Stanford University or Stanford, is an American private research university located in Stanford, California, near Palo Alto. It is situated in the northwestern Silicon Valley, approximately 20 miles (32 km) northwest of San Jose and 37 miles (60 km) southeast of San Francisco.The university is considered to be one of the most prestigious tertiary institutes in the world.
The classic view of Stanford from Palm Drive
Landscape Architect Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed New York City's Central Park, created the master plan for the Stanford campus. His collaboration with Leland and Jane Stanford, as well as the firm of Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge, created the distinctive Western style that has become Stanford's trademark.
Hoover Tower,visible throughout the surrounding area, serves as a landmark of Stanford to faculty, students, alumni and the local community. Alumnus and U.S. President Herbert Hoover is pictured here with the tower that's named after him.
The Main Quad
As the architectural center of campus, Stanford's Main Quad contains the university's first buildings, constructed between 1887 and 1891. With palm trees and sandstone arcades, the Quad has a calming influence on passersby, and students frequently can be found studying or conversing in the shadows of its arches.
Stanford Campus Info :8,180 contiguous acres in six governmental jurisdictions Nearly 700 major buildings. It is home of 7 schools including 4 graduate schools, (Business, Education, Engineering, Law, Medicine, Earth Sciences, Humanities and Sciences)
Two-thirds of Stanford's 8,180 acres are open space, most of which lies in the foothills that stretch westward toward the mountain range that separates the Santa Clara Valley from the Pacific Ocean.
Palm Drive is the main entrance to the Stanford campus
Half Domeis a granite dome in Yosemite National Park, located in north-eastern
Mariposa County, California, at the eastern end of Yosemite Valley possibly
Yosemite's most familiar rock formation. The granite crest rises nearly 5,000
feet above Yosemite Valley floor and 8,800 feet above sea level. It is a
Yosemite icon and a great challenge to many hikers.
(This Photo is took from the net - just i draw the rough trail route to get an idea of half dome hiking )
I got to know about Half dome
just 3 months back (Mar-2013), from that day I got so much interested to hike
this place, Finally I got the chance to be on top, on June-07-2013. I should
thank to my friends (Annamalai & Alok) without them surely I won't reached
the top. To do the Half dome hike we need the proper permit.
We have applied for the daily
lottery on Wed(12 am), and we got selected in the lot, On Thursday Annamalai
done all the pre-activities for the Friday hiking. He Prepared south Indian
dishes Chappathi , Potato Masala , & Chenna Masala. We have started out
trip from Fremont, CA by 6pm and reached Oakhurst - Days Inn for our night stay
(10 pm). We had our home made dinner and take gud sleep.
Friday - The day
we reached the top .......
Early morning 5am we started
from the room after 1hr travel we reached the Yosemite Curry Village - Parking
(near by YARTS shuttle stop # 16). Sharply by 6.30 am we started the dream hiking. Hike Distance: 16.5 miles round trip via
John Muir Trail (Mist Trail). But personally I feel it will be close to 20
miles or more. Along the way, we saw the outstanding views of Vernal and NevadaFalls, Liberty Cap, Half Dome, and--from the shoulder and summit--panoramic
views of Yosemite Valley and the High Sierra.
While climbing the top after
few miles, I got tired and lost my energy,
Even though my friends motivated not to quit and the end i reach the top
by 2pm. I felt very difficult when mounting up sub dome & Half dome.
The
"sub dome" is part of the Half Dome hike. It's not a destination on
its own, although you can hike to the base of the sub dome without a permit. To
proceed further to reach the half dome you need proper permission. Two rangers
will be there in the base of sub dome to check the permit.
Once we reached the sub dome,
which got more enthusiast to climb the Half Dome, which is steep and very
difficult. The last 400 vertical feet (130 meters) up the eastern slope are so
sheer. Without the cables or serious mountaineering gear, the ascent would be
impossible. We can find the poles holding the cables up every ten feet or so
along the slope. Normally it will take
10 to 12 hours to hike to Half Dome and back. But we took 14 hours to
finish our hike. If you plan on hiking during the day, it's smart to leave around
sunrise (or earlier) .Hikers should definitely have flashlight to avoid the
struggle down the trail if dark appears.
Reached Sub Dome - Ready to climb the final stretch
View from top of the Half Dome
Things to take before hiking :
More Water &
Energy Drinks ( I took 6 water bottles & 6 Gatorade)
( Everything is
finished before I reached the top)
High energy foods
- Bars, nuts, trail mix, jerky, candy, etc.
Fruits
Footwear - Quality
hiking boots (good soles and ankle support)
Medicines - Pain-killer,
Blister first aid, Spray for Muscle Cramp.
Backpack
Camera
Cap
Sun glasses
Sunscreen and Lip
Balm
Skin Wiper
Flashlight (Torch
Light)
Trekking Poles
will be very helpful
Hand gloves
with good grip.
One Trash bag - To
collect your trash
Rain gear (based
upon weather)
Layered clothing
(based upon weather)
Tips while using
the cables:
Take your time and be patient
with slower hikers
Allow faster hikers to pass
you (when possible)
Remain on the inside of the
cables
( I saw some hikers are
climbing the half dome by using outside of the cables ).
Enjoying the Amazing View of Yosemite Valley
Caution :
Drop your hike when Storm
clouds are in the area, The ground is wet (the cables and rock is more slick
when it is wet.
I strongly suggest you be
physically prepared for this adventure. This is an “extremely strenuous” hike.
Be prepared for sudden changes in weather and for the many aspects of the
wilderness such as insects and animals. (Warning Sign)
Black bears frequent
Yosemite's Wilderness and are adept at grabbing backpacks from hikers and
campers--during both day and night.
Half
Dome
is the signature landmark of Yosemite National Park in California. This 16 mile
round-trip takes all day and brings hikers beside majestic waterfalls and to
the top of the unique granite monolith, 8842 feet above sea level. While this
is one of the most strenuous day hikes in the park.
Hiking to the top is
a taxing ordeal, taking about 12 hours. It is one of the most popular hikes in
the USA (as well as dangerous). This hike in total is about 16 miles round trip
depending on the trails used. Day hikers will begin their journey in Happy
Isles and ascend via the steep Mist Trail next to both Vernal, then NevadaFall, each via 700 man-carved granite steps. This hike culminates with the
cable system, erected in 1919 where you will climb the last 425 vertical feet
using a 1/2-inch steel cable handrail. It is a guaranteed adrenalin rush. you will have unparallel views of Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point, El Capitan, Clouds Rest, Tenaya Canyon, and pretty much
the entire Yosemite Valley.
Despite an 1865
report declaring that it was "perfectly inaccessible, being probably the
only one of the prominent points about the Yosemite which never has been, and
never will be, trodden by human foot," George Anderson reached the summit
in 1875, in the process laying the predecessor to today's cable route.
The Half Dome cables
usually go back up the Friday before Memorial Day (conditions permitting) and
come down the day after Columbus Day. Half
Dome Permits for Day Hikers : Permits to hike to
the top of Half Dome are required seven days per week when the cables are up More
Info on http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/hdpermits.htm A maximum of 300
hikers will be allowed (about 225 day hikers and 75 backpackers) each day on
the Half Dome Trail beyond the base of the sub dome. On each preseason
lottery application, people can apply for up to six permits (six people) and
for up to seven dates. Applications will only be successful if the number of
permits requested is available on at least one of the requested dates. If
enough permits are available for more than one of the requested dates, permits
will be automatically awarded to the highest priority date, as entered by the
applicant. Applicants may apply as the trip leader only once per lottery.
Multiple applications with the same trip leader will be removed from the
lottery.
Preseason
Lottery
: Two hundred and twenty-five permits for each day were available through a
preseason lottery. The application period for this lottery was from March 1,
2013 to March 31, 2013. Applicants will receive an email with lottery results
on April 15 (or can get results online or by calling Recreation.gov). We are
planning on the Half Dome cables being up May 24, 2013 through October 14,
2013, but these dates could change based on conditions.
Daily
Lottery :
Approximately 50 permits will be available each day by lottery during the
hiking season. The daily lotteries will have an application period two days
prior to the hiking date with a notification late that night. The application period will be from midnight
to 1 pm Pacific time. How
to Apply for a Permit : To apply for a permit, visit Recreation.gov or call
877/444-6777 (call center is open from 7 am to 9 pm Pacific time; online
requests can be made any time during a lottery period).
Fees
:
Two separate fees are collected. The first fee, which is charged at the time you submit an
application, is $4.50 (online) or $6.50 (by phone). This non-refundable fee,
which is per application (not per person), is charged by Recreation.gov for the
costs of processing your permit application. The second fee is $8 per person and
is charged only when you receive a permit.
View from the Top of Half Dome
Check my video below,
which I took from top of Half Dome
While we do the half dome hiking (June-08-2013), Along
the way to reach the dome, we saw the outstanding views of Vernal and NevadaFalls, Liberty Cap, Sub dome. In this post I am describing about the Vernal
Falls beauty and hiking info.
Vernal Fall is a 317-foot (96.6 m) waterfall on the Merced River
just downstream of Nevada Fall in Yosemite National Park, California. Vernal
Fall, as well as Nevada Fall, is clearly visible from Glacier Point. The
waterfall runs all year long, although by the end of summer it is substantially
reduced in volume and can split into multiple strands, rather than a single
curtain of water.
Hiking Info To Reach Vernal Fall:
You can take the free shuttle to reach the Trail-head.
The Mist Trail starts at Happy Isles trail-head (YARTS shuttle
stop # 16, and within walking distance of Curry Village).
Distance: The hike to the top of Vernal Fall, along
the Mist Trail, is 2 miles from the trail head. The Trail, which
starts at Happy Isles, goes to the top of Vernal Fall. The trail is mostly
shaded and is progressive in incline until it reaches the base of the waterfall
where mist sprays onto the hikers.
Difficulty: Moderate
Length: Around 4 miles
Elevation Gain:
1,000 feet (317 meters) to top of Vernal Falls
waterfall is 80 ft. wide
The final 15 minutes of the trail is a very steep
climb up rocks to the top of the waterfall. Once a top the falls there is a
pool of water called the Emerald Pool around which hikers lounge and
rest. There is also a 20 degree slope of rock with water flowing into the pool
called the Silver Apron.
Emerald Pool is a small, shallow lake located immediately above
Vernal Fall in Yosemite National Park. It is named for its deep green color,
which is caused by algae living on the rocks at the bottom of the pool.
While we do the half dome hiking (June-08-2013), Along the way to
reach the dome, we saw the outstanding views of Vernal and Nevada Falls,
Liberty Cap, Sub dome. In this post I am describing about the Nevada
Falls beauty and hiking info.
Nevada Fallis a 594-foot (181 m) high waterfall on the Merced River in
Yosemite National Park, California. It is located below the granite dome,
Liberty Cap, at the west end of Little Yosemite Valley. The waterfall is widely
recognized by its "bent" shape, in which the water free-falls for
roughly the first third of its length to a steep slick-rock slope. This
mid-fall impact of the water on the cliff face creates a turbulent, whitewater
appearance in the falls and produces a great deal of mist which covers a wide
radius, which led to its current name (Nevada is an old Spanish word meaning
"snowy")
Hiking Info To Reach Nevada Fall:
You can take the free shuttle to reach the Trail-head.
The Mist Trail starts at Happy Isles trail-head (YARTS shuttle stop # 16, and
within walking distance of Curry Village).
The hike to the top of Nevada Fall, along the Mist
Trail, is around 5 miles from the trail head One must first hike to Vernal Fall
and then trek another 2.5 miles to reach the top. The John Muir Trail, which starts near the trail to Happy Isles, goes
to the top of Nevada Fall.
Trail Way to reach the top
Difficulty: Moderate
Length: Around 5 miles
Elevation : Around 2,000 feet
Nevada Fall View from the top
It will be very scenic when you see the falls from the top. (Check my video below, which I took from top of Nevada Fall )
Marathon: The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometers (26 miles and 385 yards),that is usually run as a road race. The event was instituted in commemoration of the fabled run of the Greek soldier Pheidippides, a messenger from the Battle of Marathon to Athens.
The name Marathon comes from the legend of Pheidippides, a Greek messenger. The legend states that he was sent from the battlefield of Marathon to Athens to announce that the Persians had been defeated in the Battle of Marathon (in which he had just fought),which took place in August or September, 490 BC. It is said that he ran the entire distance without stopping and burst into the assembly, exclaiming "We win", before collapsing and dying.
According to legend, after the Greeks were victorious over the Persians at the Battle of Marathon, they sent a runner to Athens with the news. The runner, Pheidippides, ran the entire distance to Athens without stopping, announced the victory, and then dropped dead, due to the physical stress on his body caused by the long run.
Vibha - A brighter future for children Vibha's mission is to educate, empower and enable every individual who wishes to make a positive difference in the life of the underprivileged child. It was founded in 1991, today Vibha has a volunteer network of 825 volunteers spread across 15 Action Centers in cities across the US and India.
The Dream Mile foot race, launched in Vibha Atlanta in 1998, has grown over the years and is now the key fundraising vehicle for Vibha in seven action centers. In 2007, the Vibha family decided to brand the event and thus was born The Dream Mile. "A few miles for a million dreams" - the Vibha family truly believes in and subscribes to this message. It believes that a small initiative taken by us can go a long way in helping underprivileged children fulfill their dreams.
A Young Kid Participated in the marathon
Male Winner
Female Winner
Dream Mile organization conducted a marathon in Hellyer County Park, San Jose, California on Sunday, 2nd June 2013. I too participated with lot of interest. Initially i didn't thought that i can complete 10 kms, but got confidence by seeing small kids and old age people. Through out running track they had enough water, energy drinks & bars. Once the marathon is completed, we had a very good typical south Indian food (Keasari, Pongal , Uppuma , Sambhar & Chutney)
I have Participated under 10K , I took 1 hour 18 mins to finish 10 kms.
Marathon Location : Hellyer County Park, San Jose , California
