A masterpiece of Creation, Yosemite stirs awe and wonder season after season, year after year.

January 12 - 17, 2026

Yosemite National Park

“Give thanks to the Lord for he is good. His love endures forever.” Psalm 136:1

Within these sacred walls is a story to be told.

A story of earth and river, rock and ice.

A story of time and depth, sunset and moonrise.

A story of life and loss and seasons. Of memory and change.

Of beauty and majesty and awe.

Within these sacred walls is a masterpiece of creation.

Those who step forth in wonder may find they leave forever changed.

The first time Nick and I set foot in Yosemite National Park was the day after Christmas, 2006. Fresh powder met us in the valley where we pitched our tent on the snowy winter ground of the Upper Pines campground.

We hiked to the top of Yosemite Falls, pushing up and up through thigh-deep snow, leaving crowds behind, and marveling at the mighty granite cliffs set against a cloudless blue sky.

Staring at the ever-flowing Merced River, Nick made a passing but sticky comment. Months before leaving on his first deployment, he spoke the words aloud that this place before us, the Merced River, is where he would like his ashes spread should he fail to make it home.

Soon after, the valley called us back in summertime to attempt an iconic feat—the 16-mile hike to the top of Half Dome. Hand over hand, we pulled the cables for the last several hundred feet of the 45-degree granite slab, drawing us closer to its summit, closer to glory.

We returned to the valley floor every bit as victorious as defeated, leaving behind a trail of sweat and fear, taking home an avalanche of courage—a windfall of belief in what is possible.

We left California with a dream to return one day, together. To seek out any stones left unturned. To watch the water crash from heavenly heights, the river always rushing by, never failing to give its gifts.

Returning in fall 12 years later, little feet crunched crumpled leaves. A new generation looked up at the cliffs investigating the breezy, sleepy falls of fall.

Returning in spring revealed the biggest waterfalls of all, cliffs spilling over with winter’s treasured gift. Life sustained and moving from one season to the next.

Present Tense

Returning to the valley this winter, our fifth time here unfolds like a pilgrimage. It is a visit to a holy place.

A holy place, which is mostly empty—we are the only people at Bridalveil Falls.

With our now-bigger kids, we hike 3,000 vertical feet to the top of Yosemite Falls. It stands as evidence that we are a family who has grown—in so many ways.

“This is so rewarding,” Nate narrates.

And a rainbow decorates the upper falls.

We hike to the top for lunch and playtime in the snow.

On our way back, we stare down at the ever-flowing Merced River. This is when Nick’s passing comment from 19 years ago—the one about the ashes—blasts back at me.

In that moment I catch myself. Because he is standing in front of me, breathing, all done with deployments. All done with the fear of not making it home, which is reason enough to celebrate, all of us just being here together. To celebrate that I have his hand to hold as we gaze across the valley, together.

He is holding binoculars, his sights set across the way at Half Dome, that sacred monument to what could be.

“There are two people up there,” he says, “on top of Half Dome.”

“On January 14th?” I marvel.

That evening, Sadie asks, “Can we climb Half Dome?”

I will let Nick and Sadie take it from here.

Nick Here: On the evening of January 14th, I began researching if it was safe and feasible to climb Half Dome in winter. I had always heard that the cables that are necessary to safely climb the last 400’ of 45 degree granite slab were “down” in winter. I thought that “down” meant that the cables were taken down, but no, they are just laying down on the rock with the support poles and wooden planks removed.

***The Cables*** *— Weather permitting, from May to October, the NPS puts the cables on support poles and places wooden planks for your feet about every ten vertical feet.*

Some quick research revealed that you can safely climb the cables in winter, but you need some specialized safety equipment, to include: a climbing harness, several locking carabiners, a length of cord that can be connected to the cables with a prusik knot — a form of friction hitch, hiking poles, and microspikes — small crampons for your boots to give traction on steep snow and ice.

We had all of those things in the trailer for rock climbing, except the microspikes. We were planning to ride our bikes in the park the next day and I told Sadie that while we were there we could buy some microspikes at Yosemite’s climbing shop in Curry Village. Well, it turns out that they, and every other store in the park, had sold out the weekend before due to a large snow storm. Sadly, I told Sadie that it wouldn’t be feasible to hike Half Dome without them.

At that point, Sadie asked if she could go off and ride her bike by herself. We agreed on the condition that she only stay on the bike paths and check in with us every 30 minutes. After an hour, I received an excited call from Sadie.

“Dad! I’m here at the visitor center and told one of the volunteers about everything we have done on this trip and that we wanted to hike Half Dome, but can’t because we don’t have microspikes. He said that he has two pairs in his car, one for him and one for his wife, and he is willing to let us borrow them!”

I told her that we’d ride over to the visitor center and join her. That’s where I met Tony, the volunteer who had graciously offered to loan his equipment to complete strangers. As we walked out to his car to get the microspikes, I noticed that his license plate was framed with “U.S. Navy Disabled Veteran.” This led to a discussion about our respective service and seemed to affirm that the Lord had put us in exactly the right place at the right time to make the hike happen.

I’ll let Sadie take the rest from here.

#SadieSpeaks: Climbing Half Dome in January - In Her Own Words

January 16: Today was absolutely insane. We started the hike at 6:06 am with headlamps on. We kept going and hardly stopped for over 7 miles until about 11:00 then we had to hook up to the cables.

*The last 4+ miles were steep and snow covered, each way.*

*Perspective and scale — can you spot the cables in the middle of the frame?!*

We had to rock climb up 500 feet. It was literally covered in snow and ice and it was so hard to get up. It took us over an hour to get up to the top!

At 1:03 pm we summited Half Dome!!!!!!!!

I might be one of the youngest people ever to have summited in winter. What other 12-year-old can say they’ve rock climbed up all the way to Half Dome! Then we had to get back down. It took us exactly an hour to get down off the dome. After that we hightailed it down and we got back to the valley with headlamps on again at exactly 6:06pm and 40 seconds—12 hours after we started. RIP my legs, but like, so worth it.

*Dad note — only two other people summited Half Dome that day. So proud of Sadie’s bravery and tenacity!*

Until Next Time

After their epic hike, Sadie and Nick joined Nate and me for dinner at the pizza place in Curry Village. They arrived weary and every bit as depleted as satisfied.

On the trail they left fear and sweat, along with footprints in the snow.

They arrived down the mountain with stories of victory, and defeat. With tales of yesterday, and tomorrow.

A before, and an after.

A life moment, defined.

A new generation of wonder and awe.

Once more, we leave this sacred valley, forever changed.

Roberts on the Road

For those just finding us, hello! Inspired by the Year of Jubilee in Leviticus 25, our family is on a yearlong RV road trip in 2025-2026 to celebrate my husband’s retirement after 20 years in Naval Special Warfare, as well as our 24 years together during the ups and downs of it all.

With our 12-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son in tow, this trip to explore America’s national parks and beautiful places is intended to help our family reflect and reset as civilian life begins.

Sign up below to receive updates about the trip, along with stories, photos, and reflections from 24 years of military service. We look forward to keeping in touch on this epic adventure.

To join the Road Trip email list, please fill out this short form. We promise no spam and an AI-free zone. Any typos and mistakes are my own :)

For background info on who we are and where we’re traveling, we’d love for you to read the intro post. The full list of road trip blog posts can be found here. Thanks for stopping by!