Cheesy Vegan

So I just found the best vegan Alfredo sauce that I've ever tasted! It's originally from this site - Don't Get Mad, Get Vegan! We experimented with it in a white vegetable lasagna this weekend, and the results were exceptional. ;) Anyhow, I got to thinking about all the other yummy things you could do with this sauce. I'm considering trying it as a white mac n cheese next. Oh, and the recipe calls for white cooking wine but we didn't use it and it turned out fine. Also some people suggested adding a little lemon juice for more of a "cheesy zing." Not sure exactly what they're alluding to, but I'm going to give it a try next time I make it. ;)  

Lachesis' Amazing Alfredo Sauce1/2c Earth Balance (or a little more is fine, to taste)
2 cups soymilk (unsweetened is best)
1 package Extra firm tofu (Mori-nu.. the kind in the tetra pack, appr 12 ounces)
1-2 tbsp white cooking wine
2 tbsp onion powder
2-3 tsp garlic powder
1-2 tsp sea salt
1-2 tsp black pepper (to taste)
pinch of nutmeg
3-4 tbsp arrowroot or cornstarch powder (more or less, as needed.. it should be creamy and the margarine should not separate) + a little cold soy milk just to dissolve

Mix all ingredients in either in a food processor or already in saucepan with hand blender. Heat over med lo heat until hot, stirring often. whisk in arrowroot/cornstarch mixture and heat until just bubbling. do not let boil. Sauce should be thicker by now. Serve and enjoy!

El Capitan

I hiked to the top of El Cap. on Sabbath. This hike was definitely on my Yosemite to-do list, and I'd been thinking about making it a weekend backpacking trip. The nice fall weather wouldn't be around much longer, however, so I decided to sieze the opportunity when it arose... 

Friday evening I found out that I would have all of Sabbath off, so I began to brainstorm. I pulled up some trip reports online, read gear lists, got time estimates, etc. Most people were saying to give yourself a full day and get an early start. It didn't sound like a walk in the park, but it looked doable. I decided to give myself 10 hours to complete the 17 mile hike with a turn-around time of 1 p.m. if I hadn't reached the top yet. I got everything packed that night and had my clothes laid out. The goal was to pull out of camp at 7 a.m.

The next morning found me on the Yosemite Falls trail at 8:15 a.m. The weather was looking perfect and I was feeling great. After a couple hours of up-hill climbing I arrived at upper Yosemite Falls. It was 10:20 a.m. and I took the split to El. Cap. which was another 4.7 miles away. From this point on the trail mostly evens out as it follows the ridge-line. At 12:15 p.m. I arrived at the top of El Cap. or at least the highest point. It's kind of hard to decide when to stop hiking as there really isn't a cliff edge. The ground just begins sloping to a greater and greater degree until it kind-of drops off the face. I chilled up top for an hour or so, ate lunch, watched some climbers come over the edge, chatted with other hikers, etc. Then at 1:20 p.m. I began my descent. I was back at upper Yosemite Falls by 3:00 p.m. and down in the valley again by 4:20 p.m. 

All in all the trip had taken me about 8 hours to complete - 7 hrs. of hiking and 1 hr. chilling up top. I had gained and descended over 3,500 ft. and my legs were definitely feeling it. I felt pretty good about the hike however, seeing at YNP advises 6-8 hrs. just to reach the top of Yosemite falls and back - a 6.8 mile round-trip hike. ;)       

Yosemite Falls trail-head. 

Upper Yosemite Falls.

Water levels are low this time of year.

Yosemite Valley.

Another glimpse back into the Valley. 

Upper Yosemite Falls/ El Cap. trail split. 

Only 2 miles left!

"Top" of El. Capitan.

Success!

Shadows falling on Upper Yosemite Falls. 

Yosemite Village with Half Dome in the background.

The trail down.

Afternoon sun on the Valley.

Footloose and Fancy Free!

And now let me tell you a tale of two silly girls who decided to go for a hike in Yosemite one lovely afternoon...

The destination was the top of Sentinel Dome. 

The dilemma  was the footwear. 

No one had said anything about there being any snow!

But those silly girls weren't deterred, and with perseverance (and numb feet) they soon reached the top!  

And what a view!

Yes, they were two very happy, silly girls.  

And so they decided to pose for a really cool picture...

...and another one...

...and one here...

...and one last one together... 

(along with the shadow of the guy taking the picture). 

Then it was time for those silly girls to hike back down. 

Three cheers for Chacos!!! 

Chilnualna Falls

Pictures from an incredible hike up Chilnualna falls on my weekend off. The trip from camp was about 10 mi. there and back with over 2,300 ft. in elevation gain. It took me a little over 2 hrs. to reach the top, and a little less than 2 hrs. to arrive back at camp. The view from the top was well worth the hike, as you can somewhat see from the pictures.