacular. Each of us took a photo here as we made our way towards the sub-dome. Half Dome is behind me here, beckoning me to get closer and pull myself up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/81bf4da1-8e6b-436e-a288-72b9d2050bf6/IMG_7992.JPG Yosemite As we hiked, the sound of rushing water was a constant and we'd often stumble upon a view like this. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/1637028684996-O91O1TZJZ6MU6BKLI6CA/IMG_20190719_094345_590.jpg Yosemite The beginning of the infamous SubDome. It was a grueling hike with steep switchbacks and lots of steep elevation gains. The warning signs didn't do anything for my blood pressure! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/1e169cd0-a970-4156-9ced-c73546b1cc30/GOPR0189.JPG Yosemite Climbing up the SubDome. Sometime we had stairs to help, other times we'd need to walk straight up on the rock face. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/0f801a80-3ff3-4bef-89c8-fc3556842d18/IMG_20190715_193112.jpg Yosemite The saddle of Half Dome. It is totally exposed with dramatic drop offs. A week after my trip a young woman lost her life by falling from the cables. There is literally nothing to stop you if you slip. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/873d0bd0-1dec-47d4-9433-341c50ec8d2a/IMG_20190719_094345_593.jpg Yosemite I'm smiling, but crying on the inside. The image of the cables scared me to death and I thought about not summiting once I saw what I would need to do to get up that beast. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/c979b708-9c47-4b89-aed3-fe358d29ac98/20190715_172626.jpg Yosemite If you zoom on this photo you can see people climbing up the cables behind me. Pictures don't do the scale of this mountain justice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/32b2d04c-533a-4722-a977-7f73ff153ee9/hd.JPG Yosemite Half Dome in all it's glory. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/7191a72a-a3d9-463b-a677-2d99ebcb4154/IMG_20190715_192952.jpg Yosemite And so we begin. Here is a photo of some of the first steps up the cables. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/f7045b7d-fb60-492b-88c9-8621e7d0d604/IMG_20190715_192948.jpg Yosemite It is so steep. I had special grip gloves to help me not slip while holding the cables, but what I didn't factor in was the slickness of the actual mountain, worn away by years of people climbing the same route. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/f3b4363e-cfdc-4704-8c6f-7e28b3e2f986/IMG_20190715_184251.jpg Yosemite On the top of the world. Here's my group walking over to the 'football field' side of Half Dome. I felt like I was on another planet! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/ee4ed23d-ef92-4e52-bbe3-5429f559ebb9/20190715_181449.jpg Yosemite My nice trip leader took multiple photos of me on the top of Half Dome. I was so incredibly proud of myself for getting up there although I was, quite literally, terrified the entire time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/9d9d0cd9-29f9-45a7-a7a1-3ef7e26c45e4/20190715_181602.jpg Yosemite I was beaming with accomplishment, but also obsessing about getting down the cables the entire time I was on the summit. I didn't enjoy the victory as much as I should have because I was so scared of the return trip. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/af6baf50-17cd-4c59-95b9-4d3ce4da0ef2/IMG_20190715_202229.jpg Yosemite We had dinner at the base of Half Dome after returning from our summit experience. I had survived. Life was good! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/96cbe4db-ab3e-442d-9770-9c4cf07454b3/IMG_20190715_202708.jpg Yosemite The Sierra Nevada Mountains in the background. It was July, but snow capped the summits. The full moon lit our hike back to our campsite over six miles away. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/71630263-05ec-4772-9f3d-d188e02ee381/Snapchat-1477865849.jpg Yosemite I had one little bar on my phone after summiting Half Dome. I was desperate to tell Tony and the kids. I sent this SnapChat (you can see tears in my eyes; I was so emotional!) The SnapChat arrived in the kids' phones about 10 days after I returned home! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/15491906-e113-4c9a-8b46-57e9c7bbce5e/IMG_20190802_235801_317.jpg Yosemite https://kristeobrien.com/about-me daily 0.75 2026-03-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/7ecd8e70-d091-4e32-808d-735c192c3be2/General+FMOAM+Posts+%28Facebook+Post%29+%2818%29.png https://kristeobrien.com/gallery-5-1-1 daily 0.75 2026-03-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/1945aefe-4dea-4a4c-8954-d69d97db6352/20190511_084613.jpg Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears Running the Marine Corps 5K in Boston. I ran in memory of my good friend Teresa Donnellan. I miss her so much. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/23b722f7-30a8-46ba-98cd-933a25cc1579/20180715_110810.jpg Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears A spring hike with my family in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. This was pre-weight loss. I was miserable in my body and the hike was super hard. I was embarrassed in front of my kids. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/f96e7f5f-968c-410e-8840-62c9e67cdbe5/20190217_193106.jpg Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears Once I decided to get my shit together, I wrote in this journal that my friend Katie gave me. I tracked my exercise, my food intake, my ideas for the book, etc. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/2329766b-711d-4069-bb48-0b39b74dacbc/20181006_135551_HDR.jpg Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears Here I am wearing the same hiking outfit after losing 25 pounds on the shake diet. This was on top of Windham High Peak in the Catskill Mountains in NY over Columbus Day weekend. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/a7c93654-6ce5-47aa-8fff-c8634f951220/IMG_2995.jpg Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears Tony helped me face my fear of heights. We took it slow. On this day I couldn't even get to the third step before my knees started shaking. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/a7219870-b64f-4c82-8a82-d30e4cc0cf2e/IMG_2999.jpg Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears Placing a mark as far up the tree as I dared to reach. I was nervous. I held onto the tree trunk for dear life. But I did it! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/f5a41796-09af-4724-b2c4-290b602d34ba/IMG_6645.jpg Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears Working on my fear of heights on a rainy day at home. Tony would slowly let my hands go and I would try to stay up on top of the ladder and breathe through the fear. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/f3fb693c-92e6-4c15-9a94-ec4ce3dbc7a4/image4.jpeg Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears Looking terrified at an indoor ropes course. I knew I was strapped in but was so scared. I thought my body weight would snap the cables and I'd fall to my death in front of all the people watching below. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/1636506436027-P1PK3OLE9W5K8LGNB1IP/image5.jpg Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears As time passed, I began to get slightly more comfortable on the platforms around the course. My kids were coaching me from across the tightrope. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/97319b9c-25e9-4284-bae6-706c04445444/20181202_103550.jpg Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears At Cardigan Lodge during my "Writing from the Mountains" weekend. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/8556ee9e-2585-49ca-8ee9-1d065de23068/20181202_090317.jpg Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears The bench outside my lodge window. I wrote a short poem about this bench on our last writer's assignment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/f386d894-2fce-456f-a994-caf2029d94cd/20181201_085501.jpg Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears My very first solo snowshoe trek at Cardigan Lodge. It was glorious. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/45d4e234-2dca-4655-aa1f-b296ce34a348/20181201_102948.jpg Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears As I came out of the forest after the snowshoe hike, Mt. Cardigan greeted me. It was so beautiful with the wispy snow blowing from the summit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/bbf71e8a-2e25-44d1-b84b-7f787de06ca8/54435857_10219016394464093_2209055199643828224_n.jpg Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears I made sure I was hiking a lot while training for Yosemite. Whenever I could get away to elevation, I took advantage. Otherwise, I did local flat hikes around my home. I had to keep my legs strong. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/7bf62d59-d87f-42c5-b43a-1175ef00b239/IMG_1250.jpg Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears I watched YouTube videos and used meditation practices to help with my fear of flying. On one flight during training, I forced myself to look out the window and snap a picture! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/185d5500-5f7f-422b-bc1e-231314fd5564/IMG_20190604_230205_301.jpg Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears I hiked Mt. Lincoln and Mt. Lafayette to get acclimated to the heavy pack I'd be carrying in Yosemite and the high exposure I'd find at Half Dome. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/015df87f-8eae-480f-a629-e90245f63736/FB_IMG_1559727502724.jpg Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears This hike took Tony and I over 9 hours to complete. The pack was heavy and the trail was steep. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/0ad7f4a1-cce1-42fb-93c9-a92bef42c0db/IMG_20190604_221122_162.jpg Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears The view from the top of Mt. Lincoln heading over to Mt. Lafayette. The ridgeline was so beautiful. I was proud of myself for not freaking out with the drop-offs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/b3acd754-beaf-41a2-a411-926115147712/water+crossing.jpg Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears Water crossings are fun! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/1ff85973-b35a-4fa0-a70e-f03943822e81/frozen.jpg Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears My legs were super sore two days after the hike and I had a 10k race the following weekend. In desperation, I iced them with whatever I could find in the freezer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/901592d6-fd7c-4d42-8682-fc78a8304831/bath.jpg Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears I lasted about 10-15 seconds in this ice bath. I was so hoping my legs would recover before the 10k. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/8ceb83a9-fdd3-4295-88c6-7489e949464f/20190608_085306.jpg Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears I slathered my legs in IcyHot in the car before going to the start line of the 10k the following Saturday. By some miracle, I was able to run the entire race without issue. My sister MaryBeth ran it with me. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/c4e7a903-06ff-4c62-94f3-cab2142ce39e/10K+July+4.jpg Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears A few weeks later, on July 4th, I ran another 10k. I find that it helps me to sign up for races and pay for them. If it's booked, I know I need to train and show up! Here, Joe is high-fiving me as I approach the finish. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/e7413ea6-84cf-4caf-83d9-37cd32035c31/20190509_200127.jpg Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears Packing for California. There was so much to remember. I had no idea if I was over-packing or under-packing. It was fun shopping for everything though. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/c7720a49-2c37-4200-ad20-1b7ca4844387/20190709_120036.jpg Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears At the tattoo parlor on my 50th birthday, getting a small star on my wrist in memory of my mother who used to call me "Star Shine." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/24ad1ca0-bd4d-49e8-b8d0-56c98d399aa2/tattoo.jpg Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears My fresh tattoo. We hung out at our local beach all day before heading to a celebratory 50th birthday dinner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/16d8f879-ede5-407a-b330-c727d493a1e0/IMG_0011.jpg Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears I had been dieting so strictly for so long. On my 50th birthday, all I wanted was a margarita and tableside guacamole! With all the training, I was tipsy after two drinks. A cheap date! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/608080f6-8b85-48ad-8098-0f833c78c325/IMG_4645.jpg Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears The before and after. I hate this picture. I honestly didn't feel that big, but looking back I see how stuck I was in my body. My months of hard work and discipline paid off in the end. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/f2ade4b1-ec27-47ad-967f-9c5104497030/scale.jpg Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears A few days before my 50th birthday, I hit the 50-pound weight loss mark. From 207 to 157 in under 50 weeks! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/f0b78225-b4d7-4383-bacb-a49dff0df58d/IMG_4505.jpg Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears I'm old school, so I printed out each and every itinerary, map, confirmation, and document I could while planning my trip out west. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/34ca5b9d-bce5-4e89-b7cb-d421e578a7a8/IMG_4507.jpg Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears For Fat Mom on a Mountain, I planned out my chapters in weeks. I wanted to write the book over the course of 50 weeks, so I made sure to check in every single week on my progress. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/4cb46585-248d-4890-9c25-c55f02f5e28b/Message_1562771764934+%281%29.jpg Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears All packed up and ready to roll! My borrowed backpack was stuffed to the brim and ready to jet to Yosemite. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/7ba37a38-30b3-4a45-8113-53f134431573/20190718_194032.jpg Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears My son, Joseph, trying on Mom's backpack. He couldn't believe how huge and heavy it was. https://kristeobrien.com/gallery-5-1-1-1 daily 0.75 2021-11-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/1945aefe-4dea-4a4c-8954-d69d97db6352/20190511_084613.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears Running the Marine Corps 5K in Boston. I ran in memory of my good friend Teresa Donnellan. I miss her so much. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/23b722f7-30a8-46ba-98cd-933a25cc1579/20180715_110810.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears A spring hike with my family in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. This was pre-weight loss. I was miserable in my body and the hike was super hard. I was embarrassed in front of my kids. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/f96e7f5f-968c-410e-8840-62c9e67cdbe5/20190217_193106.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears Once I decided to get my shit together, I wrote in this journal that my friend Katie gave me. I tracked my exercise, my food intake, my ideas for the book, etc. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/2329766b-711d-4069-bb48-0b39b74dacbc/20181006_135551_HDR.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears Here I am wearing the same hiking outfit after losing 25 pounds on the shake diet. This was on top of Windham High Peak in the Catskill Mountains in NY over Columbus Day weekend. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/a7c93654-6ce5-47aa-8fff-c8634f951220/IMG_2995.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears Tony helped me face my fear of heights. We took it slow. On this day I couldn't even get to the third step before my knees started shaking. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/a7219870-b64f-4c82-8a82-d30e4cc0cf2e/IMG_2999.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears Placing a mark as far up the tree as I dared to reach. I was nervous. I held onto the tree trunk for dear life. But I did it! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/f5a41796-09af-4724-b2c4-290b602d34ba/IMG_6645.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears Working on my fear of heights on a rainy day at home. Tony would slowly let my hands go and I would try to stay up on top of the ladder and breathe through the fear. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/f3fb693c-92e6-4c15-9a94-ec4ce3dbc7a4/image4.jpeg PHOTO GALLERY: Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears Looking terrified at an indoor ropes course. I knew I was strapped in but was so scared. I thought my body weight would snap the cables and I'd fall to my death in front of all the people watching below. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/1636506436027-P1PK3OLE9W5K8LGNB1IP/image5.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears As time passed, I began to get slightly more comfortable on the platforms around the course. My kids were coaching me from across the tightrope. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/97319b9c-25e9-4284-bae6-706c04445444/20181202_103550.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears At Cardigan Lodge during my "Writing from the Mountains" weekend. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/8556ee9e-2585-49ca-8ee9-1d065de23068/20181202_090317.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears The bench outside my lodge window. I wrote a short poem about this bench on our last writer's assignment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/f386d894-2fce-456f-a994-caf2029d94cd/20181201_085501.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears My very first solo snowshoe trek at Cardigan Lodge. It was glorious. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/45d4e234-2dca-4655-aa1f-b296ce34a348/20181201_102948.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears As I came out of the forest after the snowshoe hike, Mt. Cardigan greeted me. It was so beautiful with the wispy snow blowing from the summit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/bbf71e8a-2e25-44d1-b84b-7f787de06ca8/54435857_10219016394464093_2209055199643828224_n.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears I made sure I was hiking a lot while training for Yosemite. Whenever I could get away to elevation, I took advantage. Otherwise, I did local flat hikes around my home. I had to keep my legs strong. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/7bf62d59-d87f-42c5-b43a-1175ef00b239/IMG_1250.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears I watched YouTube videos and used meditation practices to help with my fear of flying. On one flight during training, I forced myself to look out the window and snap a picture! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/185d5500-5f7f-422b-bc1e-231314fd5564/IMG_20190604_230205_301.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears I hiked Mt. Lincoln and Mt. Lafayette to get acclimated to the heavy pack I'd be carrying in Yosemite and the high exposure I'd find at Half Dome. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/015df87f-8eae-480f-a629-e90245f63736/FB_IMG_1559727502724.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears This hike took Tony and I over 9 hours to complete. The pack was heavy and the trail was steep. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/0ad7f4a1-cce1-42fb-93c9-a92bef42c0db/IMG_20190604_221122_162.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears The view from the top of Mt. Lincoln heading over to Mt. Lafayette. The ridgeline was so beautiful. I was proud of myself for not freaking out with the drop-offs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/b3acd754-beaf-41a2-a411-926115147712/water+crossing.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears Water crossings are fun! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/1ff85973-b35a-4fa0-a70e-f03943822e81/frozen.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears My legs were super sore two days after the hike and I had a 10k race the following weekend. In desperation, I iced them with whatever I could find in the freezer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/901592d6-fd7c-4d42-8682-fc78a8304831/bath.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears I lasted about 10-15 seconds in this ice bath. I was so hoping my legs would recover before the 10k. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/8ceb83a9-fdd3-4295-88c6-7489e949464f/20190608_085306.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears I slathered my legs in IcyHot in the car before going to the start line of the 10k the following Saturday. By some miracle, I was able to run the entire race without issue. My sister MaryBeth ran it with me. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/c4e7a903-06ff-4c62-94f3-cab2142ce39e/10K+July+4.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears A few weeks later, on July 4th, I ran another 10k. I find that it helps me to sign up for races and pay for them. If it's booked, I know I need to train and show up! Here, Joe is high-fiving me as I approach the finish. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/e7413ea6-84cf-4caf-83d9-37cd32035c31/20190509_200127.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears Packing for California. There was so much to remember. I had no idea if I was over-packing or under-packing. It was fun shopping for everything though. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/c7720a49-2c37-4200-ad20-1b7ca4844387/20190709_120036.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears At the tattoo parlor on my 50th birthday, getting a small star on my wrist in memory of my mother who used to call me "Star Shine." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/24ad1ca0-bd4d-49e8-b8d0-56c98d399aa2/tattoo.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears My fresh tattoo. We hung out at our local beach all day before heading to a celebratory 50th birthday dinner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/16d8f879-ede5-407a-b330-c727d493a1e0/IMG_0011.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears I had been dieting so strictly for so long. On my 50th birthday, all I wanted was a margarita and tableside guacamole! With all the training, I was tipsy after two drinks. A cheap date! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/608080f6-8b85-48ad-8098-0f833c78c325/IMG_4645.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears The before and after. I hate this picture. I honestly didn't feel that big, but looking back I see how stuck I was in my body. My months of hard work and discipline paid off in the end. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/f2ade4b1-ec27-47ad-967f-9c5104497030/scale.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears A few days before my 50th birthday, I hit the 50-pound weight loss mark. From 207 to 157 in under 50 weeks! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/f0b78225-b4d7-4383-bacb-a49dff0df58d/IMG_4505.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears I'm old school, so I printed out each and every itinerary, map, confirmation, and document I could while planning my trip out west. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/34ca5b9d-bce5-4e89-b7cb-d421e578a7a8/IMG_4507.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears For Fat Mom on a Mountain, I planned out my chapters in weeks. I wanted to write the book over the course of 50 weeks, so I made sure to check in every single week on my progress. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/4cb46585-248d-4890-9c25-c55f02f5e28b/Message_1562771764934+%281%29.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears All packed up and ready to roll! My borrowed backpack was stuffed to the brim and ready to jet to Yosemite. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/7ba37a38-30b3-4a45-8113-53f134431573/20190718_194032.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: Losing the Weight, Training and Facing my Fears My son, Joseph, trying on Mom's backpack. He couldn't believe how huge and heavy it was. https://kristeobrien.com/yosemite-1 daily 0.75 2021-11-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/b307bcf3-3f95-451f-ae33-a8f3c2716b6e/IMG_20190713_101622_047.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park This sight, the famous "Tunnel View" greeted me when I emerged out of the Wawona Tunnel along Highway 41. It was my first time seeing Half Dome in person. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/7c456c0a-19ae-4516-85cd-a6b222757a43/GOPR0139.JPG PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park I arrived at Half Dome Village, my stay for the first two nights in Yosemite, just before dark. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/17cdd21c-69a9-41a4-9bd5-9e6a14fa7711/20190712_054224.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park My cabin was the one in the middle. When I opened the front door and looked up, Half Dome could be seen right above me. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/915f17b1-c875-4ed3-a767-567b55411079/IMG_20190713_101622_103.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park My home for the first two nights in California. The bear box can be seen off to the side. Luckily I remembered to put my food in it at the last minute before bedtime. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/6d05b7fb-4a84-485d-934a-56520db0639f/20190711_211853.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park This lovely room decor in my cabin warned about Black Bears and the rodent Hantavirus in Yosemite. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/70a7df7c-4d08-40b3-a524-fc32269e03cc/20190713_074843.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park Reserving a heated tent cabin allowed me to have access to electrical outlets to charge my phone and goPro. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/01de680b-2b1a-4651-985f-1314925f3fab/20190712_183728_Pano.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park My walking route from Half Dome Village to Yosemite Village where I went to catch my tour bus. The views everywhere I looked in Yosemite took my breath away. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/e01659c6-cdd6-41d5-aca2-186164aace56/20190712_104454.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park Me at Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. I had never seen trees that big before, even after growing up in Maine and hiking in the White Mountains of NH. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/c49c21c7-2965-46cf-9ad9-54d1ba6f5fbd/GOPR0105.JPG PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park Impressive trees at Mariposa! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/49c11abf-1207-4791-9b8e-b7ea8a471c4a/GOPR0114.JPG PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park Big Trees Lodge where my tour bus stopped for lunch and a walk around the Pioneer Yosemite History Center. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/9dae8584-9c18-422d-a27b-80cdd4c2197f/20190714_100646.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park Our tour bus went to Glacier Point next. Here is the view of Yosemite Village from the lookout point. It was SO high! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/e0d5483f-2b73-45cd-af27-7f10c9e21ff5/GOPR0126.JPG PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park Glacier Point. Half Dome jets out of the Valley like it is commanding the sky. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/8eda2da8-8e36-47e2-996c-9fe0bb67a28c/20190712_143855.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park I was smiling, but inwardly freaking out about the height of the mountain behind me. It was awesome. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/5c017b00-93c7-449d-83be-8affa3e73828/GOPR0151.JPG PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park El Capitan. Absolutely stunning. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/2e4c759f-3a36-43e1-abb0-89fce0f81e7e/Snapchat-919140088.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park My funny SnapChat to my kids. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/d0981d50-82a6-43c3-991b-59fe7f216375/GOPR0205.JPG PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park No matter where you walk in Yosemite, these are the types of views you see. Mountains, trees, rushing water, fluffy clouds, vibrant blue sky. Amazing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/3165cf14-09ce-4c39-9562-488ab15ece21/GOPR0158.JPG PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park One of our REI Campsites. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/520ca256-80dc-44f8-acec-3921d598e4da/20190714_145424.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park We would stack up our bear boxes at the edge of camp. That way, if any bears came in and tampered with them, the noise of them falling down would wake us up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/5ec8b075-b0eb-4a9a-82e7-4a2ac3ca7751/20190714_145437.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park SkyPilot (a flower found in Yosemite) was the name of my individual bear box. Here it is, stacked on the tippy top. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/f7d44e35-1245-4786-9c10-d1bd7716fbcf/20190716_104159_Pano.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park Behind me is the back of Half Dome. I couldn't see the cables during our entire trek. I tried to squint to find them so I could see what was in store for me, but never caught a glimpse. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/611e720e-8999-49c6-91ce-05098854547c/20190715_081834.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park Hiking across a bridge to our last campsite before heading to the summit of Half Dome. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/9ac8d78b-0aaf-4654-af24-b66bfefb8807/GOPR0170.JPG PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park Another iconic Yosemite photo. The sky was a blue I'm not sure I've ever seen before - vibrant and crisp. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/27fe4007-426e-4294-8a78-bc5da7153525/GOPR0172.JPG PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park We camped next to the Illilouette River. It was a gorgeous site. Freezing cold glacier water, but crystal clear and delicious after we filtered it into our water bladders. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/514658c0-608c-4629-8589-c17e5595b2e0/IMG_20190714_164858.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park This little friend graced us with his presence and then urinated in the river while staring at us. It was quite funny. I remember being grateful that my water bottle had already been filtered and filled before he arrived. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/3c154268-e4f6-4e9f-9b9d-342caa3b7514/20190715_121854.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park I was too chicken to dip in the freezing cold river, but brave enough to dunk my head briefly. Very refreshing after 2 long days of hot hiking. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/12992b64-e3a7-4b13-b774-81208f94bcd2/20190715_112403_HDR.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park Our last campsite before Half Dome. I was elated to find out there were bathrooms! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/d19a5ad7-a509-4f00-a8a2-b452f42b370c/20190715_112357_HDR.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park Plenty of room for all of our tents at this site. It was busy; filled with other hikers and families. One of our trip leaders woke early the next morning and filmed a black bear at the site next to ours. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/0d0e9445-51d3-4a36-b358-8658e4852e7b/20190715_080703.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park Half Dome behind me. When we hiked, it was almost always visible - taunting me and keeping it's cables hidden from view. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/9a06f7c9-e623-410f-84c1-fc732b5d9ae9/20190715_160724+%281%29.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park There are so many panoramic and iconic photos to be taken at Yosemite. Every turn was gorgeous, every view was spectacular. Each of us took a photo here as we made our way towards the sub-dome. Half Dome is behind me here, beckoning me to get closer and pull myself up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/81bf4da1-8e6b-436e-a288-72b9d2050bf6/IMG_7992.JPG PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park As we hiked, the sound of rushing water was a constant and we'd often stumble upon a view like this. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/1637028684996-O91O1TZJZ6MU6BKLI6CA/IMG_20190719_094345_590.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park The beginning of the infamous SubDome. It was a grueling hike with steep switchbacks and lots of steep elevation gains. The warning signs didn't do anything for my blood pressure! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/1e169cd0-a970-4156-9ced-c73546b1cc30/GOPR0189.JPG PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park Climbing up the SubDome. Sometime we had stairs to help, other times we'd need to walk straight up on the rock face. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/0f801a80-3ff3-4bef-89c8-fc3556842d18/IMG_20190715_193112.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park The saddle of Half Dome. It is totally exposed with dramatic drop offs. A week after my trip a young woman lost her life by falling from the cables. There is literally nothing to stop you if you slip. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/873d0bd0-1dec-47d4-9433-341c50ec8d2a/IMG_20190719_094345_593.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park I'm smiling, but crying on the inside. The image of the cables scared me to death and I thought about not summiting once I saw what I would need to do to get up that beast. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/c979b708-9c47-4b89-aed3-fe358d29ac98/20190715_172626.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park If you zoom on this photo you can see people climbing up the cables behind me. Pictures don't do the scale of this mountain justice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/32b2d04c-533a-4722-a977-7f73ff153ee9/hd.JPG PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park Half Dome in all it's glory. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/7191a72a-a3d9-463b-a677-2d99ebcb4154/IMG_20190715_192952.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park And so we begin. Here is a photo of some of the first steps up the cables. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/f7045b7d-fb60-492b-88c9-8621e7d0d604/IMG_20190715_192948.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park It is so steep. I had special grip gloves to help me not slip while holding the cables, but what I didn't factor in was the slickness of the actual mountain, worn away by years of people climbing the same route. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/f3b4363e-cfdc-4704-8c6f-7e28b3e2f986/IMG_20190715_184251.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park On the top of the world. Here's my group walking over to the 'football field' side of Half Dome. I felt like I was on another planet! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/ee4ed23d-ef92-4e52-bbe3-5429f559ebb9/20190715_181449.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park My nice trip leader took multiple photos of me on the top of Half Dome. I was so incredibly proud of myself for getting up there although I was, quite literally, terrified. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/9d9d0cd9-29f9-45a7-a7a1-3ef7e26c45e4/20190715_181602.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park I was beaming with accomplishment, but also obsessing about getting down the cables the entire time I was on the summit. I didn't enjoy the victory as much as I should have because I was so scared of the return trip. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/af6baf50-17cd-4c59-95b9-4d3ce4da0ef2/IMG_20190715_202229.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park We had dinner at the base of Half Dome after returning from our summit experience. I had survived. Life was good! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617545150675590dfe97fe06/96cbe4db-ab3e-442d-9770-9c4cf07454b3/IMG_20190715_202708.jpg PHOTO GALLERY: My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park The Sierra Nevada Mountains in the background. It was July, but snow capped the summits. 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