While most Americans were preparing big Fourth of July barbecues and planning extravagant firework displays in their backyards last Wednesday, I was hiking to Clouds Rest (elev. 9,926 ft.) in Yosemite National Park.

Not wanting to bake while I hiked (highs were expected to be in the mid to upper 80s), I started from the Sunrise trail head (elev. 8,200 ft.) around 8:10, which wasn't as early as I wanted, but ended up being early enough.

The trail started with plenty of shade and was easy on the feet. It had an upward grade that was barely perceptible. Several guidebooks had rated the hike as strenuous, but I had a hard time believing them as I sauntered along.

After 1.5 miles, the effortless walk in the woods ended abruptly. The innocent, forest trail suddenly became a steep series of uneven granite switchbacks. Each sandy step I climbed confirmed the appropriateness of the strenuous rating.

After a mile of climbing, I reached Sunrise Creek Trail Junction. I came across two hikers sitting on rocks. One, who had hiked the trail before, reassured me that I had survived the hardest part. I took comfort in her words, not knowing that the hardest part was still to come.

The trail abruptly descended and gradually regained altitude over the next 2.5 miles. I crossed a number of creeks and passed a beautiful lake on my way to Sunrise Camp Trail Junction.

The trail widened and grew steeper as the summit of Clouds Rest came into view.

The climb to the top was easier than I expected, but harrowing once I reached the sign marked Clouds Rest Foot Trail.

The peak, which is perhaps twelve feet wide at its broadest point, offers an incredible view of the snow-topped peaks and wooded valleys that make up Yosemite.

The view is better than the view from Half Dome primarily because one has a view of Half Dome.

Despite the hard climb, the journey to the top only took three hours. I had the peak to myself for ten minutes before another hiker arrived from the opposite side of the mountain. He had climbed more than 5,000 feet over a stretch of 10.5 miles from the valley floor to reach the top. His effort put mine to shame.

I wished him a Happy Independence Day and he said, "It most certainly is and I can't think of a better way to celebrate it." We then gave each other space (as much as one can feasibly give under such circumstances) and silence to enjoy the top of the world.

After forty minutes of gazing at the scenery, taking photos, and shooting my standard panoramic video (I call it the 30-Second Spin Shot), I said goodbye to Clouds Rest and headed down.

The return journey was quick and relatively straightforward. Things went well until I reached the segment right before Sunrise Creek Trail Junction. The segment that had been an abrupt descent on the way out, was now an abrupt ascent on the way back. And it was an ugly one at that.

The brisk pace I had been maintaining had tired my legs and I paid for it with every step over the ridge. With the temperature rising, I drank a lot of water in the effort. I had packed approximately 2.5 liters for the nearly 15-mile hike. Normally, that would have been enough water, but not this time.

Fifteen minutes from the trail head, I ran out of water. It was an avoidable mistake. I had a bottle of iodine tablets and had passed plenty of water sources on my way down. I just hadn't paid attention to the amount of water I was carrying or consuming. It's a mistake I won't repeat.

I reached the trail head right around 2:10 and made a beeline for the grocery store in Tuolumne Meadows. I nearly drained an entire bottle of Powerade on the spot.

If you have a chance to visit Yosemite in the summer, I highly recommend hiking to Clouds Rest. It's a difficult hike, but it's less strenuous, less dangerous, and significantly less crowded than the hike to Half Dome. Plus, it offers a view that rivals, if not surpasses, the view offered by its better known granite sibling.

You can find more photos from the hike here.