Hiking Trip Reports

 

Hiking Half Dome is a must do trip for any avid hiker.  The trail from Yosemite Valley to the top of Half Dome is pure delight as you hike from valley forest, beside waterfalls, through meadows, back into dense forest, along the ridge thousands of feet above Yosemite National Park, and then up the side of the glorious mountain known as Half Dome.  I’ve hiked Half Dome twice and will return again in 2008 to hike it again.  It is one of my favorite one-day hikes in North America.  If you love hiking and can manage 16 to 18 mountain miles in a day Half Dome is a hike you will never forget. 

To avoid crowds that can make the last part of the journey difficult – the cables up the side of Half Dome – visit Yosemite in the spring or fall.  If you do visit during the busy summer get up early to beat the crowds that get really thick around noon. 

There are several ways to get to Half Dome including trips from the John Muir Trail, but most people start from the Happy Isles Nature Center.  I like to reserve a tent in Curry Village and walk from there.  It’s a good warm up walk before hitting the trail and will only add about twenty minutes to your hike.  The trail from Happy Isles is marked well, but if you are planning to start before sunrise you might want to visit the day before to scope out the trail. 

Once you are on the well-marked trail you will cross the Vernal Falls Bridge at one mile.  After the Vernal Falls Bridge you will come to a split in the trail.  You can either take the shorter route that follows the waterfalls up the mountain or go around them using the John Muir Trail.  If it is early in the season and the waterfalls are large you might consider taking the John Muir Trail around the waterfalls to avoid getting soaked (you can come back down the trail next to the waterfalls on your way down).  If you do take the trail next to the waterfalls you may get very wet as you pass the Mist Trail portion.  The last time I took the Mist Trail it was so strong I couldn’t keep my eyes open due to all the water.
 

Either way you take you should reach the top of Nevada Falls.  On a May 2005 Half Dome hike I took the picture above of my brother as he looked over the falls.  Whatever you do don’t wade in the water at the top of the falls.  Every year someone dies because they climb into the peaceful looking water and get sucked over the ledge by the undertow.  You can find other places to cool your feet, but above the falls is not one of them. 

By the time you reach Nevada Falls you will be tired so the Little Yosemite Valley you encounter next is a welcome treat.  The Little Yosemite Valley is mostly flat and allows for time to reflect on the beauty of the park.  Pay attention because this area is full of Mule Deer that are so tame they will walk beside you as you hike.  Below is a picture of the back of Half Dome from the trail in Little Yosemite Valley.  

 
After a couple of miles you will leave the Little Yosemite Valley and start another ascent toward Half Dome.  You are now only two miles from the top, but the slight altitude, early rise, and exhaustion may start to catch up with you at this point.  As you hike through the dense forest remember that you are close to seeing one the most beautiful sites in Yosemite – the view from the ridge next to Half Dome.  That should drive you to keep moving. 

When you leave the forest you will find yourself on a ridge leading up to the side of Half Dome.  Enjoy the panoramic views of the Yosemite Valley below to your right and the side of Half Dome in front of you.  A steep staircase cut into the rock will lead you to the cables of Half Dome.

The cables are daunting even to the most seasoned outdoors person.  Some simply will not be able to scale the side of Half Dome with vertical drops on both sides.  The cables shoot several hundred feet up the side of the rock mountain with 2×4 boards every few feet.  The picture below shows how crowded the cables can be if you go during the peak summer months.  It’s not always that crowded and can be quite peaceful in the off-season. Once you reach the top of Half Dome you can enjoy the 360-degree view from the top of the world. 

To learn everything about the Half Dome hike read One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome by Rick Deutsch.  This top-rated and comprehensive guide can be bought at Amazon.com and other outdoor retailers. 

If you want to share your Half Dome hike, or any other hike, with others please send your hiking trip report and pictures to GeckoTales @ Gmail.com