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Hiking Half Dome: A Noble Goal
Written by Rick DeutschGoals are what drive human existence. Without them we are adrift on a sea of mediocrity. For the outdoor adventurer, the hike to the top of Yosemite’s 8,842 foot icon, Half Dome is a worthy goal. It is hard – real hard. But with education, commitment and training, almost anyone can accomplish this goal. From Yosemite Valley, the hike is 16 miles round trip. However, the ~1 mile elevation gain turns this into a 10-12 hour extremely strenuous venture. This exhilarating hike is a mere 4 hour drive from Reno.
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Yosemite’s 8,842 foot
Half Dome is the ultimate hiker's goal. |
The trail starts next to the Merced River at Happy Isles, the eastern edge of the valley by the Curry Village complex. The scenic route is over the Vernal Fall Bridge, up the Mist Trail, through Little Yosemite Valley, then to Half Dome. The return is via Nevada Fall and the John Muir Trail. The apex of Half Dome is only 2 miles from Happy Isles – as the crow flies. However, your path will cover many more miles as you weave around the backside of the monolith; you gain ~5,000 feet in altitude. The trail is well marked; follow the crowd! 800+ people do this hike on summer weekends. The climax of your hike is ascending the final 425 vertical feet with the aid of 2 steel cable “banisters” held in place by metal poles (From 1875 to 1919, a knotted rope was used!). Every 10 feet, fixed horizontal 2 x 4 ft boards allow you to rest and catch your breath. The famous cables are at an almost 45 degree angle. The cables are in an “up” position in summer and are laid flat on the rock in winter with poles and boards removed to prevent avalanche damage.
Weekends are very crowded. Begin your hike by 6 am or earlier – the goal is to reach the cables by 11 am. Arrive later and you’ll be greeted by a long line, caterpillaring slowly up the cables. If you get to the cables after high noon you may wait an hour just to get on, and then it’s a slow grind up. It’s much easier to go at your own pace vs. standing 100’s of feet up the cables waiting for the human logjam to clear. The round trip hike will take a fit person 10-12 hours; plan on much longer if you have not trained. Bring a flashlight in case you have to hike in the dark. There are no rangers on Half Dome to restrict or control hikers. Lastly, there are several well-maintained trail toilets along the way. Practice the “Leave no Trace” principles of hiking.
Precautions
While this is basically a safe hike, there are a few things to be aware of. The last 9 months have seen 3 deaths on Half Dome. In similar accidents in November 2006 and April 2007, a 25-year old woman, then a 43-year old woman were going up the cables when they were in the winter “down” position. The rock was wet and they lost their grip and fell to their deaths. In June 2007, a 37-year old man lost his balance while ascending and fell from the cables. These are the only documented deaths off the cables, excepting heart attacks, since the installation. Suggestions for a permit process or other regulatory controls are controversial and would not have prevented these deaths. The major areas of concern you need to be aware of are: Falling is the most common injury. Wear good hiking shoes, use trekking poles, be very careful! The cables are scary and steep.
Intensity: this is an “extremely strenuous” hike. You need to be in good health and train in advance to condition your legs.
Dehydration: ensure everyone in your party is well hydrated. Water is key to your success.
Giardia: do not drink untreated water from any natural source. Use a purifying filter pump or other method.
Waterfalls: people have gone over the falls. Respect the signs and hike safely.
Weather: thunderstorms can arise in any month. People have died from lightning strikes on the summit. Retreat if there is any hint of a storm in the area.
Bears: your biggest chance of an encounter will be at your campsite – use the bear boxes for your food and scented items.
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