Yosemite Heals
The below essay was summarized and published in the Spring 2025 edition of the Yosemite Muir Notes publication, which goes out to the park’s extensive donor community. It was a privilege to lend a voice that blended my love of National Parks, conservation, wellness, MBC advocacy, and a dedication to my late wife Janice. Gratitude to the Yosemite Conservancy.
Yosemite saved the love of my life. Who knew Yosemite was just as powerful as chemotherapy, if not more?
My wife Janice was diagnosed with late stage 4 metastatic breast cancer (MBC) in her early 30s, literally days after our wedding. We were athletic, with no cancer history. The reality shattered us. The hurricane of side effects from treatment (forever because MBC has no cure) was draining her soul. Janice desperately needed motivation to keep rising each morning.
On a rainy day in 2015, walking out of the hospital after her PET scans, she lit up - "Dude, let's do Yosemite! So what if my energy is all whack. There's never gonna be a perfect time. There’s only now or never." So a week after, with a borrowed DSLR camera and nausea pills in hand, we boarded a United flight and soon found ourselves on the Mist Trail, at 5am.
Yosemite has been a soul-charging pilgrimage for her ever since. The park was the catalyst that convinced us to take risks for quality of life. To sell our house in Texas, take a leap of faith, and MOVE to California - AWAY from one of the world's BEST cancer centers to follow our hearts, instead of living in fear.
Hiking, camping, and immersion in the diverse wilderness that is Yosemite brought her immeasurable joy. It gave her a reason to get stronger, to live urgently. Janice countered the draining side effects of cancer treatment with the energizing side effects of Yosemite, leading to incredible healing for her body, mind, and soul. I’ll never forget her beaming smile of accomplishment the first time we made it up those rocky steps to the top of Nevada Falls. Very few stage 4 cancer thrivers make it past 2-3 years, let alone finish the ~7 mile round trip to Nevada Falls. We were going to summit Half Dome together, one day.
Janice passed in 2022, after 10.5 years thriving despite cancer. We were besties since teens. The glimmer that kept me going was the hope to take her ashes to Yosemite and maybe, just maybe, finish our dream of Half Dome. I had no permits or passes. I emailed the rangers asking for permission to spread some of her ashes. The response came immediately. Not only did they grant me a permit for the ashes, but also threw in a day pass! My heart melted.
The hike was much harder this time, having lost 30 lbs from caregiving and trauma, but her best friend joined and helped me further to the Sub Dome, barely. I took some ujjayi breaths. The air was crisp, with a hint of pine, and I relished the energy of Yosemite, like Janice. That suppressed my fear of heights and powered me up those cables to finally summit Half Dome. It felt like entering a surreal kingdom fit for Janice and loved ones who moved on. Yosemite stopped time and granted me a breathtaking moment with her at the top, 21 days after she passed. The Merced was also roaring all along, spreading encouraging cool mists from the falls. It brought back gratitude that I had lost.
The magic and spirit of Yosemite heal in profound ways, while gently teaching all of us new perspectives in life. Nature slows our racing mind, tames our body, and reminds us that imperfection is beauty and that everything flows.... It is a monumental effort to preserve this majestic park so that future generations may benefit and appreciate a connection to a natural gift greater than ourselves. It's why I support and promote Yosemite. In my heart, I feel Janice smiling. 🏞️
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