Find out how to Conquer the Half Dome Hike in Yosemite Nationwide Park – Bearfoot Idea

Mountain climbing Half Dome is a ceremony of passage for outside fans and ranks among the many most well-known hikes within the US.

Etched into the beautiful canvas of California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, Half Dome is known for its sheer granite face and the enduring (however nerve-wracking) metal cables you will need to climb to succeed in the summit.

Mountain climbing Half Dome is just not for the faint of coronary heart – it’s a particularly strenuous day hike spanning 14+ miles with 5,300+ toes of elevation acquire. However you’ll be rewarded with beautiful waterfalls alongside the way in which and panoramic views of the whole Yosemite Valley and Excessive Sierra from the 8,800-foot summit, so it’s well worth the strenuous trek.

I hiked Half Dome in 2019 together with my husband and a few associates. This journey holds a particular reminiscence for me as a result of not solely was I happy with myself for efficiently ending the robust climb, however my husband deliberate a shock birthday celebration on the high of the dome for me!

Hold studying for our full information to climbing Half Dome together with when to go to, what to pack, how one can get Half Dome permits, and an in depth journey report.

Essential Reminder: Because it goes in all the locations we share, please follow good path etiquette and bear in mind to Go away No Hint. This implies packing out your entire rubbish (together with bathroom paper), being respectful to others, and following the established guidelines.

Half Dome Overview & Path Map

There are various routes for climbing to the highest of the Half Dome. You may do it in a day or you would do a multi-day backpacking journey.

Most individuals (together with us) select the day hike which is completely doable with correct preparation and planning.

For the day hike, the hike to the highest of Half Dome is a mixture of two trails: the Mist Path and the John Muir Path.

These two trails begin on the identical trailhead (Glad Isles) and finish on the Half Dome so have quite a lot of overlap (proven in purple on the map). There’s a part the place these two trails cut up on the way in which. The blue part reveals the John Muir Path route and the yellow part reveals the Mist Path route.

Based mostly on which route you select, the path size and time might fluctuate. Principally, you’ll be able to choose between an additional 1.5 miles of simpler terrain by taking the John Muir Path, or a steep and shorter route by taking the Mist Path, or you would do one path on the way in which up and one other on the way in which down.

Most individuals select to hike the Mist Path on the way in which up and the John Muir Path on the way in which down.

That is the way in which we hiked the path and would extremely suggest it. The Mist Path on the way in which up has nice views of the Vernal & Nevada Falls and the John Muir Path on the way in which down was a lot better for my knees after a really lengthy day of climbing.

Half Dome Path Map

How To Get Half Dome Permits

Because of the recognition of climbing Half Dome, permits are required. This allow system not solely protects the panorama from overuse but additionally ensures the protection of the hikers by lowering the crowding on the cable part.

There are two methods to safe a Half Dome allow – within the March preseason lottery or the each day lottery through the climbing season. All permits are reserved through Recreation.gov.

Pre-Season Lottery

To enter the preseason lottery, you will need to apply on-line anytime March 1-31 and outcomes might be emailed out in mid-April. If you’re profitable in getting a allow, you’ll want to substantiate your reservation and pay the allow price.

There’s a cap of 300 hikers per day (225 day hikers, 75 backpackers) so you must be extraordinarily fortunate within the lottery. Fortunately, we gained the preseason lottery so we had been in a position to plan our journey far prematurely.

Each day Lottery

In the event you don’t get a allow within the pre-season lottery, there’s a each day lottery that happens two days earlier than you’d hike Half Dome (ex. you’d apply on a Thursday to hike on a Saturday).

The outcomes of the each day lottery are on condition that evening, so you’ve got the whole subsequent day to organize.

What Occurs If I Don’t Get a Half Dome Allow?

In the event you do NOT get a allow, you’ll solely be allowed to go so far as the sub-dome (which is the bottom of the Half Dome the place the chains are connected to the mountain).

Rangers are sometimes stationed on the sub-dome to examine for permits and it’s a hefty tremendous of as much as $5,000 in case you are caught climbing Half Dome with no allow.

Please don’t try the cables with no Half Dome allow.

Finest Time to Hike Half Dome

The Half Dome cables often go up the Friday earlier than Memorial Day (circumstances allowing) and are available down the day after Columbus Day so this narrows down the window if you wish to attain the summit.

Usually August or September may be simpler to safe a allow than Could, June, or July as they’re the height summer time season. Weekdays are additionally simpler for getting permits vs. weekends.

Some individuals climb Half Dome exterior of when the cables are up, however that’s extremely unadvised.

Other than that you simply additionally must safe a allow, which dictates when you’ll be able to hike Half Dome.

We acquired our allow for August and through this time, the park was comparatively much less crowded than our earlier visits in Could and July. The climate was nice for climbing and fortunately there have been no wildfires close by affecting air high quality.

How Lengthy Does it Take to Hike Half Dome?

Relying on whether or not you select to do the John Muir Path or the Mist Path or a mixture of each, the climbing time might fluctuate. On common, it takes 10 – 14 hours to hike Half Dome with a lot of breaks in between.

Since we weren’t staying on the park, our day began early round 4:30 am and we reached the parking zone round 5:45 am. There have been ample parking spots on the Yosemite Valley trailhead parking so we parked our automobile and began the hike round 6:00 am.

Our tempo was fairly good and we had been in a position to end the hike in 12.5 hrs round 6:30 pm, with loads of time to benefit from the summit.

How To Prepare for Half Dome

As evident from the stats, Half Dome is a particularly strenuous hike when it comes to size and elevation acquire. Correct planning and coaching are important to having a implausible expertise.

We educated for climbing Half Dome by happening hikes of assorted completely different lengths (6 miles to 10 miles) each different weekend to ensure we’re in good condition and follow. I’d extremely suggest doing that if doable in order that your physique is used to the gap.

Planning Your Half Dome Hike

For a pleasing expertise, planning the entire Half Dome journey prematurely is extraordinarily important. Right here’s a number of key issues to bear in mind:

Yosemite Entrance Charges

Since Half Dome is a part of Yosemite Nationwide Park, you must pay the per-vehicle entrance price or use your America the Lovely annual cross.

When To Begin Mountain climbing Half Dome

So as to do the day hike, you must attain the trailhead fairly early within the morning at dawn (and even earlier), and resolve on a non-negotiable turn-around time (aka the time you’ll flip round when you’ve got not but reached the summit).

The parking zone can replenish shortly, so an early arrive is vital for attending to park as near the trailhead as doable.

Half Dome is sort of uncovered so if you happen to’re climbing within the warmth, it’s nearly crucial to get an early begin to attempt to beat the warmth.

Lodging

Staying within the park itself the evening earlier than your Half Dome hike will guarantee reaching the trailhead early within the morning and is advisable if you may get tenting or lodging reservations.

Sadly, we weren’t in a position to get lodging within the park, but when we had been in a position to get one we might have most well-liked that to keep away from the 1+ hour drive at 4:30am.

Half Dome Packing Record

Along with the 10 day climbing necessities, there’s a number of specifics you want for climbing Half Dome:

Advisable Mountain climbing Packing Record

Beneath are a number of of my favourite items of day climbing gear and proposals:

Path Report: Our Expertise Mountain climbing Half Dome

Beginning the Hike

We reached the Nationwide Park round 5:30 am, and parked our automobile on the Yosemite Valley Trailhead Parking on the Glad Isle Loop Highway. It’s then a brief 0.5 mile stroll from Glad Isles Trailhead to the Half Dome Trailhead. We began round 6:00 am.

Vernal Falls

The primary vital viewpoint from the trailhead is the Vernal Falls footbridge the place you get a glimpse of Vernal Falls. It’s about 1.5 miles from the trailhead, however the climb is fairly steep.

The waterfall is actually fairly and it is a great place for a photograph op. Vernal Falls can also be your final likelihood for flush bathrooms and a water fountain.

After the Vernal Falls footbridge, the trail branches into two, the place you’ll be able to choose the Mist Path or John Muir Path.

We select to do the Mist Path on the way in which up because it offers a close-up view of the waterfalls. The Mist path is sort of steep and you ultimately attain the highest of Vernal Falls. Be ready to get moist on this path because the mist from the waterfalls will get to you. I’d suggest carrying a rain jacket or poncho throughout this part!

Nevada Falls

Climbing even additional in round 2 miles you’ll ultimately attain Nevada Falls. There’s a small detour to view the highest of Nevada Falls and take a brief break.

The highest of Vernal & Nevada Falls through Mist Path can also be a fashionable day hike in Yosemite Nationwide Park, so don’t count on solitude on this part of the hike.

Subdome

About 3 miles after Vernal Falls, you’ll attain the subdome. To succeed in the subdome, you’ll have to climb the large rock stairs. That is positively one of many difficult elements of the hike!

After the climb, you’ll lastly attain the highest of the subdome. From the highest of the subdome, you will notice the well-known Half Dome cables.

This can be a great place to take a break and equipment up earlier than you ultimately begin the climb.

I used to be truthfully a bit overwhelmed at this level. I shouldn’t have a worry of heights however for me, it was about taking a deep breath earlier than the cables and gaining psychological power (Thoughts over matter).

There may be sincerely no disgrace in attending to the cables and turning round. I’d have carried out that if I didn’t really feel assured. In the event you don’t really feel so then it’s completely okay. In the event you try it with out being snug you’ll not solely put your self but additionally others at risk.

Climbing the Metal Cables

We reached the cables round 11:30 am. There was no ranger stationed at the moment to examine for permits, however at all times have your allow helpful simply in case.

There are two cables to climb the final 400 toes to the summit. Each 10-20 toes there are wood planks to relaxation and keep your steadiness. The cables are a few 45-55 diploma grade, and also you don’t want any mountaineering gear to climb them.

We equipped earlier than climbing the cables.

Earlier than you begin the climb, you’ll want to put on full-fingered gloves to have a great grip on the cables and keep away from any blisters.

Additionally you’ll want to safe any belongings (digicam, cellphone, water bottle) so nothing falls out of your day pack through the climb!

​​The steel cables appear daunting however if you happen to climb it patiently and safely one step at a time, it’ll appear simple. This is similar path for hikers going up and coming down so being conscious is vital.

It is very important not solely take your time but additionally be affected person with different hikers. There weren’t many individuals on the cables throughout our climb. Stay on the within of the cables whereas climbing to your personal security.

We reached the summit of Half Dome after 20 minutes of climbing up the cables.

If you’re conscious and protected, this half is extraordinarily thrilling and one of many highlights of the entire hike!

Be aware: This can be very unsafe to aim the cables if there are storm clouds or if the bottom is moist. Use your finest judgment.

Summit of Half Dome

We lastly reached the highest of the Half Dome round midday and we had been greeted with panoramic views of Yosemite Valley and the Excessive Sierra.

After a number of photograph classes, I used to be in for a shock.

My husband had carried a mini cake (Nothing Bundt cake — my favourite) to rejoice my birthday. He at all times surprises me together with his candy gestures! We lower the cake and did a mini celebration earlier than beginning the return journey.

Hike Again to Glad Isles Trailhead

It took us nearly twice as lengthy to climb down the cables than to climb up them as a result of there have been quite a lot of hikers arising. Following correct climbing etiquette, at all times yield to the uphill (or up-climbing) hikers.

As soon as I acquired down the cables, I couldn’t imagine what I simply did! The sensation was unimaginable. We had been all excited to return and luxuriate in a scrumptious meal so the return journey felt prefer it flew by.

At Nevada Falls, we selected to do the longer John Muir Path because it was simpler on the knees.

I hope this information covers all the main points that can make it easier to plan your Half Dome climbing journey. As at all times, please observe the Go away No Hint rules, don’t neglect to have enjoyable, take a lot of photos, and have a protected, pleasing hike!

Do you’ve got any questions on climbing Half Dome? Go away them within the feedback beneath!

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