• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Halfway Anywhere

Halfway Anywhere

  • About
  • Blog
  • PCT
  • CDT
  • Hikes
    • Arizona
      • Arizona Trail
      • Buckskin Gulch/Paria Canyon
      • Royal Arch Loop
    • Australia
      • Outback Bicycle Tour
      • New South Wales
        • The Coast Track
      • Tasmania
        • Federation Peak
        • Frenchmans Cap
        • Mount Anne Circuit
        • Overland Track
        • Western Arthurs Traverse
    • California
      • Cactus to Clouds
      • Kings Canyon High Basin Route
      • Southern Sierra High Route
      • Trans-Catalina Trail
    • Brazil
    • Japan
      • Alps Traverse
      • Fuji Area
      • Hokkaido
      • Hokuriku
      • Kansai
      • Kita Alps
      • Kyushu
    • Nepal
      • Everest Base Camp
      • Three Passes Trek
    • New Zealand
      • Ball Pass Route
    • Oregon
      • Timberline Trail
    • Washington
      • Wonderland Trail
  • Gear
    • Current Gear List
    • Gear Reviews
    • Gear Lists
    • PCT Gear
    • Best Backpacking Quilts
    • Best Satellite Messengers
    • Best Sun Hoodies
    • Best Thru-Hiking Shoes
    • Best Thru-Hiking Socks
    • Deals & Discounts
  • Surveys
    • PCT Survey
      • PCT Survey Results
      • PCT Gear Guide
      • PCT Resupply Guide
      • Women’s Gear Guide
      • Couples’ Gear Guide
      • Demographic Breakdown
      • PCT Horror Stories
      • PCT Hiker Advice
      • PCT Social Issues
      • All PCT Survey Articles
      • PCT Survey Sign-Up
    • CDT Survey
      • CDT Survey Results
      • CDT Gear Guide
      • CDT Resupply Guide
      • CDT Horror Stories
      • CDT Hiker Advice
      • All CDT Survey Articles
      • CDT Survey Sign-Up
    • JMT Survey
      • JMT Survey Results
      • JMT Gear Guide
      • All JMT Survey Articles
      • JMT Survey Sign-Up
  • Contact
    • Say Hello!
    • Support

Hiking Yosemite Part III: Up The Half Dome

By Mac 3 Comments

This is the third part of a four-part post, to make sure you’re up to speed, best to start with Part 1.

Getting up in the morning ranks among my three least favorite things to do – the other two of course are hiking and squeezing lemon into my wounds (the sting means it’s working).

But waking up atop Clouds Rest proved to me that opening your eyes and standing up in the morning can in fact be the highlight of your day (which means that the rest will be a disappointment).

I highly recommend it.

Yosemite Clouds Rest Sunrise
I’ve survived yet another night in the wild.

Moist and I plan to conquer Half Dome today, and knowing that the Half Dome will get crowded as the day goes on (yes, our intuition is incredible), we bid farewell to our family of camping friends and head down the southern side of the mountain (and yes, we make sure to complete our daily (naked) surya namaskara).

With renewed spirits (and plenty of downhill in front of us), we merrily float down the switchbacks losing nearly 3,000 feet of elevation before meeting the Tenaya Lake Trail.

We take a right.

Yosemite Clouds Rest Sunrise Halfdome
If only I had my wingsuit handy.

Having made surprisingly good time, we fill up on water (there are no water sources on the Half Dome trail) and skip down the trail just a half mile or so to where we meet the trail leading up Half Dome (and the first of many annoying signs).

Knowing that we are about to rebound from our massive loss in elevation, we stash our bear canisters and extra gear amongst the trees and begin an easy slackpack to the top.

Except it isn’t an easy slackpack.

Yosemite Half Dome Sign 2
I really hate the signage in Yosemite.

Once you venture beyond the signs yelling at you to have a permit, the trail begins to climb and it doesn’t stop until you find yourself atop the Dome of Half (in other words, it’s awful).

When we reach the base of the subdome, we find a ranger guarding the trail, asking hikers for their permits and group information (Moist Fox, party of two).

We are already winded and things only get steeper as we climb through rocky switchbacks to the subdome’s invisible summit and the base of the final climb.

Yosemite Half Dome Sign 1
Apparently, you can be fined up to $5,000 for climbing without a permit.

The subdome trail is not obvious at times, and since the rocks are crowded with winded daywalkers, we take to simply walking up the granite slabs towards the top (because ultimately, the direction you want to go is up).

Reaching the top of the subdome we finally get a firsthand glimpse at the infamous cables leading up Half Dome. Only about five or six people are on the cables, and they are moving incredibly slow. What a bunch of wieners.

However, as we approach the base, it becomes clear just how steep the Half Dome trail is (really fucking steep).

Yosemite Half Dome Climb
I can’t believe they let just anyone come try this.

My initial reaction?

People for sure fall and die trying to make it up this thing (apparently around 20 people so far).

Wooden planks lay across the trail, marking each pair of cable-securing posts. These planks offer a precarious yet reasonably comfortable place to rest whilst climbing.

At the start of the cables is a pile of gloves (where they come from, I do not know) that hikers are encouraged to take and use whilst climbing and descending. Psssh, I don’t need no stinkin’ gloves.

I try my luck powering up the cables and quickly decide that this is the wrong way to go about things (this realization coincides with my legs’ decision to stop working). Fortunately, I am the only person on the cables and I can rest without impeding the progress of others.

It also quickly becomes apparent why gloves would have been a good idea (I’ve come too far).

Yosemite Half Dome Feet
If I go, I’m taking you all with me.

The rock between the cables has been rubbed smooth by the feet of hundreds of thousands of visitors, and my shoes threaten to slide backward with each step.

I slowly make upwards progress, each step covering more vertical than horizontal distance as I strenuously inch from one plank to the next.

The grade of the trail is such that if you slipped, you would not be able to arrest your fall, and if not for the cables, you would need to keep all of your weight forward at all times to keep yourself upright.

Basically, imagine the steepest slope you think you’re capable of walking up, and then imagine something steeper than that.

Did I mention that the trail is steep?

Yosemite Half Dome Carin
Top of the mountain. Now knock it down.

Finally reaching the summit I look around and realize that the view I left behind on Clouds Rest was superior to this, but I am happy to finally be standing atop Yosemite’s most iconic feature.

Lounging around, watching chipmunks rummage through unguarded packs, I hear a yelp and turn to see a girl explaining to her dad how she managed to drop her gloves over the edge.

Curious as to how far the gloves have fallen, I peek over the edge and see them resting on a ledge about thirty feet below. A ledge that appears to be easily accessible via hopping down giant rock steps just above it.

Yosemite Half Dome Diving Board
See the steps? Oh, and there’s me too.

Not wanting the girl’s hands to suffer a fate similar to my own, I offer my assistance which the father adamantly refuses. What a wiener.

I tell him that I am going down to get the gloves regardless, and when I return (unscathed, I might add) his daughter is overjoyed to have her gloves back (likely because she has narrowly escaped a beating).

Despite his daughter’s relief, said dad tells me that I am an idiot and I tell him that nobody will believe his death wasn’t an accident. Seriously, what a wiener.

Yosemite Half Dome Driving Board Self
WHY ARE YOU JUST STANDING THERE?!

Continued in Hiking Yosemite Part IV: The Mist Trail.

You'll Like These Too:

Share this post:

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on WhatsApp Share on Email

California California,  Sierra Nevada,  Yosemite

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
guest
3 Comments
Most Voted
Newest Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Primary Sidebar

Most Recent Posts

  • Women’s Gear Guide for the Pacific Crest Trail (2022 Survey)
  • The Best Thru-Hiking Shelters for Couples (2022 PCT Survey)
  • Hayduke Trail Gear List: Everything You Need to Hike Across Utah
  • Continental Divide Trail Hiking Advice for 2023 (& Beyond)
  • Continental Divide Trail Horror Stories (Class of 2022)
Backpacking Gear Pacific Crest Trail Continental Divide Trail Mac's Backpack

Footer

STAY IN TOUCH

You've made it this far, you're either into this site or you're still looking for something. Either way, best to sign up for my newsletter, yeah?

NAVIGATION

  • Recent Posts
  • Backpacking Gear
  • Continental Divide Trail
  • Pacific Crest Trail
  • Brazil Trekking
  • Japan Trekking
  • Nepal Trekking
  • New Zealand Trekking
  • Tasmania Trekking

LEGALESE

  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Copyright © 2023 · Halfway Anywhere