UNCLE BERT MEMORIES
HIKING IN YOSEMITE
Yosemite was, is, and will forever be a magical place for the decedents of John and Edna Robertson. I have been remembering a hike up Half Dome where several memorable events took place. The only problem is that I am not able to decide what year the hike might have happened. One of the memories involves my brother Bruce. For other memories Michael, Howard and I are old enough that Bruce was not likely with us. Still another memory more likely happened on the Panorama Trail (8 Mile Trail). I believe my memories actually happened over several hikes. So I will list the memories and let all of you add details I’ve forgotten. I just wish I had been along when Jay, Bert and Don found the Ledge Trail.
- We were on the summit of Half Dome where many people had left their initials spelled with loose rock. Bruce spelled his initials: BER. Uncle Bert added a “T” to spell his name. As we left the summit, Howard kicked away the “T”.
- Uncle Bert had some hiking boots that were just a touch too small. Hiking downhill hurt his toes. By the time we got back to Happy Isles, Uncle Bert’s feet were really complaining. Later that evening, as Uncle Don was walking down to the edge of the Merced River, he pretended his feet hurt by saying, “Ooch, ouch, ooch,ooch, ouch” poking fun at Uncle Bert.
- We were hiking along and Uncle Bert would belch and blame it on Rebecca saying things like: “Cut that out Rebecca, that’s not lady like.” Rebecca would blush and protest, but to no avail. Howard and I thought it was hilarious.
- Michael had grown about a foot one year and his strength had not caught up with his size which left him somewhat clumsy. The poor guy seemed to fall down every 10 feet all the way up Half Dome. (He never complained or wanted to stop. He just got up and kept on going.) Michael was carrying his family’s supply of cookies. We stopped for lunch above Little Yosemite Valley. After Bert’s family had all eaten their sandwiches, Uncle Bert asked Michael for “one of those cookies.” When Uncle Bert opened the bag, there was not a cookie in there. Just a bag of crumbs. Uncle Bert simply poured some cookie crumbs in a cup and drank his cookies.
