We ascended Half Dome in the late afternoon and enjoyed an hour or so on the summit before returning down the cables. I cursed like a sailor the whole way, only biting my tongue when a woman quickly passed me. Once off the cables (and after kissing the granite), the prospect of a hot dinner and rest put some pep in our step and we ran back to the Little Yosemite Valley campground.

After finishing the soon-to-be familiar routine of filtering water, cooking, cleaning then packing the bear canister, I attempted to sleep. A muffled noise from behind our tent caused me to sit up and shouts of "BEAR" suddenly rang throughout camp. Rangers sprang to action and scared away a large female black bear. I had heard her walk right past our tent! She came back three times that night to inspect bear boxes containing backpackers' precious food. Each time rangers scared her off with spotlights and a paintball gun.

Lot's of action on Day 1 of the John Muir Trail.

Tomorrow we climb another 2000 feet to an elevation of 9500 - 10000 feet. 5 miles down, 215 to go.