We returned to the springy Yosemite last weekend. We biked around the valley for 12 miles on the first day. The second day was devoted to our first ever significant hike in Yosemite. We picked the Yosemite Falls Trail. It's a nine-mile long (round trip) and 2630 feet gain in altitude, summit at ~6800 feet. It's a strenuous trail for a day-hike. We started out at 7:40AM and it took us three hours (including about 45 minutes worth of breaks) to reach the top of the Upper Fall gorge (3.4 miles). After our lunch break right next to the waterfall chute, we hiked another mile to Yosemite Point (6936 feet in altitude). The scenics are well worth it and compensate for the sweats, pains and aches of the arduous trek up and down the mountain. We got back down to the valley by 5:15PM tired and very satisfied... This is our training course in preparation for the Half-Dome Trail (16 miles, 4842 feet gain in altitude, summit at ~8900 feet, 12 - 14 hours duration) slated for late September... Photos taken with Canon Powershot A80 and Powershot I90 IS.