Hike: Yosemite

Date: 9/16/00
With whom: solo

Images 1-9



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Yosemite: Yosemite Valley to Half Dome via John Muir Trail return via Mist Trail

Distance: 16.4+ miles
Elevation: 4000' to 8836'

 
 

This was the second time I've hiked Half Dome, but only the first time I've done it starting from the valley (previous Half Dome hike was done midway during a backpacking trip). I expected this to be one of the hardest hikes I would ever do because it was as long as any other hike I've done, with almost as much elevation gain as I've ever done, and starting at a little elevation. Some of the guides list this hike as being 17.2 miles roundtrip although the trailhead states that it is 8.2 miles to half dome (16.4 roundtrip). Maybe it's 17.2 starting from Curry Village from where I had to start walking anyway. In any case, I reached this sign at just before 8:00AM. This early start was important because I knew it was going to be a long hike and I knew it was going to get warm (prediction was for 88 degrees in the valley)..

 

 
 

Early along this trail, there is a branch to either take the Mist Trail along Vernal Falls or the John Muir Trail up and around with a view of Nevada Falls. Both join up again a bit above Nevada Falls. The Mist Trail seems steeper (and presumably shorter(?) or just more uneven(?)) and since this just the start of a long day, I decided to conserve my energy a bit and took the John Muir Trail. Above are two pictures of Nevada Falls as seen from the John Muir Trail.

 

 

The view from right above Nevada Falls.

If you look closely at this image (or click on it to see the full size image), you can see the cables and a few people on their way up Half Dome.

 

There were a lot of people headed up to Half Dome. The guide that the rangers give you at the park entrace say that this hike will take 10-12 hours. This is probably very true for casual hikers, assuming if they even make it at all. I passed many, many dozens of hikers and was passed by a a few (one guy appeared to be running the whole way up!). To be honest, I was actually surprised that the hike up was easier than I thought it would be, maybe because I had been so prepared for the hike to be really difficult. I actually hiked the whole way without any significant breaks (i.e. only one break longer than 30 seconds). That being said, the hike was a butt-kicker, esp. the last half mile or so to get to the base right before the cables where it is a steep hike/climb. The cables are tiring as well since you primarily use your arms to pull yourself up and it's almost vertical at one point.

 

 

This is the view looking upward on the cables. After awhile I got tired waiting for everyone to go up so I jumped to the side of the cables to pass everyone. I reached the top right at 11:30am. It was very windy on top and there were a couple dozen people already on top. I kicked back and snacked/ate my lunch. I chatted with a couple of other hikers. After kicking back for an hour, I started back down.

 

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