Story:
Having read about this amazing hike, it was definitely time to see what all the hype was about. 15 miles later, the hype was definitely validated. Having hiked many heralded trails, the Half Dome hike reigns as the most scenic hike I have ever done. There aren't many places in the world where you can hike past mammoth waterfalls and stand atop 4000' granite monoliths. The scale and grandeur of such landscapes is a spectacle to behold!
We decided to take the mist trail, whose name is understated as we became drenched passing by Nevada Fall. The trail through the waterfalls is often times quite steep, as you hike up granite steps, each over a foot tall. There are many reprieves, however, during which your legs are given the chance to recuperate. The steepest terrain comes at the base of the dome itself, as the trail switchbacks to the cables.
The cables become a traffic chokepoint as both directions of traffic occupy a 3 foot wide corridor. Being stuck in cable traffic while hearing thunder in the distance (and seeing the ominous thunderclouds across the valley) was somewhat unnerving. Though not recommended, there are sections of the cable route where you can leave the confines of the cable corridor and scramble up the granite. WHen time is of the esence, this becomes more appealing as may otherwise be the case...
As many people have said of this hike, the toughest part is the descent. This is where you will likely start feeling pain. But we are not talking marathon pain here - the hike is certainly doable even for those in moderate shape.
The downside of this hike is that it sets a high bechmark for future hikes - a benchmark that I don't forsee myself ecclipsing in the very near future.
Having read about this amazing hike, it was definitely time to see what all the hype was about. 15 miles later, the hype was definitely validated. Having hiked many heralded trails, the Half Dome hike reigns as the most scenic hike I have ever done. There aren't many places in the world where you can hike past mammoth waterfalls and stand atop 4000' granite monoliths. The scale and grandeur of such landscapes is a spectacle to behold!
We decided to take the mist trail, whose name is understated as we became drenched passing by Nevada Fall. The trail through the waterfalls is often times quite steep, as you hike up granite steps, each over a foot tall. There are many reprieves, however, during which your legs are given the chance to recuperate. The steepest terrain comes at the base of the dome itself, as the trail switchbacks to the cables.
The cables become a traffic chokepoint as both directions of traffic occupy a 3 foot wide corridor. Being stuck in cable traffic while hearing thunder in the distance (and seeing the ominous thunderclouds across the valley) was somewhat unnerving. Though not recommended, there are sections of the cable route where you can leave the confines of the cable corridor and scramble up the granite. WHen time is of the esence, this becomes more appealing as may otherwise be the case...
As many people have said of this hike, the toughest part is the descent. This is where you will likely start feeling pain. But we are not talking marathon pain here - the hike is certainly doable even for those in moderate shape.
The downside of this hike is that it sets a high bechmark for future hikes - a benchmark that I don't forsee myself ecclipsing in the very near future.
Tips:
Definitely try and do this hike early in the morning (5-6AM) on a weekday as the trail has the feel of a pilgrimage on the weekends...
Also, bring waterproof clothing. We hiked through mist, sunshine, rain and hail. Yes, you read that last part correctly. We hiked during thunderstorms which is not recommended, but when we were at the summit the thunderclouds were sufficiently far away. The weather caught up to us on the descent after we were well into the treeline.
To alleviate blisters on the way down, I highly recommend you apply Body Glide to your toes.
Lastly, if you want to enjoy a nice dinner afterwards, I recommend the Mountain Room Restaurant, which opens at 5:30PM. So you may to plan accordingly.
Definitely try and do this hike early in the morning (5-6AM) on a weekday as the trail has the feel of a pilgrimage on the weekends...
Also, bring waterproof clothing. We hiked through mist, sunshine, rain and hail. Yes, you read that last part correctly. We hiked during thunderstorms which is not recommended, but when we were at the summit the thunderclouds were sufficiently far away. The weather caught up to us on the descent after we were well into the treeline.
To alleviate blisters on the way down, I highly recommend you apply Body Glide to your toes.
Lastly, if you want to enjoy a nice dinner afterwards, I recommend the Mountain Room Restaurant, which opens at 5:30PM. So you may to plan accordingly.
Tags:
Yosemite National Park, half dome
Yosemite National Park, half dome
Comments (3)
Meant to say, the track starts from Happy Isles bridge. That is 7 miles to the top. The measured 6.6 is probably due to the length being calculated as purely horizontal projections. With all the ups and downs and with zig zags not being completely captured, that probably accounts for the .4 mile difference. The 8 mile route is the Muir route. But from Happy Isles, the Mist Trail to Muir to the top is 7 miles.
by bhuether on Jun 12, 2009
It is not a GPS track. I created the track in Garmin Mapsource using the National Parks West topo map. It corresponds to GPS track uploads I compared from people that posted here on EveryTrail. So the track data is accurate to be used by anyone who wishes to upload to their GPS.
by bhuether on Jun 12, 2009
Hmm, how is it that your track follows the Google Maps trail almost identically? ****** What receiver do you use? ****** Why is your distance only 6.6 miles? ****** Should be at least 8.0 miles, even with varying conditions. ****** I don't doubt you did the hike, but I question this track...
by ace_sierra on Jun 08, 2009
Facebook
