A thunderstorm rolls in, the road turns to slush, and Yosemite’s drama cranks to 11. We pull over, wait it out, and keep going—dogs panting, windshield fogging, laughter on loop. Come along as we thread Tioga Pass, hunt for Tunnel View, daydream about the sequoias, and find the magic in the messy middle. 🎧 Watch the companion video: youtu.be/Wl2GJBzWWfg

• Where we are: Yosemite National Park via Tioga Pass (Lee Vining side)
• Weather curveball: Thunder, lightning, hail/sleet “mush,” low visibility, rockfall, and big temperature swings (high 30s–40s°F).
• The plan: Explore Yosemite Valley on a rainy day; opt for a short, paved, dog-friendly walk with views of Half Dome & Yosemite Falls.
• Reality checks:
  • James is 5 days post-foot injury (tetanus shot contemplation 😅).
  • Campsite is ~3 hours from Mariposa Grove; sequoias go on the “next trip” list.
  • Dogs = adorable, steamy windows.
• Highlights:
  • Watching waterfalls kick back on after the storm.
  • Three tunnels (!!) on the way toward the Valley (friend memory unlocked).
  • That “is that…a payphone?!” bit.
  • The way rainy days thin the crowds and amplify the mood.
• Dog tips: Bring towels, extra water, and plan paved, low-impact routes in bad weather.
• Safety note: Pull over during lightning/hail, watch for rockfall, and mind those no-guardrail edges.
• Watch the visuals: https://youtu.be/Wl2GJBzWWfg

Key takeaways (bullets):

• Rainy days can be the best national park days—crowds clear, waterfalls reappear, and the drama is unreal.
• Plans change; the park isn’t going anywhere. Save big hikes (like Mariposa Grove) for a future trip if conditions or health say so.
• Long drives to/from dispersed camp are worth it when the starlink/solar/views hit right.
• Safety > schedule. Pull over, breathe, and wait out the storm.

Stress isn’t the story—self-love is. Today we sit down with Cheyenne Moore—author of Self Love 101: How to Look in the Mirror and host of Safe Space with Cheyenne—to talk about the messy, honest middle of healing. We reframe anxiety and depression as parts of you asking to be seen, name the inner critic (Stanford, we see you), and get practical about boundaries, people-pleasing, grief, and being authentic online without performative “positivity.”

In this episode:

• Why your anxiety isn’t the enemy (and how to hear what it’s asking for)
• “Beginner-friendly” self-love tools that actually fit real life
• Grieving the Old Self & integrating the New You (Cheyenne’s next book + journal)
• Masculine emotions, parenting, and modeling nervous-system safety
• The trap of spiritual perfectionism + what honest progress looks like
• Using your voice without fixing, forcing, or faking it

About Cheyenne Moore

Cheyenne is the author of Self Love 101: How to Look in the Mirror and the upcoming Grieving the Old Self 101: How to Integrate the New You. She hosts Safe Space with Cheyenne, a podcast designed to elevate voices, stories, and beginner-friendly tools for real-life healing.

Connect with Cheyenne

• Book: https://a.co/d/8ByyalI

• Podcast (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/show/5W7zl2R8XggkQbZGztDOY7

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@safespacewithcheyenne

• YouTube: Safe Space with Cheyenne

• Facebook: Safe Space with Cheyenne (Wichita, KS)• Book: Self Love 101 → https://a.co/d/8ByyalI

Mentions

• Our current Book Club pick: The Untethered Soul (Sundays) → https://bit.ly/KerouacBookClub

• Kerouac’s Cruising blog & socials → kerouacscruising.com | IG/FB @kerouaccruising

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On our way to Yosemite, we managed to wedge the trailer in a too-tight turn… again. Here’s the simple “disconnect & pivot” move we’ve now used twice to recover safely on downhill grades—plus how we chose a high-elevation boondock near Lee Vining with great Starlink and solar, what to know about Yosemite’s timed entry, and a rainstorm/rattlesnake morning for the books. We wrap with a quick tour of Virginia Lakes and why we stayed put at 9,100’ instead of moving deeper into the trees.

• A repeatable way to get unstuck on a downhill slope (with tire-chock safety)
• Why satellite view isn’t enough (and what to do instead)
• Starlink + solar considerations in mountain terrain
• Yosemite entry timing (avoid the reservation window)
• Rattlesnake etiquette with dogs, and monsoon camping in the desert
• Virginia Lakes Road overview: dispersed + primitive options, views for days

• Book Club: bit.ly/KerouacBookClub
• Work with us / socials: @kerouaccruising